At this year’s gala, 2,000-plus guests showed support for the PACER Center, which helps families with children and young adults with disabilities. Academy Award-winning actress and Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson performed, celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern was the emcee, and WCCO TV’s Frank Vascellaro helped raise the bids during the live auction. Laura Cooper, a young adult with Williams Syndrome, gleefully danced in the aisle with Jennifer Hudson. Following her moment in the spotlight, Cooper told PACER executive director Paula Goldberg that the night made the dream of her life come true.
