PRESS RELEASES

On April 10, 2006, Penn-Mar formally entered into an international partnership agreement with two affiliated Brazilian organizations, AVAPE and IES. AVAPE is a national leader in Brazil in rehabilitation and community inclusion for people with disabilities. IES promotes the development of quality non-governmental agencies to meet the social service needs of Brazilian citizens.

To seal the partnership, a Term of Cooperation was signed by Marcos Antonio Gonçalves (AVAPE founder and President), Sylvia Helena Moraes Cury (AVAPE CEO), Carlos Roberto Boschetti (IES Board Chair), Keith R. Peterson (Penn-Mar CEO), Gregory T. Miller (Penn-Mar COO) and William H. Swartz (Penn-Mar's former Board Chair)

The main purpose of this partnership is to establish and maintain an exchange of experience, knowledge, professional expertise, and trends in rehabilitation, inclusion, and management, with the specific intent to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. The partnership will also seek to promote alternatives of professional qualifications as well as to establish new approaches and partnerships with public and private international organizations that have similar missions.

At Penn-Mar we consider it an honor to partner such an innovative, highly competent agency with a mission so closely tied to our own. If you would like more information on AVAPE please visit their website.