Penfield businesswoman earns state award

Article from Penfield Post 05-11-00
Penfield businesswoman earns state award
Sarah Jane Bernhardt-Clifford becomes a "Woman of Distinction."

by: Jerry Grundman Messenger Post Staff

A Penfield businesswoman has been selected by the New York State Senate to be a "Woman of Distinction." Sarah Bernhardt-Clifford, owner of the Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester, will be honored at a special ceremony on Tuesday, May 23, in Albany. "It's pretty exciting." Bernhardt-Clifford said of the statewide honor. "I was really shocked."

The Woman of Distinction program was created in 1998 as a part of a state celebration of Women's History Month, recognizing a commitment to excellence in proffessional and personal achievments from women across the state. Bernhardt-Clifford knew she was deeply committed to the sport of gymnastics at the age of 12. She said she knew then she wanted to compete and contribute to the development of the sport.

She said that, as she began competing in 1968 in Pittsford, she dreamed of the day she would build the best gymnastics facility in the area.

Now operating the 22,000 square-foot state-of-the-art gymnastics facility at 2051 Fairport/Nine-Mile Line Road in Penfield that serves more than 2,000 children, Bernhardt-Clifford designed and built the center in 1994. It ranks as the largest of its kind on the East Coast and fifth in the nation, Bernharddt-Clifford said. Some of Bernhardt-Clifford's students are state, regional and national champions. "I'm proud that we've made a difference to children in Rochester," she said.

Bernhardt-Clifford is especially passionate about serving the challenged children of our community and plays a leadership role in: Monroe County Special Olympics, Camp Open Arms for children facing cancer, and gymnastics programs for children with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, hearing impairments, and diabetes.

In the past year, Bernhardt-Clifford has hosted several events, including the U.S. Classic Gymnastics Competition, the National Tops Testing Program, and the JCC Maccabi Games. She is a founding member of the Girls' and Women's Sports Festival and judged the Special Olympics World Games. Bernhardt-Clifford received the Business Person of the Year award from the Small Business Council of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and was a nominee for the group's Athena Award.

She received the Charles Wagner Award by the Press Radio Club for her promotion of a local sport to a national level. Gymnastics Training Center was recognized for outstanding achievment at the Sports-woman of the Year awards luncheon sponsored by WHAM radio station and the Heart of Gold Children's Fund. Beyond her affiliation with many national athletic associations, Bernhardt-Clifford's business leadership has been visible through the Penfield Business Association where she has been a board member since its inception and vice president for the past five years.