Thanks for joining us at our 7th annual costume gala!

 November 10th, 2023  7PM - 12AM • Terrace on the Park

Thanks for being a part of the magic and joining us on the dance floor to benefit
The Fairy Godmother Foundation of New York. Check out photos below!

On November 10. 2023, the Foundation held the 7th Annual Making Dreams Come True Costume Ball & Gala, in memory of Linda Shohatee. More than 200 guests came to Terrace on the Park in Queens to celebrate the Foundation’s work and honored two outstanding individuals,  Emily Perl Kingsley and Jason Kingsley.

Emily Perl Kingsley is an American writer who joined the Sesame Street team in 1970 and continued to write until her retirement in 2015. Her experiences with her son Jason, who was born with Down Syndrome, inspired her to include people with disabilities into the Sesame Street cast. In 1987, Kingsley wrote “Welcome to Holland,” a widely published and translated essay which compares the experience of a parent learning their child has a disability to that of a person traveling to Italy having their trip rerouted to Holland. The same year a made-for-television movie she wrote, Kids Like These, premiered on CBS. The film, about a middle-aged couple who have a son with Down Syndrome, won numerous awards. Kingsley has written over 20 children’s books and two Sesame Street home video releases She has won 23 Daytime Emmys for her work with Sesame Street, three Equity-Diversity-Inclusion (EDI) Awards and a Grand EDI from Easter Seals, and an award from the National Theatre of the Deaf. In October 2008, Emily received a special award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in recognition of her groundbreaking work including individuals with disabilities on Sesame Street. 

Jason Kingsley is an American actor born with Down Syndrome. In 1975, Jason made his television debut on Sesame Street at just 15 months old. Jason’s career on Sesame Street grew into a recurring character, appearing in 55 episodes. He was one of the first people with Down Syndrome to appear on television. A trailblazer, Jason broke the glass ceiling for actors with disabilities. He also guest-starred in several TV shows, including: The Fall Guy, All My Children and Touched by an Angel.

Jason Kingsley co-authored Count Us In: Growing Up with Down Syndrome with friend Mitchell Levitz in 1994, detailing their experiences with Down Syndrome. In 2017 he co-starred with his friends Yaniv Gorodischer and Raymond Frost in the film “Far From the Tree,” based on the New York Times bestselling book by Andrew Sullivan. The film explores the relationship between parent and child, particularly regarding to differences in ability. Jason, an advocate for people with special needs and disabilities, is a sought-after inspirational speaker and has appeared on the TODAY Show.

Dancing Dreams, a New York Dance Company, founded and directed by Joann Ferrara, RPT, opened the Gala.   The evening was emceed by Viktor Leshchenko, a Broadway performer. Mercedes Riege sang a medley of Broadway ballads and a duet with Viktor. Both Mercedes and Viktor are professional performers in New York.  All entertainers volunteer their participation.

Cheers to our past honorees - who all continue to make dreams come true!

Tomoaki Kato, MD • Joseph Sciame • Stephen E. Dolgin, MD • Deacon Bill Shea • Brittany Schiavone

Chef Bruno Serato • The Scott & Sandagato Family • The Calla Family • The Mulroy Family

Art McFarland • Steven Lobritto, MD • Mercedes Martinez, MD • Jennifer M. Vittorio, MD

Ana Padron & Diego Blanco • Rev. Thomas Brosnan, MDIV, MFA • Joann Ferrara, RPT

Dolly Coleman • Lois Christie • Allison Schlanger • Alison Qualter Berna

2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 • 2021 • 2022