Bernadette Peters, The Center for Discovery, and The Monderer Foundation Announce the Michael Wittenberg Center for Imagination

HARRIS, N.Y., May 30, 2012  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bernadette Peters, The Center for Discovery, and The Monderer Foundation announced today the naming of the Michael Wittenberg Center for Imagination at The Center for Discovery.

"The Center for Discovery has created a remarkable program—unique in the area—that supports the most severely disabled children and adults," said Ms. Peters, a two-time Tony award-winning actress/singer/comedienne. "Michael was deeply connected to the environment, good health, and the protection of all living creatures. With its focus on promoting wellness and health to expand life's possibilities for a very vulnerable group of people, The Center for Discovery is the embodiment of Michael's life passions."

The Center for Discovery provides individuals with a range of disabilities and medical frailties innovative educational, clinical, residential, and social and creative arts experiences designed to enrich their lives through personal accomplishment. The new Michael Wittenberg Center for Imagination inspires adults and children to evolve new options for living.

"The Center for Discovery has one of the most current and innovative educational approaches distinguished by a philosophy that celebrates each individual's abilities rather than his or her disabilities," said Carol Turchin Monderer, CEO of The Monderer Foundation. "The Monderer Foundation's mission is to support multiply challenged children and adults. We are delighted to be involved in supporting The Center for Discovery."

"We commend Bernadette Peters for her passion, and we thank her for lending her voice to support The Center for Discovery," said Patrick H. Dollard, President and CEO of The Center for Discovery. "Adults and children come here to learn of our responsibility to respect and care for ourselves, our families, our neighbors, our animals, and nature in all its forms. It is for these reasons that we name the heart of The Center for Discovery the 'Michael Wittenberg Center for Imagination.' The entire center gratefully acknowledges Bernadette Peters and The Monderer Foundation for their support of The Center for Discovery."

About The Center For Discovery (www.thecenterfordiscovery.org)
The Center for Discovery, established in 1948, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, nationally recognized provider of educational, health, and residential services for children and adults with severe disabilities and medical frailties. The Center offers individuals and their families innovative educational, clinical, residential, and social and creative arts experiences designed to enrich their lives through personal accomplishment. The Center is located on a multi-campus setting in Sullivan County, New York.

About Bernadette Peters (www.bernadettepeters.com)
Throughout her illustrious career, Tony Award-winning actress Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage and television, in concert, and on recordings. Recently, she added author and songwriter to her roster of achievements with her children's books, Stella is a Star! and Broadway Barks, named after the organization that she co-founded with friend Mary Tyler Moore. Ms. Peters also works with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Standing Tall, and Actors Fund of America. She is the recipient of the 2012 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for contributions to charitable and humanitarian causes.

About The Monderer Foundation (www.mondererfoundation.org)
The Monderer Foundation is a private foundation with a mission to support multiply challenged children and adults.

CONTACT:

Bernadette Peters
Judy Katz
Judy Katz Public Relations
(212) 489-5595
[email protected]

The Center for Discovery
Doreen A. Fitzpatrick
(845) 707-8504
[email protected]

The Monderer Foundation
Mary Moynihan
(802) 951-9600
[email protected]   

SOURCE The Monderer Foundation