A Founding Director of International Medical Charity Paul Farmer Confirmed as Guest Speaker for The Guidance Center, Inc.'s Annual Gala.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- All-Star Sponsors Include Boston Red Sox, Cambridge Community Television, Carolyn & Peter S. Lynch and Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research 

The Guidance Center, Inc. (GCI), the community's largest provider of developmental, mental health and family support services, today announced that Paul E. Farmer, MD, PhD, will be the guest speaker at "Celebrating Families: The Guidance Center, Inc.'s Annual Gala," taking place Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Last year's event was attended by 400 guests and raised more than $220,000 for local children and families.

Dr. Farmer is a founding director of Partners In Health, an international charity headquartered in Boston. Dr. Farmer advocates for community-based, holistic approaches to medical issues, similar to how GCI approaches developmental and mental health concerns locally. Dr. Farmer is also the subject of the book "Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest for Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World" by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder.

"The Guidance Center, Inc. is committed to advocating for children and families at risk and in need. Like Dr. Farmer, our organization is dedicated to ensuring that a successful model for an integrated community-based system of care becomes a reality. We couldn't be more pleased that Dr. Farmer will join us at our Celebrating Families Gala," said Susan C. Ayers, executive director, The Guidance Center, Inc.

GCI would like to recognize the 2006 Gala's generous donors, including its "All-Star" Sponsors: Boston Red Sox, Cambridge Community Television, Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc. "Visionary" Sponsors include Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation, Lori and Eric Lander, Masse Hardware Co., Gail Roberts with Coldwell Banker, Rob Straus and Barrie A. and DeeDee Wigmore Foundation.

"Champion" Sponsors include Cambridge Trust Company, Cetrulo & Capone LLP, Elizabeth and John Gilmore, Theresa Hamacher and Greg Schumaker, Sally and Stuart Lesser, Daniel Meltzer and Ellen Semonoff, New England Patriots and TAGS Hardware.

GCI also extends its gratitude to the 80+ "Leadership" Sponsors, "Partner" Sponsors, table hosts, auction donors and other Gala contributors.

GCI's Annual Gala will include live and silent auctions featuring 40 exciting items, including trips to Rougemont, Switzerland, the Caribbean island of Nevis and Deer Valley, Utah. Other auction items include sports memorabilia and packages from the Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics and New England Patriots.

To sponsor or attend the Celebrating Families Gala on April 27, contact Rebecca Berkey, Development Associate, at [phone] x127 or [e-mail]. Tickets are on sale until April 14, 2006.

About The Guidance Center, Inc.

Founded in 1954, The Guidance Center, Inc. (GCI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to be the leading provider of developmental and mental health services to children, including the youngest and most vulnerable, in respectful partnership with their families and GCI's community colleagues. GCI works with more than 3,500 children and families annually in Cambridge and Somerville, Mass. Its multicultural, multilingual staff has expertise in addressing a range of health and family challenges, including pre-mature births, developmental delays or disabilities, substance abuse, depression and domestic violence.

GCI's continuum of care includes 16 programs across three categories: Infant-Toddler Services, Child and Adolescent Services and Intensive Family Services. For additional information, please visit www.gcinc.org.