Achievements are made every day in the workforce by people with disabilities and the employers that give them a chance. That’s why Brevard Achievement Center (BAC) is hosting its first Employ. Empower: Achieve (E2A) Awards on Wednesday, October 25 at 8:30 a.m. in the Hilton Rialto. The new awards ceremony honors organizations and individuals across Brevard for creating opportunities that help persons with disabilities achieve personal success. The E2A awards also are timed to coincide with National Disability Employment Awareness Month held each October.

“The local business community has made significant strides in giving individuals with disabilities opportunities to learn new work skills, or be employed,” said BAC President and CEO, Amar Patel. “The E2A awards is our small way of honoring those employers and individuals who stand out from the rest.”

BAC’s first E2A awards will be presented to:

Brevard County Clerk of the Court: Employ, Empower Award
Recognizes organizations that create work opportunities in the community for individuals with disabilities.

Brevard Zoo: Moving Forward Award
Recognizes individuals and/or organizations that have made special efforts to assist people with disabilities in gaining new skills or improving access to employment opportunities.

Karen Kirkland – Carr, Riggs & Ingram: Believe and Achieve Award
Recognizes individuals with disabilities who have made significant personal strides in achieving success in work and/or life

In addition to the community-wide breakfast and awards ceremony, sit-down, stand-up comedian and motivational speaker, Brett Leake, will serve as entertainment. Leake was the first comedian with a physical disability to be featured on The Tonight Show and is a National Humor Treasure Award recipient who joins the ranks of, among others, Gilda Radner, Victor Borge, Sid Caesar, The Smothers Brothers, Art Buchwald, Steve Allen, Bob Newhart and Jay Leno.

Tickets are $20 per person or $160 per table of eight. Purchase tickets or contact Susan McGrath for more information.