Because we believe life is sacred, Hattie Larlham enhances the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through our commitment to comfort, joy and achievement.
We went big for the brightest event of the year! The 25th Annual Bright & Blue Gala was a luminous success and we had an incredible time celebrating with more than 300 wonderful guests. We kicked things off with our Cheers! Cocktail Party presented by OneDigital. During the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed opportunities to win prizes and support Hattie Larlham at our Diamond Dig and Big Dig Day raffles presented by Lakeside Sand & Gravel, Apple Raffle thanks to Callahan’s Flooring, and YETI Pong Pop-A-Shot Raffle supported by Beverage Distributors and Tito’s! As always, our basket raffles and silent auction were filled with amazing items as well. New this year was a featured live art demonstration. Hattie Larlham Center residents Nolan and Vicky, along with Art Coach Marlee Decker, demonstrated the creativity behind our art enrichment program. Their creations were featured in our live auction later in the night. Thank you to our 25th Anniversary Art Sponsor, Marci Matthews! The cocktail hour featured open bars with Tito’s specialty drinks, passed hors d’oeuvres and small plate dinner stations. Once seated for our program, our guests were treated to specialty desserts, delivered tableside with some sparkling flare. While enjoying the confections, everyone enjoyed watching our annual video premier, and were guided through our Fund-a-Need and Live auctions by master auctioneer Rob Talecky. For a grand finale, it was our honor to present awards to some very deserving recipients. We were thrilled to present our Luminary Legacy award Adrienne Vichill of OneDigital. Though often expressed with grace and humility rather than fanfare, Adrienne's extraordinary dedication has illuminated a path for others to follow. The impact of her generosity, advocacy, and leadership will be felt for generations to come serving as a powerful reminder that true leadership is measured not only by what one achieves, but by the lives one enriches along the way. In honor of Hattie Larlham's 65th anniversary year, we presented two Lifetime Impact Awards to Judge Joseph Giulitto and our friends at Lakeside Sand & Gravel. Many thanks to everyone who supported the 2026 Bright & Blue Gala. It was truly our honor to host you and we are already looking forward to next year's event! Please use the button below to view the full gallery of photos captured by photographer Kim Slezak. View Photo Gallery
Event Details4,320 classroom education hours dedicated to students at Dahlberg Gibson Learning Center each year.
2,700+ community trips taken by Adult Day Support and Recreation each year.
400+ job seekers served through Employment Services programs in 2024.
For the Callahan family, connection has always been key. As local business owners of Callahan’s Flooring, Christine and Larry take pride in the work that they do connecting with and serving the needs of the Hudson community and surrounding neighborhoods. As parents, they’re actively involved with the Hudson school system,... Continue Reading
“Emily can be quiet. You know, she can just quietly mind her business, and you may not pay attention to her. So, to have people that are interested in keeping her engaged and involving her, that’s the number one thing that I want.” Scott’s daughter, Emily, began her journey with Hattie... Continue Reading
“Oh, she’s always learning new things...they’ve done craft and pottery types of things, so she’s learning all types of things and learning social skills as they’re out in the community.” If there’s anyone who can attest to the impact and fun that comes out of Hattie Larlham’s Franklin County Recreation program,... Continue Reading
Each year, Hattie Larlham’s Dahlberg Gibson Learning Center serves more than 120 students and their families. Starting with home-based early intervention for infants as young as 18 months, Dahlberg supports and nurtures our little learners all the way through their preschool years spent at the school in Columbus. For students... Continue Reading
Are you looking for a fulfilling, mission-oriented career? Hattie Larlham has a wide variety of full time and part time positions available.