Geoffrey Holder Raises Awareness for INMF at Feinstein's

Nearly a hundred people gathered at Feinstein's at Loews Regency – The Nightclub of New York for an unforgettable evening of music and dance benefiting the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF).  Guests at this year's Music Has Power Awards enjoyed intimate performances by multi Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Odetta and Tony Award®-winner and acclaimed dancer Geoffrey Holder.  The event, honoring Holder and esteemed neurologist Gottfried Schlaug, MD, PhD, helped raise more than $120,000 to support funding for patient care, education and training in music therapy and scientific research initiatives of the IMNF.

"We thank Odetta and our honorees, Mr. Holder and Dr. Schlaug, for sharing their time and talents to help raise awareness about the power of music to awaken, inspire, and heal," states IMNF Executive Director, Dr. Concetta Tomaino, "This year's Music Has Power Awards Benefit has proved to be another resounding success – we are also grateful to our many supporters for their commitment to helping bring the healing power of music to individuals in need."

A member of the Beth Abraham Family of Health Services, the IMNF's groundbreaking and internationally recognized programs use music therapy to assist in the "awakening and healing" of individuals with a wide-range of neurological conditions including strokes, trauma, dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases.  For the past eight years, The Music Has Power Awards has served as an opportunity to celebrate the visionary spirit and pioneering mission of the IMNF while honoring those individuals whose work contributes to the advancement of vital, often groundbreaking music therapy research, development and programs. 

The 2008 Music Has Power Awards was sponsored by The BNY Mellon Wealth Management with additional support from Feinstein's at Loews Regency, Steinway and Sons, and Ketel One.  Previous recipients of the Music Has Power Awards include Dr. Oliver Sacks, Mickey Hart, Remo Belli, moby, and Henry Z. Steinway.

About the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function (IMNF)

The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and a member of Beth Abraham Family of Health Services.  Founded in 1995, the IMNF is driven by 35 years of clinical observations on the actual effects of music on different types of physical and neurological trauma.  Directed by renowned music therapist Dr. Concetta M. Tomaino, with medical guidance from distinguished neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, its distinctive setting allows researchers to not only apply their theories, but to follow patient rehabilitation in the long term.

The Institute actively collaborates with researchers and practitioners at other leading organizations to advance world progress in understanding and applying the power of music to promote healing and wellness.  Some of the Institute's most promising research has been in the areas of music and language, memory, and recovery from nerve injury – leading to groundbreaking discoveries as to how music therapy can heal. For more information about The Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, visit us at www.imnf.org.

About Beth Abraham Family of Health Services

The Beth Abraham Family of Health Services is a national leader in providing and coordinating residential, home and community-based long term care for chronically ill and disabled adults throughout the New York metropolitan area.  Its continuing care services include residential health care, subacute medical care, rehabilitation, home care, HIV/AIDS home care, comprehensive care management, adult day health care and independent housing facilities for the elderly and disabled.  For more information about the Beth Abraham Family of Health Services, visit us at www.bethabe.org.

About Feinstein's at Loews Regency

Feinstein's at Loews Regency, the Nightclub of New York, was named "Best of New York" by New York and heralded as "an invaluable New York institution by the New York Post. The club was created by Michael Feinstein and the Tisch family to provide an elegant return to the classic era of New York nightlife.  Since opening in 1999, the club has presented jazz stars like Rosemary Clooney, George Shearing and Dame Cleo Laine; Broadway royalty like Chita Rivera, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Patti LuPone; pop/country artists like Glen Campbell, Crystal Gayle and Jimmy Webb; and celebrities like Tony Danza, Susan Lucci and Peter Gallagher.