The iBRAIN Gala, held on May 5, 2025, at The Central Park Boathouse, was featured in The New York Times. The article highlights the event's celebration of the students and staff at iBRAIN, showcasing their achievements and the organization's commitment to supporting individuals with brain injuries and brain-based disorders.
While the Met Gala went blue, the iBRAIN Gala was the only true red carpet on the first Monday of May and the most important social event of the season!
On the first Monday of May 2020—amid a global pandemic—two brave students, Sarah Jane and Mykel, became the first to return to school in the U.S., leading iBRAIN's historic reopening. Five years later, the iBRAIN Gala commemorates this moment with a red carpet event celebrating the real superheroes of New York: students defying the odds and staff transforming lives. Featuring glamorous superheroes, groundbreaking exoskeletons, and children walking for the first time.
The iBRAIN Gala is on the First Monday of May to commemorate a monumental milestone in our journey. On that day in 2020, in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, iBRAIN became the first school in America to reopen for in-person learning. This year we’re celebrating the 5th year anniversary of our reopening.
While the Met Gala unfolds just blocks away, the iBRAIN Gala is the true celebration of the most beautiful people in New York City — our students and staff. Their strength, compassion, and relentless pursuit of excellence embody the glamourous superhero spirit of this event.
This powerful moment is part of an active research project exploring the use of Exoatlet Bambini, a lower-limb exoskeleton, to facilitate mobility in children with brain injuries and brain-based disorders. Early findings show promising improvements in walking ability, comfort, and endurance. We are currently seeking sponsorships to help expand this groundbreaking initiative and give more children the chance to take their first steps.
Dear Friends,
I am excited to invite you to the most important event happening in New York City on the First Monday Of May - the iBRAIN Gala on May 5, 2025. This is a day that marks not just a date on the calendar, but a monumental milestone in our journey. Five years ago, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in NYC, iBRAIN was the first school in America to reopen and return to in-person learning. My daughter, Sarah Jane, and her schoolmate, Mykel, were the first two students to return to school in the U.S. that day (see below the historic photo of them on the First Monday of May 2020 back in school).
It was an ambitious move born out of dedication and a promise to never let our students’ progress and potential be compromised. We actually followed the science and did not require the students to wear masks and created our own internal contact tracing protocols which allowed iBRAIN to remain fully open throughout the remainder of the pandemic!
The path was not easy. We overcame countless challenges and navigated obstacles that many thought insurmountable. Our amazing staff, whose unwavering commitment often goes unrecognized, played a pivotal role in ensuring our students received the education, care, and support they deserved—even in the most trying times.
As we celebrate this historic date, we are also making a bold statement. While the First Monday Of May coincides with the glitz of the Met Gala (which is being held a few blocks away from our event at The Central Park Boathouse), the iBRAIN Gala is the true celebration of the most beautiful people in New York City — our students and staff. Their strength, compassion, and relentless pursuit of excellence define who we are and set the foundation for a future where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Our theme for the night is Glamorous Superheroes, which means attendees will either dress glamorously or as a superhero or as a glamorous superhero!
With the assistance of the Exo-Skeleton, some of our students have been experiencing walking for the first time in their lives at iBRAIN. We will be highlighting this amazing technology during the iBRAIN Gala (see details on the following page) as some of our students will be walking for the first time in public on the iBRAIN Gala Red Carpet.
Thank you for joining us on this remarkable journey. With your continued support, we are poised to change the lives of hundreds, thousands, and eventually millions of students across the world. I am excited for the future and honored to have you alongside us as we build it together.
With deepest gratitude,
Patrick B. Donohue, JD, MBA
Founder and Chairman, iBrain
Father, Sarah Jane Donohue
The first two students in America to return to school during the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the beginning of iBRAIN’s superhero legacy.
The iBRAIN Gala isn’t just an event—it’s a movement. Whether you're a parent, partner, journalist, or superhero-in-disguise, there are many ways to support and celebrate the incredible students and staff of iBRAIN:
Request a Media Kit – For press inquiries, story coverage, and brand assets.
Download the Gala Brochure – Get full event details, sponsorship tiers, and the story behind our mission.
📩 Email: dvorontzov@ibrainnyc.org
