This special evening will celebrate the talent, courage, and resilience of young people who stutter, featuring inspiring performances and a festive VIP Hour — all to support SAY’s free and accessible programs that transform the lives of kids and teens who stutter.
Hosted by: Brandon Victor Dixon, Award-Winning Actor and Singer
Honoring: Stephen and Lindsay Bennett, SAY: Budd Mayer Advocacy Award Recipients
By joining us at SAY’s DC Benefit Gala, you are investing in a future where young people who stutter are seen, supported, and celebrated. Too many children and teens who stutter face teasing, misunderstanding, and isolation, and begin to question whether their voices belong in the room. On this evening, we will come together to send a powerful message: every voice deserves to be heard. Your presence and support help SAY provide life-changing programs that build confidence, community, and courage. Stand with us in our nation’s capital and help ensure that no child who stutters ever feels silenced. We can’t do it without you.
Join us for a night of joy, connection, and advocacy, where new friends and long-time supporters alike come together to champion the young people we serve. SAY’s DC Benefit Gala is a unique opportunity to experience the energy and impact of our community firsthand.
Reserve your tickets today, or support SAY as a sponsor or donor if you can’t attend. We look forward to sharing this special night with you!
Through SAY, we’ve watched Lucas grow in confidence and self-advocacy. This community has reinforced that every voice deserves to be heard and valued. SAY has strengthened not only Lucas’ belief in himself, but our family’s commitment to ensuring that children who stutter have the opportunity to speak boldly and live fully."
See Last Year's Inaugural DC Benefit Gala!
The DC community has always been a source of inspiration for Taro Alexander, Founder of SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young. Raised in DC, Taro discovered his creative voice here with the support of family, friends, and teachers at The Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Having stuttered since age 5, Taro dreamed of an organization like SAY—one that could provide young people who stutter with the encouragement and understanding they deserve.
Since 2001, that dream has become a transformative reality. With permanent branches in New York City, Washington, DC, and Melbourne, Australia, as well as a two-week, overnight summer camp and special outreach events across North America, SAY has changed the lives of young people who stutter and their families. Through innovative programs addressing the physical, social, and emotional impacts of stuttering, SAY ensures every child has the time and space to speak—because every voice matters. Committed to inclusion, SAY provides financial assistance to over 75% of families, ensuring no child is turned away due to an inability to pay.
Over nearly 25 years, SAY has welcomed countless courageous young people. Watching their transformation—from silence to confidence—has been profound. With your support, SAY continues to build a world where every voice is celebrated and heard.
Looking for other ways to support SAY? Reach out to SAY’s Development Manager, Kate Detrick, at kate@say.org
Brandon Victor Dixon, following his Emmy Award-nominated turn opposite John Legend as Judas in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar, has since starred in FOX’s RENTonFOX, Amazon’s Modern Love, the STARZ hit POWER, and PEACOCK’s The Best Man. Prior to that, he completed a star turn as Aaron Burr in the cast of Hamilton on Broadway. A Presidential Scholar Semi-finalist and scholarship winner at the British Academy of Dramatic Acting in Oxford, Brandon is a graduate of Columbia University and a recipient of the University’s I.A.L Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts which is an honor he shares with Tony Kushner (Angels in America), Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change) and Katori Hall (Mountaintop, TINA on Broadway).
Since his professional debut, originating the role of Adult Simba in The Lion King national tour (Cheetah), Brandon has displayed his diverse abilities in a number of roles. Notably, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as Harpo in Broadway’s The Color Purple, a Grammy for his portrayal of Berry Gordy Jr. in Motown The Musical, and he was nominated for Olivier, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and AUDELCO awards for his outstanding portrayal of Haywood Patterson in Kander and Ebb’s The Scottsboro Boys. Most recently, he performed on Broadway in the role of Davis in Hell’s Kitchen.
Brandon has appeared in concert with various artists such as Burnt Sugar: The Arkestra Chamber, Jennifer Hudson, Nathan Lane, Wynton Marsalis, Chita Rivera, Liza Minnelli, David Hyde Pierce, and Tony winners Levi Kries, Kelli O’Hara, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Other Credits include: One Life To Live, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Good Wife, and She’s Gotta Have It. He has produced multiple works, including the Tony Award-winning Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris, and the political thriller 88 (available on all platforms). Originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland, Brandon currently resides in New York City.
Stephen and Lindsay Bennett, along with their children Lucas and Madelyn, are proud to call North Bethesda, Maryland, home. Stephen is a third-generation resident of Montgomery County, where his family’s longstanding roots have shaped their strong ties to the community. Lindsay, a communications executive and New Jersey native, shares a deep appreciation for the power of voice and connection. Together, they have embraced opportunities to invest in the community that has long supported their family.
The Bennetts were first introduced to SAY through its speech therapy offerings for Lucas and discovered the broader SAY community several years ago when they traveled to New York City for the Paul Rudd bowling benefit. Inspired by the mission and the powerful sense of belonging they experienced, they have since involved themselves in advocacy, fundraising, and sharing SAY’s mission throughout their extended network and beyond. Lucas’ grandparents, Maggie and Millard, quickly embraced the organization as well, helping to expand SAY’s reach within their own circles.