Laura Linney’s respect and gratitude for creative expression is limitless. Born to a prominent NYC playwright and a nurse, the Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy award-winning actress began her experiential education in performance art at an early age.
Linney graduated from Northfield Mount Hermon School in 1982. She studied acting at Brown University, where she was on the board of the university’s Production Workshop group. After graduating from Brown University in 1986, she furthered her acting studies at The Juilliard School as a member of Group 19. She received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Juilliard in 1990. Linney went on to appear in leading roles across film, television, and theatre.
Henry Winkler has enjoyed over four decades of success in Hollywood as an actor, producer, and director. He is also a New York Times best-selling author. His latest book is a children’s series called Alien Superstar. Currently, Winkler co-stars on HBO’s Barry, which garnered him an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy. In 1973, Winkler was cast in the iconic role of Arthur Fonzarelli, aka “The Fonz,” in the TV series Happy Days. During his 10 years on the popular sitcom, he won two Golden Globe Awards, was nominated three times for an Emmy Award, and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Award-winning television and film actor Eric Dane has been a fan-favorite since his television roles in the 2000s. Dane is best known for his role as the hunky “Dr. Mark ‘McSteamy’ Sloan” in ABC’s critically-acclaimed, Golden Globe-award-winning, and Emmy-nominated tv series Grey’s Anatomy. Global is delighted to have Dane in our corner, helping to advocate for those with Down syndrome.
Denver Broncos legend, NFL Hall of Famer and entrepreneur, Terrell Davis was born October 28, 1972 and had a historic career from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round (196th pick overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing yards. As a player, he was given the nickname “T. D.” by players, fans and the media; this denoted both the initials of his first and last name as well as being an abbreviation for touchdown. Davis was sent to the Pro Bowl in the 1996, ’97, and ’98 seasons. Nicknamed “TD,” Davis popularized the “Mile High Salute,” a military-style salute given to fans and teammates in celebration of a touchdown.
Amanda Booth is an American supermodel and actress. She has worked on fashion editorials for Italian Vogue, Australian Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle and appeared in advertising campaigns for Lancome, Fiat, Hershey’s, Target, Old Navy, and more. She has been featured on network television shows including “Hot in Cleveland,” “Maron,” and “Community.” In addition to her modeling and acting career, Booth utilizes her media presence to advocate for the differently-abled community. She loves to write about her passions and her beautiful son Micah, who happens to have Down syndrome.
Global is proud to honor Amanda Booth with our 2019 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award.
A tv personality, public speaker, artist, and entrepreneur, Megan Bomgaars is a leader in the Down syndrome community. The 26-year-old stars on A&E’s reality television show Born This Way, which features 7 adults with Down syndrome navigating through life in pursuit of their dreams. To date, the show has several awards, including three Emmy Awards and two Critics’ Choice Real TV Awards. Megan was recognized by the A&E producers while giving a keynote presentation at the NDSC Annual Convention in 2015 and invited to participate in the show.
Global is proud to honor Megan Bomgaars with our 2019 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award.
A Golden Touch—A Golden Heart. Reading the biographies of icon Quincy Jones— musician, composer, producer, arranger, conductor—it would seem that everything Quincy Jones touches turns into gold (or at least platinum).
Named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, Quincy has received 25 Grammy Awards and was nominated 79 times (the all-time most nominated Grammy artist). For three famously productive years he was Frank Sinatra’s conductor and arranger producing, amongst others, the arrangement Fly Me to The Moon —the first music played on the moon in 1969 by astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
John C. McGinley has amassed decades of stellar work on stage and screen, including seven collaborations with Oscar-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone. His most significant role is Dad to Max, was born with Down syndrome. After Max’s birth he pursued a role on the TV show “Scrubs” that allowed him to spend more time at home. John was recognized as “Parent of the Year” by ivillage.com, and he has joined the Special Olympics campaign “Spread the Word to End the Word.” In 2011 John received Global’s Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award. He also serves on Global’s Board of Directors. His most recent role is in the horror-comedy “Stan Against Evil.”
