Center Hosts Reception in Support of Aphasia Program

On May 13, The Ruth Smadbeck Center, located at Marymount Manhattan College, hosted a fundraising reception in support of the Byrd Drucker Fund and the Center's Aphasia Program.

Aphasia is the communication disorder resulting from brain damage. Stroke survivors often have trouble with communication, feeding and other cognitive and physical skills. The Smadbeck Center, part of the College's Department of Communications Sciences and Disorders, offers a Saturday and weekday Aphasia Program that provides stroke survivors and their families conversation, socialization and activities to enhance, speech, language, memory and other skills.

In 2001, Byrd Drucker suffered a stroke, altering his ability to communicate, eat and walk. Shortly thereafter, he started treatment at The Smadbeck Center. To show their gratitude following his passing, the Drucker Family established The Byrd Drucker Aphasia Fund to support the Center in providing services to stroke survivors and their families.

At the reception, members of the community gathered in the Great Hall to listen to special guests including Janet Drucker, wife of the late Byrd Drucker; Abby Drucker, Byrd's daughter; Harvey Alter, President of the International Aphasia Movement; Dr. Linda Carozza, former Director of the Smadbeck Center; A.C. Hudgins, co-survivor and participant in the Saturday Aphasia Program; and Thelma Hudgins, stroke survivor and participant in the Saturday Aphasia Program.

For information about The Smadbeck's Center Aphasia Program, contact Dr. Teresa Signorelli, CCC-SLP, Director of the Smadbeck Center, at (212) 774-0728 / tsignorelli@mmm.edu

To make a donation to the Byrd Drucker Fund, contact Carolyn Bolt, M.A., Development Director at (212) 517-0454 / cbolt@mmm.edu

Members of the community attended the fundraising reception, which was held in the Great Hall at Marymount Manhattan College.

Harvey Alter, President of the International Aphasia Movement speaks to guests at the reception.

Thelma Hudgins, stroke survivor and participant in the Saturday Aphasia Program, expresses her appreciation for the Smadbeck Center and its services.

Reception special guests included (sitting: L-R) Linda Carozza, former Director of the Smadbeck Center; Abby Drucker, daughter of the late Byrd Drucker; Janet Drucker, wife of the late Byrd Drucker; and Thelma Hudgins, stroke survivor and Aphasia Program participant. (Standing: L-R) A.C. Hudgins, co-survivor and Aphasia Program participant; Dr. Teresa Signorelli, CCC-SLP, Director of The Smadbeck Center; and Harvey Alter, President of the International Aphasia Movement.

(L-R) Janet Drucker and Teresa Signorelli.

(L-R) Joe Greenhouse, stroke survivor; Barbara O'Conner Wells, MMC Clinical staff member; and Jennifer Rodriguez, MMC Clinical staff member.