Peters, who recently co-hosted the eighth annual Broadway Barks! fundraiser, will be presented with the inaugural award at the NYC Parks Mounted Auxiliary Unit, Inc.'s tenth anniversary fund-raising gala at Central Park's Boathouse. The award, which will be presented yearly, is given to a New Yorker of note who "has raised awareness of the New York City Parks and the natural life of the City through [his or her] volunteer efforts." Peters is being recognized for the annual Broadway Barks fundraisers and her commitment to raise awareness of the plight of abandoned animals. Peters, according to a statement released by the NYC Parks Mounted Auxiliary Unit, "continues to focus her efforts on responsible pet ownership and education — helping to make our Parks safer for everyone."

Bernadette Peters was last on Broadway in the acclaimed revival of Gypsy, for which she received a 2003 Tony Award nomination for her performance as Momma Rose in the Sam Mendes-directed production. She won her two Tonys for her performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song & Dance and Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun, and she has also starred on Broadway in Mack & Mabel, On the Town, Sunday in the Park with George, The Goodbye Girl and the original production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. Peters' newest recording, "Sondheim, Etc., Etc.—Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall (The Rest of It)," hit stores on the Angel Records label last summer.

The Gala evening — including cocktails, buffet dinner, silent auction, raffle and the awards presentation — will be held from 6-9 PM at the Boathouse. Tickets, priced $75 (advance) and $90 (at the door), are available by visiting www.auxparksmtd.org.