On Thursday May 9, 2013 we held our annual Gala at Stepping Stones Museum for Children.
We were thrilled to honor Lynn Straus. She is a pioneer in early childhood education. “When Lynn directed pre-school early in her career in the 1960’s, her interest in the welfare of pre-school children attracted the attention of President John F. Kennedy who assigned Sargent Shriver [founder of the Head Start Program* and served as the first director of the Peace Corps] to go to Mamaroneck, New York to study what Lynn was practicing,” says her lifetime friend and colleague, Rosalind S. Kahn.Cherie Burton, Creative Connections’ Board Chair offered, “Lynn makes the world a better place by improving the lives of children through art and education.”

Alan Steckler (Founder of Creative Connections) pictured here with Lynn Straus stated, “Lynn’s passion for children and education is reflected in her board work with the non-profit Zero to Three organization and her lifetime trusteeship at Bank Street College of Education. I can’t think of anyone who has been so supportive of our work or done more to ignite the joy of learning in so many children living in under-served communities.”

*According to wikipedia.org the Head Start Program is a program of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.