Success Stories

The Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities

Our Challenge:
Established in 1989 by the family of J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott, the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities enhances employment opportunities for young people with disabilities.  Since 2000, OAI has been charged with the mission of helping to manage and produce the annual Gala that benefits the Bridges from School to Work program.  Each year, OAI faces the challenge of producing a first-class event that yields significant fundraising results and raises awareness for this worthy cause..

Our Solution:
By understanding and adapting to different circumstances throughout the years, OAI has constructed and executed multi-tactic corporate fundraising strategies to increase awareness of the event in new sectors and secure additional corporate sponsorships.  Practicing acute attention to all event details and logistics, the OAI team has produced 12 memorable programs over the years that include keynote speakers such as: General Colin Powell, Former Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs, Former NFL Player Terry Bradshaw, First Lady Laura Bush and MSNBC's Chris Matthews.

The Results:
Throughout our work with the Marriott Foundation, OAI has helped the Bridges Gala become a record-breaking fundraiser.  In 2011, the OAI team helped raised over $1.25 million; a fundraising growth of 150% since 2000.  We continue to look for new areas of growth and improvement, and are working to make the 2012 Gala, our 13th event with the Marriott Foundation, an even more successful event.

Bridges Gala 2011