Emceeing PRIDE Industries’ 60th Anniversary Diamond Gala
Some nights feel bigger than the moment you are in. Nights where you pause and quietly remind yourself, this is real life.
Emceeing PRIDE Industries’ 60th Anniversary Diamond Gala was one of those nights.
But like most extraordinary moments, it did not begin under the lights of a stage or on a red carpet. It began weeks earlier through preparation, partnership, and a deep sense of responsibility.
Weeks of Preparation Behind the Scenes
Events like this do not just happen.
They are carefully orchestrated through weeks of planning including online meetings, scripting the evening’s flow, coordinating with PRIDE’s incredible team, in person run throughs, and navigating the many administrative details that come with producing a major gala.
PRIDE Industries runs a tight ship, and Marty and I approached this opportunity with the same professionalism and respect we bring to every engagement through The Alycia Anderson Company.
But beneath the logistics and planning, something deeper was quietly unfolding for me.
A sense of reverence.
Because this was not just another event.
This night was about honoring someone whose life’s work shaped my own freedom.
A Chance Elevator Meeting That Changed Everything
My connection to Congressman Tony Coelho began just a year earlier in Washington, DC.
We were both attending WAWABILITY’s celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act when we happened to find ourselves waiting for an elevator together.
Sometimes the most important conversations start in the most unexpected places.
That brief introduction led to Tony joining me on my podcast, Pushing Forward with Alycia. Our conversation quickly became one of the most meaningful interviews I have ever conducted and as Tony later shared with me, one of his favorite interviews of himself.
He began sharing the episode with friends, colleagues, and partners across his professional world. What started as a podcast interview evolved into an ongoing friendship and collaboration.
So when I was asked to emcee PRIDE’s 60th Anniversary Gala honoring Tony with a Lifetime Achievement Award, it felt deeply personal.
A Relationship Close to Home
My relationship with PRIDE Industries had been growing well before the gala.
PRIDE just happens to be headquartered in my own hometown, and their impact is something Marty and I see every single day. We literally watch PRIDE buses transporting employees and program participants through our own neighborhood.
What began as a LinkedIn connection turned into a tour of their facilities and meaningful conversations about ways we might work together. Over time, the alignment between PRIDE’s mission and my work in disability inclusion became undeniable.
So when the opportunity arose to come together for this milestone celebration, it felt completely natural.
A Night Worth Dressing For
When the evening finally arrived, it felt like stepping into something special.
I wore a sparkling red sequin gown that made its entrance long before I did, lighting up the red carpet and carrying that energy with me onto the stage throughout the evening.
And Marty had to rise to the occasion as well. He even rented a tuxedo for the night.
The two of us walked into the room feeling both humbled and excited to be part of such an important celebration.
Among Leaders and Friends
The gala brought together a remarkable cross section of leaders from across the Sacramento Valley.
We had the privilege of sitting at the table with Tony Coelho and his personal guests, along with representatives from Thunder Valley Casino, former Capitol City radio host Kat Maudru, and Lisa Peters, wife of Randy Peters of Randy Peters Catering whose team masterfully handled the evening’s culinary experience.
Even current US Congressman Kevin Kiley made a quick appearance at the event, adding to the incredible mix of leaders and supporters gathered to celebrate PRIDE Industries and Tony’s legacy.
Between courses, conversations flowed about leadership, disability inclusion, community impact, and the legacy that PRIDE Industries has built over six decades.
The Moment on Stage
As emcee, my role was to guide the evening.
Introducing speakers.
Transitioning between professional videos.
Welcoming special guests.
But the emotional centerpiece of the night was presenting Tony Coelho with the Lifetime Achievement Award and sitting down with him for a live on stage conversation.
Interviewing Tony again, this time in front of a room filled with leaders, advocates, and community members, was something I will never forget.
Tony is many things. A former Congressman, the architect of the ADA, and a tireless advocate.
But what stands out most is his heart.
He leads with humility, kindness, and an unwavering belief that the world can be better for everyone.
Sitting there across from him, I could not help but think about the reality that the freedoms I live with today were written into law because of people like him.
That moment was not just professional.
It was personal.
Dancing, Gratitude, and Perspective
After the program concluded, Marty and I shared a quiet moment of celebration ourselves.
We took a spin on the dance floor, reflecting on the evening, the people we met, and the incredible journey that has unfolded since launching The Alycia Anderson Company full time.
Nights like this make us pause.
Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves just to make sure we are not dreaming.
Because the opportunities that have come our way, the people we have met, the stages we have stood on, and the impact we have been able to create are things we never take for granted.
A Legacy That Continues
PRIDE Industries has spent 60 years proving what is possible when inclusion is not just talked about but built.
Honoring Tony Coelho that night felt like recognizing the bridge between two powerful forces.
A movement that fought for civil rights.
And organizations like PRIDE that continue turning those rights into real opportunity every single day.
For me, it was an evening filled with gratitude.
For the friendships.
For the partnerships.
For the purpose that connects all of it.
And most of all, for the chance to stand on a stage and say thank you to someone whose life’s work changed the lives of millions, including mine.
Some nights are events.
Some nights become part of your story.
This one will always be both.