Our Events
AIS hosts events to raise awareness of stuttering as well as to honor leaders who support those suffering from the disorder.
4th Annual Benefit Gala
QUICK LINKS
- Have questions? The AIS Benefit Office will contact you.
- Ready to reserve your tickets? Download the Gala Invitation and Reservation Form now.
June 7, 2010 - Tribeca Rooftop, New York City
For the fourth straight year, we are celebrating people who stutter - both our clients and those who have worked through their stuttering to reach their dreams.
Emcee Emily Blunt and Honorees Harvey Keitel, Clarence Page, and Michael Sheehan
This year, we are honoring Harvey Keitel, Clarence Page, and Michael Sheehan with the Freeing Voices, Changing Lives Award.
Harvey Keitel has riveted audiences for over forty years with his compelling screen presence and authentic characterizations. A versatile talent, Harvey has starred in a variety of notable films, like Taxi Driver, Reservoir Dogs, Thelma and Louise, National Treasure, and Bad Lieutenant, and has worked with acclaimed directors such as Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, and Jane Campion.
Clarence Page is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and columnist and a senior member of The Chicago Tribune editorial board. His column, begun in 1984, went into national syndication in 1987 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1989. He is an occasional panelist on The McLaughlin Group, a frequent political analyst on the Chris Matthews Show and Countdown with Keith Olbermann, and the host of several PBS documentaries.
Michael Sheehan is the President of Sheehan Associates, Inc. He is a leading communications trainer and strategist, having worked with an impressive roster of leaders in business, charity, and government. From CEOs to U.S. presidents, Michael has helped them share their visions at the podium. He also is a member of our Board of Directors.
Renowned actress Emily Blunt dazzled us as an honoree at our 3rd Benefit Gala, and we are thrilled to have her back as the Mistress of Ceremonies! This is a banner year for Emily with her films The Young Victoria and The Wolfman releasing soon in the U.S. We look forward to having her lead us through what will be another memorable gala.
To find out more about the 4th Annual Benefit Gala, please call the AIS Benefit Office at (212) 725-7139. Also, you can fill out this short contact form, and the AIS Benefit Office will contact you.
If you are ready to reserve your tickets to the gala, please complete and mail in the Ticket and Table Reservation Form.
To open the reservation form, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader.
3rd Annual Benefit Gala
June 8, 2009 was another landmark night as our 3rd Annual Benefit Gala was a smashing success. Returning to Tribeca Rooftop, we honored Joe Moglia, Chairman of TD Ameritrade, and beloved British actress Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Sunshine Cleaning, The Young Victoria) with the Freeing Voices, Changing Lives Award. The evening was hosted by our good friend Sam Waterston (Law and Order). Susan Glessner and Seth H. Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank Americas, served as Co-Chairs for the gala.
Emcee Sam Waterston and Special Guest Barbara Walters
Special guest Barbara Walters talked about how her late sister Jackie, a stutterer, was the inspiration behind her memoir Audition. She stated, "Today, with this organization, my sister would have had a very, very different life."
Honorees Emily Blunt and Joe Moglia
Both Joe and Emily gave inspiring speeches about how they dealt with their stuttering and achieved success in their life goals. Joe was engaging and motivating as would befit the former football coach. Emily was elegant and uplifting as you would expect from the award-winning actress. We are thankful for their support and friendship.
AIS Clients Jodriann Lumabao and Joseph Farley
AIS Clients Kieran Coyne and Derek Wood
Like last year, our clients stole the show. Jodriann Lumabao, Joe Farley, Kieran Coyne, and Derek Wood touched our crowd as they each talked about their struggles with stuttering and what their time with AIS has done for them. Kieran's mom Laureen shared her thoughts on Kieran's experiences here as well.
Musician "Mojo" Myles Mancuso
We were honored to have blues guitar prodigy "Mojo" Myles Mancuso and his band provide the evening's entertainment. Only 14 years old, Myles is a rising star in the blues world and a fellow "stutter-buddy."
Our blog features pictures and video from the unforgettable night. It will surely stand as our best ever gala. At least until next year.
2nd Annual Benefit Gala
AIS Hosts the Vice President!
Held at New York’s downtown Tribeca Rooftop, the Benefit Gala Under the Stars on June 3, 2008 was a wonderful night! CBS News' Byron Pitts (60 Minutes), who has also dealt with stuttering, presented the Freeing Voices, Changing Lives Award to the 2008 Honorees, Anthony C. Hooper, President of US Pharmaceuticals for Bristol Meyers-Squibb and then-Senator Joe Biden.
