LINWOOD CENTER, INC.

Since 1955, Linwood has been providing life-changing services to individuals living with autism. Our founder, the late Jeanne M. Simons, was one of the pioneers in the field. Her early breakthrough work was unprecedented and is still regarded as a model for the treatment of individuals with autism throughout the world.

Linwood School is co-ed with a capacity of 60 students. The school is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to provide a Special Education and related services program for students with autism in a Nongraded (Ages 5 through 21) education program with additional residential components.

When students served by Linwood School turn 21 years old and become eligible for state-supported adult services, many enter our programs for adults. Our adult programs include supported employment, vocational training, recreation, volunteerism, and community-based residential living. Linwood Center Boutique, a gift and thrift store on Main Street in Old Ellicott City, provides productive, integrated employment and training opportunities for adults in our program while offering a community retail setting for gently used merchandise in excellent condition. With our support, individuals living with autism enjoy being productive, contributing members of the communities where they live.

All Linwood Center programs and services provided are based on the concepts of self-determination and enhancement of self-esteem for individuals living with autism and related developmental disabilities — the primary reasons why so many families choose Linwood. We believe that each individual who enters our programs has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and that each deserves to live, work, and play in an environment filled with encouragement and rich with opportunity.

Linwood’s mission is to create the possibility of extraordinary lives for individuals living with autism and related developmental disabilities.

THE SUSAN COHAN COLON CANCER FOUNDATION

The Colon Cancer Foundation (Susie’s Cause) began with one woman’s extraordinary fight against colon cancer, and in less than a decade has established itself as the national voice of colon cancer.

Susan Cohan was just forty years old and the mother of two young children when she heard the devastating words “You have colon cancer.” With grace and dignity she spent the next two years fighting for her life but never losing sight of the needs of others. Despite her own suffering, she was always most concerned for the wellbeing of her family and friends, and with finding a way to spare others the anguish and grief this disease had wrought upon her family.

Susan found it unacceptable that an estimated 150,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer and almost 50,000 men and women die from the disease each year. For cancers affecting both men and women, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death. Tragically, 50% of cases could be prevented by simple lifestyle changes and 95% of cases cured if detected early. Susan knew she had to do something. Together with her father David Rodman Cohan, she founded the Colon Cancer Foundation.

It was Susie’s vision that the Foundation would be the international leader in colon cancer prevention, support and treatment. That through its efforts to educate people of all ages, encourage prevention and increase screenings, it would prevent unnecessary suffering and deaths from colon cancer. She also envisioned the Foundation being a source of support for those facing colon cancer, their families and friends, and for those researching ways to more successfully treat this disease.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Susie’s family, friends, and the many generous supporters and volunteers who share our passion for battling colon cancer, Susie’s Cause—named to honor Susan and remind us of her faith, courage and adamant desire to help everyone—has been successfully bringing this vision to life since 2004. Just as Susie imagined it would, the Foundation’s innovative outreach programs have touched thousands of lives across our nation and led to significant increases in colon cancer screenings.