LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Camp Venture upon the occasion of its
40th Anniversary, to be celebrated on Sunday, April 26, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative body to honor
Camp Venture upon the occasion of its 40th Anniversary, to be celebrated
on Sunday, April 26, 2009; and
WHEREAS, The first celebration for the event is the Chocolate World
Expo which will take place at the Palisades Center in West Nyack on
Sunday, March 29, 2009; and
WHEREAS, With the creation of the Exceptional Child Parent-Teacher
Association in 1968, parents of the disabled in Rockland County began to
unite as advocates of their children and to explore ways to develop a
life course for their special children that matched that which normal
children enjoyed; and
WHEREAS, Elected President of the PTA, Kathleen Lukens began to organ-
ize resources from Rockland County's towns, businesses, and private
citizens to establish a day camp for the county's handicapped young-
sters; in 1969, Camp Venture was established at Clark Center in the Town
of Ramapo, with 85 children in attendance; and
WHEREAS, After spending its second year at the Rosary Academy in Spar-
kill, Camp Venture settled into its present headquarters just north of
Letchworth Village in Stony Point in 1971; and
WHEREAS, The mission of Camp Venture was soon expanded to include the
welfare of all mentally impaired people in Rockland County, and in 1976,
21 adults were able to move into Venture Inn, the first home for the
mentally retarded and disabled in Rockland County; and
WHEREAS, Two years later saw the opening of Venture West, a second
group home for 14 adults in Monsey, and establishment of Venture's Work-
shop, a day program designed to teach employment skills to mentally
impaired adults; two more group homes opened in 1979 and 1980, and in
1981, THE VENTURE VOICE, a newspaper devoted to the disabled, was born;
and
WHEREAS, Since then, Camp Venture has made great strides in improving
the quality of life of the developmentally disabled; Venture's Center
for Learning day treatment program for the severely impaired was estab-
lished in 1989, and Venture's doll made for and by the disabled, Dolly
Downs, was introduced to the world in 1992 and appeared on national
television and in several renowned publications, including the NEW YORK
TIMES; and
WHEREAS, Camp Venture has also built four beautiful pools for the
individuals it serves, as well as the Kathleen Lukens Living Center, a
new independent living center for adults with developmental disabilities
in Sparkill; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Camp Venture recently added a new wing to its
first residence, Venture Inn, that houses a first-of-its-kind
Alzheimer's Unit; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned our
recognition and applause; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Camp Venture upon the occasion of its 40th Anniversary, to be
celebrated on Sunday, April 26, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Camp Venture.