Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will receive an award from a Long Island group that advocates for people with developmental disabilities.
The Independent Group Home Living Foundation says the former Republican vice presidential candidate will be honored next weekend on Long Island.
"We reached out to her last fall after her (VP) acceptance speech where she indicated she wanted to be an advocate for special-needs children," said IGHL spokesman Frank Lombardi. "We were pleasantly surprised that she accepted. Then it became a waiting game to see if she's actually be able to attend."
Lombardi said Palin's staff told IGHL late last week that she'd be able to attend. A spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment on Monday.
Palin herself has a special-needs child, a son with Down syndrome.
The fund-raising gala on Sunday also marks the organization's 30th anniversary. Lombardi said he expects Palin to "make some brief comments" to a crowd of more than 1,000 at Flowerfield in St. James on Sunday.
Publishers HarperCollins announced that Palin signed a deal to write a memoir last month, fueling more speculation about a White House run.
Palin is one of several high-profile Republicans thought to be considering presidential runs. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are all expected to consider a run for the White House in 20012.
