Press Release – NEW YORK, NY (November 17, 2016) – The Tourette Association of America (TAA), the premier nonprofit organization working to make life better for all people affected by Tourette and Tic Disorders, hosted its Annual Gala on Monday, November 14, 2016 at Gotham Hall in New York City.
The Annual Gala is the largest event geared toward raising awareness for Tourette Syndrome (TS), a disorder that is often incorrectly portrayed in the media, remains underdiagnosed, and is frequently stigmatized. The gala brought together celebrities, socialites and individuals with and without TS, to successfully raise more than $750,000 in support of the organization’s mission to identify the cause of, control the effects of, and to find a cure for, TS.
“We are so grateful for the immense show of support we witnessed at our Annual Gala by the individuals and families committed to making life better for all individuals affected by Tourette and Tic Disorders,” said Tourette Association President and CEO, John Miller. “As the largest fundraising event for Tourette Syndrome, the TAA gala gives us the opportunity to spotlight the need for awareness, while bringing us one step closer to better treatment options and a cure.”
The highlight of the Gala was a special video presentation featuring TAA Youth Ambassadors, teens trained to raise awareness for TS. Each teen gave the audience a unique glimpse into a day in the life of someone with TS, and shared inspirational stories of not letting Tourette define who they are.
The Gala featured performances by special guest David Friedman, a renowned film and theater composer. Despite his struggles to cope with TS all his life, Mr. Friedman has left a major mark in all areas of show business with multi-platinum recordings, Broadway shows, Disney Animated Films, television scores and a teaching and lecturing career that spans the nation. Most recently, David joined the team at the Today Show as a regular contributor to the “Everyone Has a Story” series. Mr. Friedman wrote a special song specifically for the TAA Gala that was performed by Alix Korey, who is currently in Fiddler on Broadway.
TAA also honored the Gnuse Family and Dr. Stanley Fahn. The Gnuse family story was captured in a video featuring Jeanne and Tom Gnuse, which showcased their perseverance, dedication and success despite the challenges that TS has brought them. Tom Gnuse lived with Tourette motor and vocal tics all his life until finally being diagnosed at the age of 42. In an effort to support research for earlier diagnosis, the Gnuse family has been generous supporters of TAA for over 30 years. Dr. Stanley Fahn has dedicated his professional career to advancing care, research and the development of treatments for adults and children with neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, tremors, as well as Tourette and other Tic Disorders.
About Tourette Association of America: Founded in 1972, the Tourette Association of America is dedicated to making life better for all individuals affected by Tourette and Tic Disorders. The premier nationwide organization serving this community, the Association works to raise awareness, advance research and provide on-going support. The Tourette Association directs a network of 32 Chapters and support groups across the country. For more information on Tourette and Tic Disorders, call 1-888-4-TOURET and visit us at tourette.org, and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Tourette Syndrome
Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that becomes evident in early childhood or adolescence. It is part of the spectrum of Tic Disorders and is characterized by motor and vocal tics. TS and other Tic Disorders are not rare. The current estimates are that 1 out of every 160 children between the ages of 5-17 in the United States has TS and that 1 out of every 100 children has TS or another Tic Disorder. There is no cure for TS, but thanks to years of dedicated research, much of it supported and funded by the Tourette Association of America, there are various treatment options.