Zachary Robin Gottsagen, “Zack,” made his first debut as the star of a natural childbirth instructional film on April 22, 1985. He has been a very enthusiastic performer since his first role as a frog at age three. Zack was the first child with Down syndrome to be fully included in the Palm Beach County school district and graduated from Dreyfoos School of the Arts, as a theatre major in 2004. While filming with Zeno in Los Angeles, Zack met Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz. They were so taken with Zack that they decided to write a film for him to star in. They wrote “The Peanut Butter Falcon” incorporating Zack’s love of wrestling and his amazing intelligence, humor, innocence, enthusiasm and joy for life into the lead character role. Set to be released later this year, Zack is thrilled to star in the adventure film alongside Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson.
Born in Roxbury Massachusetts, Ronnie DeVoe Jr. is recognized globally as R&B royalty. He is a member of the supergroups New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. Beginning his career as a child, DeVoe’s musical legacy began in 1982 with the release of New Edition’s hit single, Candy Girl. Rated by the industry’s toughest and most respected critics, the single received a coveted 4-star rating from Billboard. From 1982 to 2004, New Edition released 7 acclaimed albums and classic songs like, “Mr.Telephone Man,” “If It Isn’t Love,” “Can You Stand The Rain,” “Hit Me Off” and “Hot 2nite. During New Edition’s hiatus, DeVoe joined forces with fellow bandmates Michael Bivins and Ricky Bell to form Hip-Hop trio, Bell Biv DeVoe. From 1990 to 2017, the trio released 4 albums and Chart-topping singles including “Poison,” “Do Me” and “Something In Your Eyes.” Breaking into entrepreneurship, Ronnie is the owner of DeVoe Broker Associates, a Georgia Real Estate company. Married to Shamari DeVoe, the couple is seem as one of the nation’s most noted power couple. Featured in Essence Magazine, Ebony Magazine, and various other high-profile outlets, this R&B Royalty couple have made a name for themselves on the music scene, as entrepreneurs and as advocates for solid marriage. Follow Ronnie on social media: @BigRonDeVoe
Born in Detroit and raised in Atlanta, Shamari DeVoe is a modern-day renaissance woman. She is a devoted wife, mother to twin boys, a thriving business woman, chart topping singer, and most recently a star of Bravo TV’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. Her entertainment career has spanned more than 20 years and has included 3 albums, several album features, musical stage performances, acting and writing. She first stepped onto the limelight as 1/3 of the chart-topping R&B-Pop trio Blaque. As the collective protégés of TLC’s Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, Shamari and her group mates Brandi Williams and Natina Reed catapulted to multi-platinum record status with Billboard top ten hits, “808” and “Bring It All To Me.” Following the highly anticipated success of their debut album, Blaque, the group released their sophomore album, Blaque Out that also received rave reviews. Shamari earned her on-screen stripes appearing in box office hits Bring It On and Honey and television shows V.I.P. alongside Pamela Anderson and since 2018, Real Housewives. Shamari has been married to Ronnie DeVoe Jr. for 13 years. The couple are parents to twin boys, Ronald and Roman. Follow Shamari on social media: @ShamariDeVoe
One of the prized products of FC Dallas’ prolific academy, Acosta logged three full seasons as a professional before his 21st birthday. A longtime US youth international, the Homegrown is a rangy, two-footed player most valuable in midfield though he has experience as a fullback. After a down 12 months, Acosta was traded to the Colorado Rapids the day before his 23rd birthday. He started all 12 matches he appeared in with the Rapids in 2018, with two goals and three assists. In 2019, Acosta logged 2619 minutes, the most of his career, while accounting for 2 goals and 2 assist being implemented in a box to box midfield role. He played a key role in the Rapids’ resurgence down the stretch in 2019 and will be counted on as a lynchpin in the midfield for 2020.
Mikaela Hoover is an actress, model, and social media influencer. She has a substantial social media following, with almost one million followers on Instagram. Hoover is best known for her roles in various superhero films.
Hoover represents various brands as an Instagram model and collaborates with other social media influencers. She frequently works with Youtube star Rudy Mancuso and social media influencer Brittany Furlan.
Growing up, Mikaela was very close with her cousin Bobby who had Down syndrome. Her relationship with Bobby inspired her to get involved in philanthropic work and empower others with Down syndrome.
