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BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR HARMONY INSTITUTE

HUMAN/ANIMAL/ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP KEY FOCUS OF HARMONY INSTITUTE CENTER ADVISORY BOARD LUNCHEON

HARMONY, FL – May 7, 2007 – The Harmony Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote human health and well-being through the interaction of humans, animals and the environment, was the focus of a well-attended luncheon in the town of Harmony in Osceola County. The keynote speaker was Alan Beck, Sc.D., from Purdue University and a member of the Harmony Institute Center Advisory Board (HICAB).

“HICAB has been meeting diligently the last few days and we are thrilled to be able to make some very positive announcements concerning the way the Harmony Institute is evolving,” proclaimed Alan Beck, Sc. D., who has been involved since its inception in 1997. Dr. Beck is an expert on human-animal ecology and author of The Ecology of Stray Dogs.

Three big announcements were made on behalf of HICAB:

• The Harmony Institute has received a $1 million dollar research endowment – interest from this donation will be used as a foundation to begin a research program focused on childhood obesity and other health issues affecting children.
• The Harmony Institute has entered into a formal agreement with the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) to partner on the development of an Albert Schweitzer Center (ASC).
  
• The Harmony Institute also unveiled its plans for the balance of its 100 acres. These include: a children’s camp focused on special needs children; Paws With A Cause® (training facility for service dogs); and a future middle school site which will be donated to the Osceola County School District.
  

Attendees were updated on the purpose, goals and activities of HICAB, a group of leading experts from some of the nation's most prestigious universities, the U.S. Center for Disease Control & Prevention, the ASPCA and the Humane Society of the United States.

Harmony Institute Center Advisory Board Members include:

Alan M. Beck, Sc.D., Purdue University

Nancy Edwards, Ph.D., RNC, Purdue University

Howard Frumkin, Ph.D., U.S. Centers for Disease Control

John Hadidian, Ph.D., The Humane Society of the U.S.

Mark Hostetler, Ph.D., University of Florida

Pierce Jones, Ph.D., University of Florida

Peter Kahn, Ph.D., University of Washington

Mary Beth Kenkel, Ph.D., Florida Institute of Technology

Clyde B. McCoy, Ph.D., University of Miami

Renee Oscarson, Ph.D., South Dakota State University

A.G. Rud, Ph.D., Purdue University

James A. Serpell, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Roger S. Ulrich, Ph.D., Texas A&M University

Jennifer Wolch, Ph.D., University of Southern California

Stephen L. Zawistowski, Ph.D., ASPCA

“Because of this endowment, HICAB is able to embark on several two-year studies on the effect of nature and the environment on human health, with a special focus on obesity and children,” enthusiastically stated Martha Lentz, founder of the Harmony Institute. “This is such an exciting time for the Institute. The endowment coupled with the FIT partnership is huge news for us.”

The planned Albert Schweitzer Center (ASC) will focus on multi-disciplinary studies with broad application to the implementations and public health outcomes of human interaction with animals and nature.

“FIT and specifically President Anthony James Catanese are terrific partners,” said Martha Lentz. “Tony brings so much into the mix. He is very entrepreneurial and forward thinking.”

Since 1997, HICAB has provided Harmony's developers with advice on building the community environment in such areas as land use, habitat protection, support facilities and amenities for companion animals, energy conservation, lighting controls and homeowner documents relating to animal, nature and the environment.

The ASC will be built on the Harmony Institute’s 100-acre site at Harmony, a nationally recognized environmentally intelligent community whose general philosophy maximizes and encourages these interconnected relationships. Harmony is one of just a few towns in the United States where children can walk to school from kindergarten to twelfth grade. HICAB member Roger Ultrich identified this ability to walk to school as being very rare and important to study.

Part of the ASC program will include technology-based environmental initiatives.

The ASC name has been approved by Dr. Schweitzer's daughter, Rhena Schweitzer Miller, who has visited Harmony on numerous occasions and remains excited about the project honoring her father's life and philosophy, "Reverence for Life."

Harmony is designed to provide an old-fashioned hometown lifestyle, while preserving its natural setting. Harmony sits amid 11,000 acres and is naturally inhabited by a wide array of wildlife, two natural 500-acre lakes, and miles of trails. There are currently 1,000 residents living in Harmony and 18,000 people are expected to call Harmony home at build out. The Harmony Sales and Information Gallery is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 to 6, and Sundays from 11 to 6. For more information, phone (407) 891-8358, or visit www.harmonyfl.com.

To learn more about the Harmony Institute or to make, contact the Harmony Institute at 407-957-0207 or visit www.harmonyinstitute.org.

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