Estelle Parsons and Peter Swords to be Honored at LA MAMA CELEBRATES 51 Gala, Feb 27

La MaMa Advisory Board member Peter Swords served on La MaMa's Board of Directors from 1984-2009. He currently serves on the Boards of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations, the National Community Risk Center, the Center for the Study of Philanthropy, the Correctional Association, La Mama Theater and Fund, Inc. of the New York City Bar Association. He is also a member of the Advisory Council to the City's Procurement Policy Board, the Human Service Council, the Independent Sector Government Relations Council and serves as Chair of the National Council of Nonprofit Associations' Government Relations Committee. Prior to joining NPCC, Mr. Swords was an Associate Dean at the Columbia Law School for 14 years. He continues to teach courses there, as well as Teachers College, on nonprofit institutions and frequently lectures in the area of nonprofit law and liability insurance. Mr. Swords is the author of the book Charitable Real Property Tax Exemptions in New York State.

La MaMa is a remarkable arts institution with a world-wide reputation for producing cutting-edge work in theater, dance, performance art, and music. Founded in 1961 by theater pioneer and legend, Ellen Stewart, La MaMa has produced and presented more than 3,500 theatrical productions to date and is a vital part of the fabric of cultural life in New York City and around the world.

La MaMa provides a supportive home for artists and takes risks on unknown work. Artists such as Sam Shepard, Lanford Wilson, Philip Glass, Robert Wilson, Harvey Fierstein, Blue Man Group, David and Amy Sedaris, -and others whose names you haven't heard of yet - began their careers at La MaMa. International Artists introduced to America by La MaMa include Tadeusz Kantor, Andrei Serban, Kazuo Ohno and, more recently, the acclaimed Belarus Free Theatre.La MaMa has been honored with more than 30 OBIE Awards, dozens of Drama Desk and Bessie Awards, and, in 2006, Ellen Stewart was recognized with a special TONY Award for "Excellence in the Theatre."