Community Members to be Honored at Philadelphia Phillies Game for Special Needs and Disabilities Advocacy

Philadelphia, PA, May 08, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Members of your community will be honored for their lives, work and advocacy on behalf of the 54.6 million people living with disabilities in the United States, during Disability Awareness Night™ (DAN™), a special event taking place at home plate on May 12, 2009, at 7:05 PM, before the Philadelphia Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.

The event is hosted by EP Global Communications, Inc., publisher of Exceptional Parent (EP) magazine, a resource for people with disabilities and special needs and the family members and professionals who care for them. The EP Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award will be presented to Carl Webster.

Webster is the current Executive Director and CEO of Easter Seals of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Under his guidance Easter Seals of Southeaster Pennsylvania provides therapeutic and educational services to over 4000 children and adults with disabilities in five counties.

Disability Awareness Night began in 2002 when Exceptional Parent magazine combined forces with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox to create this event, the first of its kind. The program now encompasses both Major and Minor League Baseball venues, the NBA and NASCAR, in events across the nation.

“Our goal is to help all Americans understand that we will become a stronger nation and better human beings when we learn to regard people with disabilities and special needs as people to be respected, not as problems to be confronted,” said Joseph M. Valenzano, president and CEO of EP Global Communications, Inc.

EP Global Communications is a 38-year-old award-winning multimedia company that provides information for families and professionals involved in the care and development of people with disabilities and special healthcare needs via Exceptional Parent magazine, EParent.com, EP Bookstore, EP LiveOnline and community outreach programs such as Disability Awareness Night.

MassMutual Financial Group and its SpecialCaresm program has been the exclusive national financial services sponsor of Disability Awareness Night since 2003.

“Our sponsorship of this Disability Awareness Night deepens MassMutual’s commitment to supporting people with disabilities and other special needs, and their families,” said Joanne Gruszkos, director of the MassMutual SpecialCare program. “Through our work with EP, Easter Seals and our specially trained and certified SpecialCare planners, we are trying to raise the general awareness of the unique needs of this population, and provide the means for them to develop a life plan that will enable a special needs family to obtain the best quality of life possible.”

If you would like more information, please contact Randy Newsome, Director of Special Projects, EP Global Communications, Inc., at 856-628-3500 or rnewsome@eparent.com.

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