Emcee Byron Pitts and Honorees Joe Biden and Anthony Hooper
We're also very proud of how Vice President Joe Biden spoke so openly about his own stuttering during the 2008 campaign and the positive attention he continues to bring to a largely misunderstood disorder. He gave an unforgettable and inspirational speech which you can watch. The 5-minute highlight video of the Gala is also available on YouTube.
Then-Senator Joe Biden
While Joe Biden was inspirational, we think that even he would say that the 3 young men, ages 8 to 11 were even more so. Ray Demintz, Will Esseks, and Junior Yupa all courageously stood in front of the audience of 250 people and spoke about their stuttering and how AIS has helped them as did our ‘older’ client representative Char Glessner. Char’s Mom was also on hand and spoke from the parent’s perspective.
Ray Demnitz, Will Esseks, Junior Yupa
Susie and Char Glessner
Inaugural Benefit Gala on the QM 2!
On June 10, 2007 AIS launched its Inaugural Benefit Gala on board the magnificent Queen Mary 2 ship. CBS News Anchor Katie Couric hosted the event and presented the Freeing Voices, Changing Lives awards to our Honorees. Receiving the awards were singer/songwriter Carly Simon, author, Dominick Dunne, NBA All-Star, Kenyon Martin and fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld, all whose outstanding achievements are well known and who all have personally dealt with stuttering.
Katie Couric, Jim Manley, Jake Steinfeld, Tina Brown, Catherine Montgomery, Kenyon Martin, Sir Harry Evans, Carly Simon, and QM 2 Captain Chris Rynd.
The award is in the form of a blue crystal iceberg. One of our field’s pioneer, the late Dr.Joseph Sheehan originated the iceberg as the perfect metaphor for stuttering; that what one observes of stuttering is just the tip of the iceberg and that there can be so very much pain and suffering going on beneath the surface that the uninformed observer simply does not see or understand. Our Galas not only serve to raise much needed funds, they also provide great opportunity to raise public awareness of this disorder which is still so terribly misunderstood.
You can view the gala video on YouTube and gala photos at New York Cool.
NBA Star and AIS Board Member Kenyon Martin Hosts Event for AIS Kids and Teens
We are very pleased and honored that Denver Nuggets star Kenyon Martin (aka “K Mart”) is a member of our Board of Directors of the American Institute for Stuttering. Kenyon has personally dealt with stuttering and has generously stepped forward to join in our effort to raise public awareness about stuttering. Kenyon kicked it off by hosting a “Meet & Greet” event at the NBA Store in Manhattan.
Our AIS kids and teens were invited to the store’s "Center Court" to meet the basketball star. After chowing down on snacks, shooting some hoops and playing video games, the kids and parents were seated in the bleacher section to await the arrival of the big guy. Kenyon spoke about his own stuttering as he encouraged the kids to be proud of themselves, not to let their stuttering hold them back and then opened it up for questions. The kids’ questions ranged from "Did you ever get help for your speech?" (“Not really much”) or "Was it hard for you to talk to girls?" (“Yup”) to What kind of car do you drive?! (He has two and one of them is a Rolls Royce). He was warm, easy going and charming with the kids and they loved him. We were so proud of our kids and teens who jumped in to ask questions in what we hoped would be a stutter-friendly environment, in spite of the fact that there was quite a crowd and lots of media!
The kids all received a goody bag including a Reebok t-shirt provided by Kenyon that read in the Denver Nuggets blue & yellow: KENYON’S KIDS! They all had a chance to meet him, have a photo taken and get an autograph or two. On the following day, we were all treated as his guests at the Denver Nuggets-New Jersey Nets game. This will truly be something they will remember for the rest of their lives. All in all, a great weekend with lots of gratitude to Kenyon! What a wonderful gift he gave!
Kenyon Martin with AIS kids and teens
Program Calendar
Intensive programs are first-come, first-serve. The summer ones fill up quickly.
2010 PROGRAM DATES
- January 4-22
- May 10-28
- July 5-23
- July 26-30 Refresher
- Aug 9-27
- Oct 4-22
- Nov 29-Dec 17
Contact Us
American Institute for Stuttering
27 West 20th St. Suite 1203
New York, NY 10011
phone: (212) 633-6400
fax: (212) 220-3922
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