More than 600 people attended Ability Beyond Disability’s sold out “Reach For The Stars Gala” held in late April in Danbury. After weeks of tallying the numbers, it was found that the local community raised over $720,000 in support of people with disabilities – a record breaking number.

Ability Beyond Disability, which is headquartered in Bethel, serves more than 1,500 people with disabilities each year and relies heavily on philanthropic support to fill the gaps between the funding it receives and the needs of the people it serves.

The annual gala is Ability Beyond Disability’s largest fundraising event. Held at the Amber Room Colonnade, the Reach For The Stars Gala raised funds through sponsorships, ticket sales and ads prior to the event. The evening featured silent and live Auctions – to which scores of area businesses and individuals donated items and services – and a special auction titled “Lend-a-Hand,” in which people simply raised their hands and gave outright gifts to the mission of Ability Beyond Disability.

“The event was a great success – raising more money than ever before,” said Tom Fanning, President/CEO of AbilityBeyond Disability. “I would like to personally thank all of our donors...for helping to make the evening so special."

The co-chairs for this year’s gala were David and Darren Beylouni, along with their wives Kristin and Melissa. The Beylouni’s are both residents and business owners in the greater Danbury area. Darren and Kristin reside in Ridgefield while David and Melissa live in Newtown. The brothers jointly own Colonial Ford-Lincoln, Colonial Subaru and Colonial Mazda in Danbury.

“The dedication and generosity of our supporters is unparalleled,” said David Cappiello, Vice President of Development forAbility Beyond Disability.  “The excitement and commitment of our co-chairs, boards, volunteers and staff members is infectious…everyone in the room could feel it."

Premier Sponsors for the event included: American Express, Colonial Automobile Group, Mercer and PepsiCo EnAble.

Ability Beyond Disability provides a wide range of services for over 1,500 people with a disability that inhibits their activities of daily living -- including numerous residential alternatives, employment training, career counseling, job placement services, cognitive and life skills instruction, clinical and therapeutic support, and volunteer and recreational activities. Today, its services extend far beyond the Danbury community into much of Connecticut and the Hudson Valley, N.Y. For more information about Ability Beyond Disability go to www.abilitybeyonddisability.org.