One Step Beyond, a provider of innovative education programs for adults who have intellectual disabilities in Surprise and across the Valley, raised $175,000 at the annual Help Us Grow Gala.

The Gala was held Nov. 12 at Creighton University in central Phoenix, where guests were treated to inspirational presentations, a live and silent auction, plated dinner and a special tribute to Bonni Schwartz for her many years of advocacy and service for the disability community.

The funds raised from the Gala will support the sustainability and growth of OSBI’s dynamic programming across the Valley that empowers participants who have intellectual disabilities and helps individuals achieve dreams of optimal independence, meaningful employment, significant social relationships and full participation in our communities.

“The HUG Gala celebrates the growth of our participants and recognizes the heroes in our Valley community that have helped advance our mission through their tireless work,” CEO Madison Blanton said. “We are thankful for the generous support of our program needs and the people who participate in them.”

The Gala recognized Schwartz, a longtime advocate for the disability community, and Dentists for Special Needs, a dental practice in Phoenix providing care specifically for special needs patients.

Individuals can support the One Step Beyond mission by making a monetary donation via the One Step Beyond website. OSBI is a qualifying agency for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit where a gift of up to $400 (single filers) or up to $800 (filing jointly) can reduce state tax liability by the same amount.

Sponsorship Partners of the 2022 One Step Beyond HUG Gala included:

Participating Partners

• Friends of Travis McGann

Supporting Partners

• Assured Partners
• The law firm of Beale, Micheaels, Slack & Shughart
• Ed & Chris Schweitzer
• National Bank of Arizona
• Woodside Health

Friends of OSBI

• Anne and Ed Sorgi
• Copper Point Insurance Companies
• Dignity Health
• Grace Huang & Ken Kotsur
• KQ Architects
• Take It Easley Productions
• Trucker Huss
• Westside Speech & Language Services

One Step Beyond’s one-of-a-kind educational, recreational, employment, and life skills programming enables participants to achieve independence, self-sufficiency and employment that enables participants to contribute to and achieve greater social participation in their communities.

Culinary training programs take place in a commercial kitchen with an emphasis on customer service, healthy dietary planning, food preparation, and proper sanitation skills that equip participants with the necessary skills to seek employment in the food industry.

Life skills programs help members strengthen independent living skills, with an emphasis on money management, functional literacy, social skills, and safe community access.

Employment programs provide training and volunteer opportunities for self-reliance that lead to competitive or supported employment. OSBI covers the cost of roundtrip transportation for the member and their job coach to ensure success and a positive experience for the individual and the employer.

Recreation and fine arts programs provide music, art, dance, and fitness with an emphasis on personal wellness.

OSBI also has a formal partnership with Special Olympics with more than 300 OSBI athletes participating in year-round sports training and tournaments. The organization is the first and only campus-based day training program that has a special needs hockey team, The One Step Coyotes.