Our Annual Appeal Has Launched: Join Us in Taking the Next Great Leap

As we close out an extraordinary year at The Center for Discovery, we are happy to share that our 2025 year-end Annual Appeal is officially underway. This campaign is one of the most important ways our community comes together to support the programs, care, and innovation that make The Center so special.

Your generosity directly fuels our work, from our organic farming and Animal Assisted Intervention programs, to the many therapeutic programs that help every individual thrive. It also strengthens the vital spaces where this work happens, ensuring our residences, schools, and clinical environments remain places of safety and possibility.

As we enter the season of giving, we invite you to stand with us once again. Your gift to the Annual Appeal helps nourish bodies, inspire minds, and create a healthier tomorrow for all.

Donate today and be part of what’s possible.

Don’t forget! You can support us year-round with a recurring donation at the link above. This is one of the most effective ways to support TCFD, providing consistent resources exactly when they’re needed most. 

Partnership in Action: Sullivan County Youth Bureau

The Center for Discovery is proud to highlight our growing partnership with the Sullivan County Youth Bureau, which has provided more than $30,000 in support of programs at TCFD for children and teens since 2023.

Thanks to the Youth Bureau’s generosity, programs like our IMPACT mentorship initiative have flourished—engaging more than 65 teens in immersive summer experiences that build confidence, spark career exploration, and develop lifelong skills. Their support has strengthened initiatives ranging from maple tapping and farm education to adaptive skiing at Windham Mountain, as well as music and theater opportunities like the Tiny Tent Concert Series and The Wizard of Oz. They also enhanced our Discovery Summer Camp, making possible field trips, transportation, and hands-on activities for children of staff.

We are deeply grateful for the Sullivan County Youth Bureau’s partnership and their steadfast dedication to empowering youth, nurturing creativity, and strengthening our community.

TCFD In The News

• The Center for Discover’s recent Cuvée Day, led by balsamic master Andrea Bezzecchi and Chief of DNA – Food and Farming, Cesare Casella, among chefs, importers, and wine experts from New York and Montreal joined forces to craft the Special Cuvée 16th Edition. Read more in the Sullivan County Democrat here.

• The NYU College of Dentistry recently brought its fifth pop-up clinic to The Center for Discovery, providing free dental exams, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants for children and young adults with disabilities. Using sensory-sensitive models and compassionate care, the team is helping make dental visits more comfortable and accessible for all. Tune into the segment to learn more about their visit on Mid-Hudson News here or on Radio Catskill here.

Chef Cesare Casella Represents The Center for Discovery at UNESCO

Chef Cesare Casella continues his outreach! He recently joined Italian Minister for Disabilities Alessandra Locatelli and fellow chefs for a special event at UNESCO in Paris celebrating the talents and traditions of Italian cuisine.

The evening, organized by Minister Locatelli, highlighted how food serves as a universal language – one that connects people, cultures, and values such as inclusion, creativity, and hospitality. Chef Casella joined a distinguished team of chefs, including Fabrizio Facchini and Roberto Caporuscio, representing both Italy and New York’s vibrant culinary community.

The event underscored a shared commitment to the power of food not only as nourishment, but as a tool for inclusion and human connection – values deeply reflected in the work of The Center for Discovery.

Honoring Our Team’s Success at the ADGA National Convention

Our very own Sweet Hill Farm’s recent presentation at the American Dairy Goat National Convention was a huge success! Aside from the presentation itself, which highlighted the dairy goat program, the team entered some of their products into this year’s national cheese production contest and took home first place in the flavored feta category with our marinated feta, first place in confection with our white chocolate chèvre truffle, and second place with our apricot chevre.

As it turns out, our program here at TCFD has really caught the eye of the dairy goat community. After the presentation, Dawn Krenner, Farm Program Coordinator at Sweet Hill was asked if our wonderful show team and their beloved lamancha goats could be featured in the American Lamancha Breeders Association’s calendar. Per Dawn, “not too bad for the little creamery that could!”

Congrats to the whole Sweet Hill team!

Celebrating Our NYC Marathon Runners: Thank You, Emily and Rob!

We are thrilled to give a special shout-out to Emily Palermo Ringel (TCFD cousin) and Rob Schupler (TCFD parent), who proudly represented The Center for Discovery in this year’s New York City Marathon. Their commitment to run – and in true marathon spirit, do it with purpose, brought incredible visibility and support to our TCFD community.

With each step, they helped raise awareness and inspire others to join our mission. Their dedication reminds us of the strength and generosity within our extended TCFD family, and we could not be more grateful.

Thank you, Emily and Rob, for going the distance on behalf of The Center for Discovery. Your effort and heart uplift us all!

It’s Shearing Season at TCFD: Baa to Beanie Begins!

First Fall Festival at the Children’s Specialty Hospital

The event showcased how collaboration and innovation can create meaningful moments for those in our care, offering so many new experiences.

Manhattan Maker Magic

Innovation Team Recognized for Transformative Program

At this year’s CP State Annual Conference, TCFD’s Innovation Labs were honored with the Program Innovation Award – a statewide recognition of the team’s forward-thinking approach to inclusive design and creative problem-solving.

The Innovation Team blends clinical insight, design expertise, and a deep sense of purpose to create adaptive tools and technologies that make everyday life more accessible. From idea to implementation, their work reflects collaboration, compassion, and a belief that innovation should empower everyone.

This award celebrates not only the team’s achievements, but also the spirit of discovery that drives our work every day.

In addition to taking home the Program Innovation Award, Elesia Madden, longtime TCFD Senior Residential Associate, received a Certificate of Recognition at the conference for all of her outstanding contributions.