NEW YORK, NY — The Center for Discovery® (TCFD, The Center) will celebrate the return of its annual Evening of Discovery Gala on Tuesday, May 7, alongside members of the business, health care and entertainment industries. 

Oscar-winner Robert De Niro will provide remarks during the event, which will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City.

The emcee of this year’s event will be Mo Rocca, “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent and humorist, who is also the creator of the podcast “Mobituaries.” The evening’s entertainment will be provided by Philippa Soo, a two-time Grammy Award-winning actress, singer and author, best known for her roles in “Hamilton,” “Into the Woods” and most recently “Camelot.”

De Niro is about to star as the grandfather of a child with autism in the new film “EZRA,” which opens May 31. He has been an important advocate on behalf of individuals with autism and special needs.

The gala is The Center’s leading fundraising event of the year, with proceeds benefiting some of TCFD’s most transformative programs. 

An internationally recognized research and innovation organization, TCFD serves nearly 1,200 children and adults annually who have complex disabilities, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  

The Center is also set to open a groundbreaking Children’s Specialty Hospital—a first-of-its-kind facility in New York State, designed to assess and treat children ages five to 21 who have developmental disabilities and related medical conditions.

During the gala, TCFD board chair Edward Sweeney will be honored for his tireless and life-changing work on behalf of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. Other notable event attendees include Lorraine Bracco, actress; Mikhail Baryshnikov, dancer, choreographer and actor; Susie Essman, comedian and actor; David Remnick, editor of the New Yorker; David Gregory, former host of NBC News’ “Meet the Press”; Rebecca Jarvis, ABC News correspondent; Jackie Alemany, Washington Post reporter; and more.

This year’s event will feature cocktails, a formal dinner, entertainment and live and silent auctions. The auctions also benefit The Center’s most innovative areas of programming. The silent auction features luxury handbags, unique travel and entertainment experiences, tickets to sporting events and more. The silent auction is accepting bids now through Thursday, May 9, at 9 p.m. EST. To view the auction, visit one.bidpal.net/eveningofdiscovery2024/welcome. 

For more information about the event, visit thecenterfordiscovery.org/event/eveningofdiscovery.

About The Center for Discovery

The Center for Discovery is a leading provider of health care and education services for more than 1,200 children and adults with complex conditions, medical frailties and autism spectrum disorders, located 90 miles northwest of New York City. Named a Center of Excellence in 2016, TCFD has long been a leader in developing new models of care for individuals with complex conditions. Located on 1,500 acres of land in Sullivan County, TCFD houses school campuses, residences, medical and research facilities, organic and biodynamic farmland, and leased private businesses offering meaningful employment opportunities. With a focus on an individual’s personal potential and possibilities, rather than a disability, TCFD strives to create better care and unique and challenging opportunities for the most vulnerable populations.

Contributed by The Center for Discovery.