I have dear family members with Down Syndrome, so being able to work with our wonderful ladies in our Dare to Cheer program has been one of the most fulfilling roles I’ve had as a Denver Bronco Cheerleader. As much as we are the teachers and leaders, our wonderful girls teach us so much about just being genuinely happy in every moment, and to smile and laugh through everything. It’s incredible the amount of love these wonderful girls give to us, and tonight is such a beautiful opportunity to give them that same amount of love in return. So grateful to be a part of this evening!
McKenna is a Colorado native. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder where she obtained a B.A. in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences in 2016. During her time at CU she danced for the Colorado Mammoth Wild Bunch, coached the Junior Varsity poms team at Cherry Creek High School, and co-directed the Sparkle Cheerleading squad for student-athletes with special needs. McKenna now works as a behavioral therapist and is in her third season as a Denver Broncos Cheerleader. She is so grateful and humbled to have the opportunity to work with the incredible Dare to Cheer team for the last three years, it has truly been a highlight of her experience as a Denver Broncos Cheerleader.
Jozie is originally from Omaha, Nebraska and moved to Denver following her graduation from Hastings College in 2013. While attending Hastings, Jozie was a student-athlete, earned her B.A. in Web Communication Design and Social Media, was Captain of the Crimson Spirit Dance Team, and was awarded a 1st place – Golden Leaf award by the Collegiate Media Association for her video PSA about bullying. This year, Jozie is in her fourth season as a Denver Broncos Cheerleader (DBC) and first as Captain! While winning Super Bowl 50 was one of her most memorable experiences, Jozie says that her favorite aspect of her role as a DBC is working with Global’s Dare to Cheer team – in her second season as a DBC she was even named Dare To Cheer/Junior Denver Broncos – Instructor of the Year!
Ariel was born and raised in Thornton, Colorado. She graduated with honors from the National Personal Training Institute, which has flourished into her career of personal training, nutritionist, metabolic specialist, group fitness instructor, and fitness blogging. Throughout her life she has been active in her community, played various sports, and always danced. Now beginning her 7th year as a Denver Nuggets Dancer, she is excited that community relations, sports, and dancing still remain part of her life style.
A Colorado native, Monica Thompson was crowned Miss Colorado 2019 in June and will represent Colorado at the Miss America Competition this December, live on NBC. Monica graduated from Oklahoma City University and was the first graduate with an honors double major in vocal performance and musical theater. She is currently pursuing a certificate in nonprofit management and will go on to get her Master’s in communication and media management. With a huge heart for service, Monica’s social impact is “Building Strong Girls.” She has mentored over 60 young women and volunteered over 500 hours of community service. In addition, she has raised over $21,000 for organizations like Girls on the Run, which inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident. Monica hopes to become the executive director of her own nonprofit organization in the future.
Kim Christiansen grew up in Colorado and graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her first job was as a writer and associate producer for the 6AM news at 9News. She went on to work as a writer for the late newscasts and eventually made the transition to general assignment reporter. Her first anchor position was on 9News Saturday Morning. She went on to anchor the 5:00 and 10:00 news on the weekends with Ward Lucas. Kim has won four regional Emmy awards for spot news, news writing and news reporting. Kim is also devoted to the fight against breast cancer. She serves as the spokesperson for the “Buddy Check 9” program and speaks to dozens of community groups about the importance of self-exam and mammography. She’s very close to her family and considers her sister to be her best friend. She currently anchors the 4:00, 5:00, and 10:00 PM news.
Tom Green has been a part of Colorado’s broadcast scene for more than 35 years, recently returning to 9News, where he worked from 1982-95 as an award-winning sportscaster. An exceptional journalist and broadcaster, and passionate sports fan, Tom was named Colorado’s “Sportscaster of the Year” four times, and has won 10 Emmy awards. Over the years, and between his golf games, he’s done a bit of everything on the air, from newscasting, to play-by-play, to even hosting a game show on ESPN – “Sports On Tap.” Many may also remember Tom from his afternoons talking about sports on the radio, co-hosting for three years on “The Fan,” with the legendary Doug Moe. Now, after 15 years of waking people up every morning on Channel 2’s Daybreak, Tom is sleeping in…and back at KUSA-TV, anchoring 9News every day at 4:00 and 5:00 PM with (among others) his co-emcee tonight.