Trumbull, CT - Martin D. Schwartz, the first President and CEO of The Kennedy Center, will be retiring in January 2018. As a tribute to his nearly 39 years of outstanding leadership, The Kennedy Center’s headquarters in Trumbull will be dedicated and named in his honor on Monday, December 18.
The ribbon cutting will take place at 2440 Reservoir Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., following by a light breakfast of coffee and bagels. Area legislators, staff, volunteers, clients and supporters will be in attendance.
The Kennedy Center’s Board of Directors initially made this major announcement during the Center’s 53rd Annual Four Seasons Ball at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton, where Marty was recently honored before a sold-out crowd of over 300 guests.
Michele Macauda of Monroe, Chair of the Kennedy Center Board noted, “All our board members felt it was fitting to commemorate Marty’s many achievements and dedicate the Reservoir Avenue headquarters in his honor. He has certainly been one of the biggest advocates in the state of Connecticut for people with disabilities. Marty’s leadership and foresight is recognized both in Connecticut and throughout the country.”
When Marty Schwartz became the first President and CEO of The Kennedy Center in 1978, this small community-based rehabilitation organization was a grassroots non-profit founded in 1951 by its namesake Evelyn Kennedy and 12 parents. At the time, the agency served less than 200 adults with intellectual disabilities, employed 48 staff, and operated with an annual budget of $776,000. Now, The Kennedy Center serves over 2,000 individuals annually from birth through their senior years with a variety of disabilities, employs over 750 staff, and operates with an annual $32 million budget. Today, the agency is one of the largest employers in the region and one of the largest rehabilitation organizations in the State of Connecticut.
The Kennedy Center offers a broad range of programs and services for children, adults, and the elderly with diverse disabilities through its Rehabilitation Services, Residential Services and Kennedy Industries Divisions. Presently, Some of the noteworthy programs include: birth to three services; after school supports; the establishment of 31 community experience programs and 16 group homes; an industries program composed of six businesses providing competitive services in cleaning, scanning/shredding, catering, lawncare and framing; acquired brain injury support services; mental health services and the Maggie Daly Arts Cooperative (MDAC) in downtown Bridgeport offering unique opportunities for artists with and without disabilities for creation and expression in a supportive environment.
During his tenure at The Kennedy Center, new needs evolved in the community where program services were limited or non-existent. Marty listened to the parents; worked with his highly trained staff; and along with the Board of Directors, found the funding for these new initiatives and created one groundbreaking program after another. In doing so, The Kennedy Center established itself as a noted and nationally recognized rehabilitation organization delivering quality innovative program services. Some examples include Travel Training, Caring for the Caregiver and The Norma F. Pfriem Alzheimer’s Center at Faust Hall, all of which were firsts in Connecticut to address these needs. In addition to the development of many new programs, Marty also oversaw two major million dollar capital campaigns that led to the expansion of The Kennedy Center.
Beyond The Kennedy Center, he has extended his leadership ability to numerous community and philanthropic organizations throughout the state. He has served as President of the Trumbull Chamber of Commerce, President of the Probus Club of Greater Bridgeport, and President of the Connecticut Community Providers Association, the statewide advocacy organization for organizations serving individuals with disabilities. In 2000, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Bridgeport. Other honors have included the Regional Leadership Award from the Bridgeport Regional Business Council; Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award from the Bridgeport Dental Association; Probian of the Year from the Probus Club of Bridgeport; Lifetime Achievement Award from the Connecticut Community Providers Association; and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Humanitarian Award.
On the national level, Marty has been an accreditation surveyor from 1984 to the present for CARF, the international accreditation body for rehabilitation organizations. His commitment to excellence is unparalleled. Since 1981, The Kennedy Center has sought and consistently achieved the highest accreditation from CARF. Most recently, the organization has received three perfect accreditations, an outstanding accomplishment achieved by less than 1% of those seeking accreditation internationally.
Visit www.thekennedycenterinc.org for more information.