Award-Winning Comedian to Celebrate 20 Years of Service for People with Disabilities

(Camp Hill, Pa.)– The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania (CILCP), a non-profit, community-based resource and service provider managed by and for people with disabilities is celebrating its 20th anniversary by hosting a Celebrating the Journey Benefit Dinner.  On October 22, 2008 at the Hilton Harrisburg & Towers, Tanya Foster, News Anchor of WHP-TV21 will emcee the event to be held.  The Benefit Dinner will include a silent auction and award-winning comedian Michael Beers. Michael Beers is a young comedian and role model to the community.  As a person with a disability, he supports CILCP in its goal to ensure that all persons with a disability will have the opportunity to live well. 

The Celebrating the Journey Benefit Dinner will be an evening of laughter and fun, while recognizing the great efforts made by CILCP to the community and for people with disabilities. The organization has turned barriers into open doors by providing services to individuals with disabilities, families of people with disabilities, and businesses in the community. Through the years, CILCP has assisted with housing modifications; moved individuals out of nursing homes and into their home; created a new fully-accessible fitness center; and educated businesses and community leaders through workshops – just to name a few of their many accomplishments.  

Recently, CILCP launched the Living Well With A Disability program. The program provides support and opportunity for people living with disabilities to LIVE WELL in all aspects of life - from transportation, employment, social opportunities and physical fitness programs,  to meeting the ultimate dreams, such as riding in a helicopter or going whitewater rafting. To continue to provide these opportunities to the nearly 86,000 people living with disabilities in Central PA, proceeds from the Benefit Dinner will go towards expanding the fitness programs and improving the wellness of people with disabilities. 

Theotis Braddy, Executive Director of CILCP states, “As we look back, we are very proud and want to share our accomplishments, but also open up more opportunities for the 86,000 people living with a disability. We want to maximize each person’s ability to live the way they want.  Our journey isn’t ending here – we look forward to another 20 years.”

The evening’s events will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, silent auction and  20th Anniversary exhibit.  Following at 6:30 p.m. will be dinner and dessert, provided by Hilton Harrisburg & Towers, and a Comedy Show by Michael Beers at 8:00 p.m. 
 
Tickets are available now at $50.00 each.  To attend the Celebrating the Journey Benefit Dinner, please contact the Center for Independent Living of Central PA at (717) 731-1900.  If you should need special accommodations, please contact Megan Kurtz at (717) 432-2468.  For TTY, please call (717) 737-1335.  Sign Language Interpreter and CART service will be available. 

Sponsors for the event include McNees Wallace & Nurick, Sign-A-Rama, Gmuender Designs, and Suasion. Event and Supporting Sponsorships are still available. For more information on how you can be a sponsor and touch the lives of people with disabilities in Central PA, contact Megan Kurtz at (717) 432-2468.

About CILCP

The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonresidential organization established for and by people with disabilities and serves Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Mifflin and Juniata counties. CILCP’s vision is to empower people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society.
For more information on the CILCP visit www.cilcp.org, and for more information regarding the press release, please contact Megan Kurtz (Megan@TheSuasionWay.com) or 717.432.2468.

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