A Night of Celebration: 2026 Rose Ball Raises Over $380,000
On Thursday, June 11, the AHRC Foundation welcomed friends, families, and longtime supporters to Oheka Castle for an evening that blended celebration with a renewed sense of purpose.
Guests, sponsors, and donors came together to honor two extraordinary contributions to Long Island’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community. The Cornerstone Award was presented to Jack N. Posner, Esq., recognizing his legacy of voluntary service and more than 50 years of legal advocacy on behalf of people with I/DD and their families. The Margaret Riva Lifetime Achievement Award went to Jack and Eydie Garofalo, whose commitment began with their own family’s journey and grew into nearly four decades of leadership that has shaped services touching thousands of lives across Nassau County.
Emmy Award-winning PIX11 News host Monica Morales served as the evening’s emcee, helping set the tone for a celebration that was as warm as it was meaningful.
The evening also offered a chance to spotlight two initiatives the Foundation has supported over the past year. With the Foundation’s funding, AHRC Nassau launched its new Therapeutic Riding and Equine-Assisted Activities Program at the Thomas S. Gulotta Wheatley Farms & Arts Center in Brookville — startup support that covered the acquisition of horses, adaptive equipment, staff training, and facility preparation, expanding access to therapeutic riding for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The Foundation also highlighted its continued support of the Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America (NSASA), whose programming helps children and adults on the autism spectrum stay socially and recreationally connected as they age, offering free community-based activities and events that bring joy, friendship, and belonging across a lifetime.
By the end of the night, the room’s generosity added up to more than $380,000 — funds that will directly support special education, employment programs, access to healthcare, and community life experiences for children and adults with developmental disabilities across Long Island.
Whether you joined us as a guest, a sponsor, a journal ad supporter, or a donor, your generosity carries this work forward — meeting today’s needs while building strength for tomorrow.
Thank you for being part of it.