ECF Gala Raises $1.5M for Lifespan Disability Services

Exceptional Children’s Foundation raised $1.5 million at its 80th anniversary gala in Los Angeles to support services for nearly 4,000 children, adults and families across the county. The event honored Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich for a three-generation family legacy tied to the nonprofit’s Kayne Eras School.

Why it matters: - The $1.5 million haul will help sustain ECF’s services for nearly 4,000 people across Los Angeles County. - ECF is California’s only organization providing disability services across every stage of life, from birth through adulthood. - The funding supports programs that can determine whether clients live independently or rely on institutional care.

What happened: - Exceptional Children’s Foundation marked its 80th Anniversary Gala on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. - Jay Leno headlined the milestone event. - Emmy Award-winning journalist Kristine Lazar served as emcee. - The gala raised $1,500,000. - Jenni Kayne and Richard Ehrlich were honored for their family’s long-running support of ECF and the Kayne Eras School.

The details: - The evening included dinner, live auctions and silent auctions. - ECF said the gala reflected eight decades of community impact. - The Kayne family’s connection to ECF spans three generations. - Ric and Suzanne Kayne, along with Fred and Lenore Kayne and Jerry Kayne, helped launch the Kayne Eras School. - The school later merged with ECF to expand educational resources and support services. - ECF was founded in 1946 by Los Angeles parents who created the city’s first daycare and training program for children with developmental disabilities. - Since then, ECF has grown into one of Southern California’s most comprehensive nonprofit providers of lifespan disability services. - ECF operates programs in early intervention, education, therapeutic and mental health services, adult employment and workforce development, independent living support and residential services. - ECF also runs four Art Centers across Los Angeles County. - The Art Centers provide artists with developmental disabilities professional fine arts training, mentorship and opportunities to exhibit and sell their work. - ECF says it has impacted more than a quarter of a million individuals and families since 1946. - The World Health Organization says 1 in 6 people worldwide lives with significant disability. - ECF’s fundraising supports a Los Angeles-born model for disability inclusion across education, employment, independence, creativity, housing and community life.

Between the lines: - The gala doubled as a statement about scale: ECF is positioning itself as an essential, year-round safety net rather than a single-program nonprofit. - The Kayne family recognition underscored how private philanthropy has helped build institutions that outlast one generation. - Kristine Lazar framed ECF’s work as essential but often unseen, pointing to the organization’s low-profile role in the city’s social fabric.

What's next: - ECF plans to use the gala proceeds to keep its full range of services operating for children, adults and families. - The organization is also inviting ongoing support through more information. - ECF will continue serving Los Angeles County through its school, residential, employment, arts and independent living programs.

The bottom line: - ECF used its 80th anniversary to raise major new support for a model of disability care that stretches across a lifetime, not just a stage of childhood.