JANET CARRUS
Friend, Benefactor, Eco-Advocate
The Center for Discovery is thrilled to honor Janet Carrus as our 2008 Green Shovel Award recipient. The Center has never had so generous a benefactor and friend as JANET CARRUS. Let us briefly tell you some of what this remarkable woman has done for all of us (the individuals we serve, their families and our staff) at The Center for Discovery.
It started several years ago when Janet was first introduced to The Center by Dr. George and Alice Todd. There seemed to be an immediate connection – a human connection – one of caring and, it seemed for Janet, of simply wanting to make a difference. And, if you know Janet, you will understand that she wanted to make a difference right now! She is not a woman who stands on ceremony, nor one who tolerates bureaucracies or unnecessary barriers to getting things done. Here’s a little of what she’s done for The Center:
The Gerald and Janet Carrus Foundation funded The Janet & Gerald Carrus Institute at The Center, which sponsors and conducts seminars, conferences, trainings and wellness opportunities for parents, family members and staff. The Carrus Institute is also home to the Thanksgiving Farm Table, a wonderful café that is open to staff, families and friends, and features a farm to table menu of the freshest and healthiest foods locally grown on The Center’s own Thanksgiving Farm CSA. The Institute also operates a virtual library that is linked to educational, clinical and other informational resources around the world related to the field of disabilities. The Institute is such a welcoming place for our families, staff and visitors who come to the Institute for a host of reasons. For example, The Institute is now one of the host sites for the Discovery Concert Series held on Friday nights and yoga classes for our staff are held in the third floor Wellness Space. The Center’s Admissions Office is also located at the Institute. This has made a huge impact as the Carrus Institute is now the place of our initial contact with families. This past spring, the Carrus Institute in partnership with the Gerry Foundation and Sullivan Renaissance hosted lecture series on the benefits of building “green.” Each of the lectures was filled to capacity with an extensive wait list. Many wonderful comments about the beauty of The Carrus Institute were heard by the attendees.
There are also several other things that Janet has done that make her so very special to all of us at The Center. Several years ago, Janet (and her late husband Gerry) donated their magnificent Geret Farm in Pine Bush, NY to The Center. Over the years Geret Farm has played host to many meetings and events. It was recently sold with all the proceeds going into The Center’s Endowment Fund. When we first started our Milligan Hill Equine Assisted Therapy Program she gave us Kris’ Ridge, a beautiful and gentle thoroughbred horse; and she also donated a couple of classic horse drawn carts that are enjoyed by so many of the children and adults at The Center, just to mention a few of the things she has done.
Janet has many other interests near and dear to her heart including her Foundation’s support of research into the health benefits and the healing properties of natural herbs and folk medicines when used together with Western medicines to improve the health of indigenous peoples around the world.
The Shinnecock Indians of eastern Long Island are another cause dear to Janet’s heart. Because of pollution, the Shinnecock’s oyster beds have been practically destroyed. Through the generosity of Janet’s Foundation, help is underway to restore this traditional tribal occupation of the Shinnecock’s.
Janet Carrus is a kind, caring, generous and powerful woman, with a heart of solid gold. She has certainly made our world at The Center for Discovery a kinder, more caring and generous place. Janet Carrus cares! Please take a moment during this year’s Green Shovel Award to thank her for all she has done.
