Exceptional Children’s Foundation to mark 80 years with Los Angeles gala

By AI, Created 7:06 PM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – Exceptional Children’s Foundation will hold its 80th Anniversary Gala on June 17 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles to support programs serving nearly 4,000 people across Los Angeles County. The event will honor Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich as the nonprofit highlights eight decades of services for children and adults with developmental disabilities and other special needs.

Why it matters: - Exceptional Children’s Foundation is using its 80th anniversary to raise funds for services that help children and adults with developmental disabilities learn, work, live more independently and stay connected to their communities. - The gala supports programs that serve nearly 4,000 children, adults and families each year across Los Angeles County. - The event comes as disability inclusion remains a major global need, with the World Health Organization estimating 1.3 billion people, or 1 in 6 worldwide, experience significant disability.

What happened: - Exceptional Children’s Foundation will host its 80th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. - The event begins at 6:00 p.m. - ECF will honor Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich for their support of children and adults with special needs and for continuing a family legacy of philanthropy.

The details: - ECF was founded in 1946 by a small group of parents who created Los Angeles’ first daycare and training program for children with developmental disabilities. - The nonprofit now operates as a regional provider focused on disability inclusion, education, employment, independence and community-based support. - ECF serves nearly 4,000 people through 14 service sites, in clients’ homes and in community settings throughout Los Angeles County. - Funds from the gala will support early intervention, Kayne Eras School, therapeutic and mental health services, adult employment and workforce development, Art Centers, community integration, residential services and family support. - Kayne Eras School provides specialized K-12 education for students ages 5 to 22 whose needs cannot be effectively met in traditional school settings. - Exceptional Works helps adults with developmental disabilities build skills, confidence and experience for meaningful employment. - ECF operates four Art Centers across Los Angeles County, where artists with developmental disabilities receive fine arts training, mentorship and opportunities to exhibit and sell their work. - Jenni Kayne’s family helped launch the Kayne Eras School, which later merged with ECF to expand services. - Ric and Suzanne Kayne were honored at the same gala 10 years ago, making this year’s recognition a full-circle moment for the family. - Sponsorship opportunities, tickets and donation information are available through the ECF 80th Anniversary Gala page. - More information is available at ECF.net. - ECF also shared social media links for Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The honor for Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich extends ECF’s emphasis on family philanthropy and long-term community ties. - ECF is framing the anniversary as both a celebration and a call for more investment in disability services. - Veronica Arteaga, ECF’s president and CEO, said the next 80 years will require bold community investment, strong partnerships and a renewed commitment to inclusion.

What’s next: - ECF will use the gala proceeds to sustain and expand its programs across Los Angeles County. - The nonprofit is positioning the anniversary as a springboard for future growth in education, employment, residential support and community inclusion. - ECF says the next phase of work will focus on helping more people with special needs participate fully in community life.

The bottom line: - ECF is marking 80 years by turning its anniversary into a fundraising push for the services that underpin disability inclusion across Los Angeles County.