Edie Falco, Victor Garber and More Set for Our Time Benefit Gala Tonight

Tonight, April 16th, Our Time – a non-profit organization that has been helping children who stutter for over a decade – holds its 10th Annual Benefit Gala, Tackling Our Fears, Defending Our Dreams, celebrating the bravery and achievements of young people who stutter as well as those who inspire their success.

This event comes one year after the organization honored David Seidler, the Academy Award­winning writer of The King's Speech. This year, Our Time continues its annual tradition of celebrating an accomplished person who stutters by honoring NFL Offensive Lineman Matt Slauson, whose accomplishments on and off the football field inspire kids who stutter to live out their dreams. The organization will bestow its first Advocacy Award to longtime supporter and Chair Emeritus, Budd Mayer, whose support and leadership since the company's inception has been instrumental in its growth and success.

The event features performances and presentations by professional artists and celebrities including Rachel Dratch, Edie Falco, Victor Garber, Mariska Hargitay, Mark Sanchez, Richard Kind, Jesse L. Martin, Matthew Modine, John Oliver, Ron Rifkin, Amy Ryan, cast members from The Book of Mormon, and many more, alongside the talented youth of Our Time's programs. A festive dinner and auction will follow with honorees and celebrities in attendance.

Our Time's Annual Gala raises vital funds to support the organization's programs and services for children who stutter. For over a decade, Our Time has been providing a compassionate community where children who stutter have as much time as needed to express themselves without fear of judgment or ridicule.

Participants gain communication and social skills, as well as enriching friendships with peers who share their challenges with speech. Programs are designed to ensure that all participants experience motivating success while receiving validation from adult mentors and from each other. This therapeutic experience helps youth transform their fear and shame from stuttering into confidence and self-­?acceptance, enabling them to succeed and reach their fullest potential. Through the generous support of Our Time's annual gala, the company offers its NYC programming free of charge and provides financial aid to all youth in need for Camp Our Time.

Over 750 people attend Our Time's Annual Benefit Gala including performing artists, celebrities, journalists, and esteemed philanthropists. This year, Our Time will honor Matt Slauson of the New York Jets whose remarkable achievements as a person who stutters inspire the youth of Our Time's programs to live out their dreams. With sports celebrities and performers from the worlds of music, television, and film in attendance, the true stars of the evening will be Our Time's incredible young participants whose voices have been validated and encouraged by the organization. As 16-­year old Argenis has said, "Before Our Time, I was afraid to speak in public. But now, I can express myself freely."