YAI/NIPD Board of Trustees Elects Eliot Green Chair and Sheldon Kwiat Vice Chair

NEW YORK, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The YAI/National Institute for People with
Disabilities (YAI/NIPD) Board of Trustees has elected Eliot P. Green, a
Partner at the law firm of Loeb & Loeb LLP, as Chair, and Sheldon Kwiat,
President of the diamond jewelry firm bearing his family name, as Vice Chair.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090714/NY46355 )

Green, who joined the Board in 1995, replaces Marcella Fava, who has held the
post since 1986 and will remain on the Board. Kwiat, who joined nearly a year
ago, replaces Dr. Paul Levitz, who served 19 years on the Board and will
remain a member.

"I am honored to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees and look forward to
addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead," said Green.
"YAI/NIPD has a tradition of providing hope, opportunity and excellence for
people with developmental disabilities and their families for 52 years, and
the organization will continue to uphold that mission."

"I am very proud to serve as Vice Chair of the YAI/NIPD Board of Trustees and
look forward to providing the Board, Management and the professional staff
with the tools they need to continue to provide the highest quality of
services to the thousands of people we serve." Kwiat said. "YAI has been
widely recognized for many years in the professional community for its caring
and compassionate staff and the excellence of its programs. We now want to
make YAI a household name, so that when families are in need of services, they
will know exactly where to turn."

"I am delighted that Eliot Green and Sheldon Kwiat have assumed these
leadership positions and look forward to many years of collaboration and
partnership," said Dr. Philip H. Levy, Chief Executive Officer and President
of the YAI/NIPD Network. "Both are deeply committed to our organization and
bring a wonderful mix of wisdom, vision, and experience to their new
positions. Eliot brings an in-depth knowledge of the organization, while
Sheldon brings a fresh perspective. Together, they are the ideal team to lead
our Board especially during this very challenging economic environment."

Since 1957, YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities has been a
pioneer in the development and provision of community-based services for
people of all ages with developmental disabilities, such as autism, Down
syndrome and intellectual disabilities, and their families. The organization
is a member of the YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities
Network, which serves 20,000 individuals in more than 450 community-based
programs throughout the New York metropolitan area, including Long Island, New
Jersey, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess and Ulster counties,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The YAI/NIPD Network provides a full
range of early intervention, preschool, family supports, employment training
and placement, clinical and residential services, home care, out-patient
clinic services as well as recreation and camping services.

The YAI/NIPD Network is also a highly acclaimed professional organization,
nationally renowned for its international conferences, training materials
which are used across the U.S. and abroad, and its Resource Center, which
provides easy online access to educational resources and training materials.
YAI/NIPD is recognized as a national advocate whose efforts have played a
pivotal role in transforming the public's perception of people with
developmental and learning disabilities and in championing human rights. For
more information about the YAI/NIPD Network and its services, please visit
yai.org or call 1-866-2-YAI-LINK.

Eliot Green's practice with Loeb & Loeb includes the representation of large
public charities, private foundations sponsored by families and Fortune 500
companies, and trade associations, primarily in the area of health care,
social and human services, education, visual and performing arts, and sports
and entertainment. He also advises governing boards on matters such as board
fiduciary duties and liability, governance and accountability, regulatory
compliance and charitable solicitation issues. Green serves as Chair of the
New York City Bar Association's Tax-Exempt Organizations Committee and is a
member of the National Health Lawyers Association.

Sheldon Kwiat's company Kwiat is a 102-year-old diamond jewelry firm, whose
flagship boutique at 725 Madison Ave. at 64th St., opened in 2008. Kwiat
served for 12 years on the Board of Governors of the Gemological Institute of
America. He is a member of the Executive Board of Directors of the Diamond
Manufacturers and Importers Association and serves on the Board of Directors
of the Jewelers Security Alliance. Kwiat also serves on the Kings Point Board
of Trustees, and is Chairman of the community's Architectural Review Board and
Landmark Preservation Commission.

SOURCE The YAI/National Institute for People with Disabilities

Lynn U. Berman, +1-212-273-6199, +1-203-981-6938 (cell)