A MONTH OF DISCOVERY MARCH 2025 – The Center for Discovery

TCFD: A Month of Discovery

Dear Friends,

Spring is certainly in the air at The Center for Discovery! Our March newsletter is filled with exciting updates – from details about our upcoming Evening of Discovery Gala and honoree, to the launch of this season’s Thanksgiving Farm CSA, and more inspiring news from across our TCFD community.

The CBS Evening News Features Dr. Terry Hamlin on Rising Autism Prevalence

On the April 16th broadcast of CBS Evening News, Dr. Terry Hamlin, President and CEO of The Center for Discovery, was featured in a story exploring the substantial rise in autism diagnoses across the United States.The segment highlighted new data indicating that 1 in 31 children is now diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by age 8.

CBS News Medical Contributor Dr. Celine Gounder, sat down with Dr. Hamlin to discuss what these numbers mean. While experts point to improvements in awareness and access to evaluations as key drivers, Dr. Hamlin emphasized there’s more at play. “There is increased awareness, but there’s something else as well,” she mentioned. “There are new cases – and there are more and more of them – and it’s children with true autism spectrum disorder.”

This important conversation sheds light on the significance of not only early identification and intervention, but also the need to better understand and address the broader factors contributing to this rise.

Watch the segment here.

One Week Until Our Evening of Discovery Gala

We are thrilled to share that Nelly Bly Arougheti, family member and TCFD Board Member, will be honored at our upcoming 25th Evening of Discovery Gala on Tuesday.

As a dedicated advocate, caregiver, and TCFD Board Member, Nelly has been a driving force behind transformative initiatives that have shaped The Center for decades. Her unwavering commitment to our mission has touched countless lives, and we are so excited to celebrate her impact at this special event.

Keep an eye out for our auction that we will be launching on Thursday! Lots of great items, like travel packages, tickets to sporting events and theatre productions.

Learn more and read the full press release here.

See more coverage in the Sullivan County Democrat here.

A longtime TCFD Advocate and Former Assemblywoman Joins TCFD

We are excited to share that former NYS Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther has joined The Center for Discovery as a Community Relations Strategist. With over 20 years of public service and healthcare experience, Aileen will work to strengthen TCFD’s presence in Sullivan County. A longtime advocate for the community, Aileen is excited to continue supporting local initiatives and to help raise awareness of The Center’s mission.

Read the full press release here.

The 2025 Thanksgiving Farm CSA Sign Up – Now Open!

It’s that time again – when warm weather and our annual CSA are on the horizon! Each year, The Center for Discovery’s Thanksgiving Farm offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), a means through which people can connect with the place they live through fresh, local food. Our Thanksgiving Farm encompasses over 300 certified organic acres, grows over 60 different kinds of vegetables, flowers, and herbs, and is home to three orchards. On an annual basis, The Center’s farm supports nearly 400 CSA share members, which includes staff, families, and other community members.

This year, CSA distribution will begin the week of May 27^th, and will continue for 23 weeks through October 28^th. Each week, CSA participants can pick their shares up on either Tuesdays or Saturdays, located at our Carrus Institute in Monticello, NY.

The share will consist of at least 6-8 different vegetables per week. The full share is sized for a family of 4, while the half share is sized for 1-2 people.

To participate in a share this year or for more information on pricing, click here.

Spotlight - DNA

Students at Thanksgiving Farm and Community Busy at School Making Tea!

World Autism Awareness Day

A Sweet Shower for our Goat Mamas!

Sweet Hill Farm held a wonderful baby shower for its mama goats in March, just days away from their due date! Students from all three campuses, as well as the adult day habs, stopped by to celebrate, play games, and have a tasty snack prepared by the gentlemen of Sweet Hill!