Friendship Circle to Host The Magic of Being Uniquely You April 7

It will be a celebration of the things that make us different and special, as Friendship Circle teens, young adults and supporters of the nonprofit organization, party the night away.

Join the Philly Friendship Circle’s “The Magic of Being Uniquely You Gala” on Sunday, April 7 at 5 p.m.at the Hilton Hotel, 4200 City Line Ave., Philadelphia. The annual event, hosted this year by Nancy and Martin Black, honors and celebrates the teens and young adults who make Friendship Circle the unique and welcoming organization it is.

Philly Friendship Circle connects teens and young adults to others their age with special needs, and their families, through a full range of social offerings. Inspired by the power of genuine friendship, the organization’s young people cultivate understanding, kindness and responsibility while ensuring a caring and inclusive community. Participation spans 75 schools throughout the Philadelphia suburban region.

Feeling Acknowledged and Respected

Leon and Allyson (Ally) Abramson, two Huntingdon Valley siblings, each have special needs. Yet that hasn’t stopped them from co-chairing the upcoming gala event with their neurotypical friends Sophie Levin, of Rydal, and Sarah Levin, of Chestnut Hill.

Leon eloquently proved his communication difficulties haven’t stopped him from being uniquely himself, thanks to his time at the Philly Friendship Circle. His feeling like an outsider around most people but feeling like himself when he’s with his Philly Friendship Circle friends are expressed in a poem.

“Most of my life … Kids my age don’t say hi when I walk in the room … not here,” he expresses. “Most of my life … I don’t get to choose what I do or how I do it … not here. Most of my life… People don’t have the patience to learn how I communicate … not here. Where is here? Philly Friendship Circle, a place where I can be uniquely me.”

Jennifer Abramson, Leon and Ally’s mom, said her son’s poem shows that even while he might be a quiet person who does not seek out attention from others, it matters to Leon that people often ignore him. “He’s a really quiet and content person and he often, because of that, is an observer,” she said. “Because he’s not very loud, people don’t notice him. At Friendship Circle, he’s part of the circle like everyone else. He’s acknowledged and respected like everyone else there.”

A Friend is a Friend

Sophie recently described what it’s like to communicate with Ally, who is nonverbal, and demonstrated how there are a variety of ways to talk to someone.

Those who know Sophie, she said, will say she is someone who likes to talk a lot. That made it a challenge to interact with someone like Ally, at least at first. Yet it wasn’t long before the two found a way to connect with each other.

“Ally communicates with me through noises and facial expressions, and because I spent a lot of time with her over the years - I know what she is “saying” through her physical behavior,” said Sophie. Gala attendees will learn more about Sophie and Ally’s deep relationship, including how a dance class brought them together.

Through her interactions with Ally, Sophie has learned a valuable lesson about relationships.

“It doesn’t matter if a person has different needs than me; a friend is a friend,” said Sophie.

Likewise, having a friend like Sophie to interact with her daughter is extremely important, Jennifer said. “It’s isolating to not have speech as a mode of communication,” she said. Having conversations with Sophie encourages Ally to become more efficient with her communication skills. “Those experiences are empowering for Ally.”

For both of her children, having a chance to co-chair the gala event means a lot. The family has been involved with Philly Friendship Circle for 10 years. Seeing the way the organization has taken great care to make sure Ally and Leon have both been involved with the planning and direction of the gala and the decisions made speaks volumes.

Having a place that truly cares about her children like Philly Friendship Circle is a blessing. “There are not a lot of programs out there for kids with more significant challenges like them,” she said. “The Philly Friendship Circle does it, and does it with class. It’s really a light that others should look towards. We’re happy to be a part of it.”

Parking and registration for the gala begins at 4:45 p.m. and the program will kick-off promptly at 5:15 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner and wine bar. Kosher dietary laws will be observed. Complimentary valet service will be available. The attire is dressy casual. Individual tickets are on sale for $125 per person. For full details, visit PhillyFriendship.com/gala.