Susan Pace Guma
Andrus will welcome supporters, community leaders, philanthropic partners, and friends to A Night to Imagine What’s Possible on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the historic President’s House on the Andrus campus in Yonkers.
The intimate cocktail fundraiser will celebrate the power of community while introducing Andrus’ growing One Health initiative: an innovative, whole-person approach that recognizes a child’s well-being as deeply connected to their relationships, nutrition and exercise, mental health, and access to supportive environments.
The evening will also honor Susan Pace Guma with the Andrus Excellence and Leadership Award, recognizing her decades of service to Andrus and her contributions to the organization’s strategic growth and evolution. Guma, a Bronxville resident and recently retired Dean of Graduate Studies at Sarah Lawrence University, has served on the Andrus Board of Directors from 1995 through 2023, including as Board Chair. During nearly three decades of service, she provided thoughtful, steady leadership through periods of significant organizational change, helping to guide strategic planning and strengthen Andrus’s ability to respond to the evolving needs of children and families. Her leadership consistently balanced a forward-looking vision with a deep respect for Andrus’s mission, values, and enduring commitment to those it serves.
Additional speakers during the event will include Westchester County Commissioner of the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) Michael Orth, and Westchester County 8th District Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson.
A Night to Imagine What’s Possible will offer guests an elegant culinary experience curated by Chef Ariela St. Vill, along with passed hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, a silent auction, and sunset networking at the historic President’s House. The evening will also feature exclusive organizational updates and an opportunity for guests to learn more about One Health and the direction of Andrus as it approaches its second century of service.
As communities continue to face rising youth mental health needs, Andrus is expanding its work beyond traditional models of care. Andrus President and CEO, Dr. Corine E. Lurry-Mabin shares: “The challenges facing children today are complex, but lasting change is within our reach when communities come together with a shared commitment to helping children realize their potential. Since its establishment in 1928, Andrus has been guided by one enduring belief: every child deserves the opportunity to heal, to belong, and to thrive. This doesn’t happen in isolation; healing and growth is possible every day through the connections we nurture, the environments and choices we make for our health, with opportunities to learn and play, and within communities that choose to invest in one another. As Andrus approaches its second century of service, we look forward to A Night to Imagine What’s Possible as a celebration and invitation to imagine–and create–a future where care is more connected, more collaborative, and more responsive to the whole child.
A Night to Imagine What’s Possible is proudly supported by:
One Health Visionary Sponsor
Westchester Medical Center Health Network
Ecosystem Champions
Graystone Consulting from Morgan Stanley
Nancy & Michael Spensley
Active Wellness Partner
JP Morgan Chase
Sanctuary Stewards
BDO
Norman Coker and Sydney Blake
Greater Mental Health of New York
Morgan Stanley
Jennifer L. Pakradooni
St. John’s Riverside Hospital
Webster Bank
Healing Garden Partners
James D. Schutzer on Behalf of Alera Group
Levitt-Fuirst Insurance & Bonding
Richard Thompson RTUK57STUDIO
Since 1928, Andrus has been dedicated to helping children and families build stronger, more stable futures. Today, the Yonkers-based nonprofit provides a continuum of behavioral health, educational, residential, and community-based services, reaching approximately 5,000 children and families annually. Its programs include the award-winning Orchard School, therapeutic residential services, autism supports, two community-based mental health clinics, home visiting and parenting support programs, and school-based mental health services embedded in 26 schools across six districts.
Grounded in the Sanctuary Model, Andrus has become a recognized leader in trauma-responsive care. Through the Sanctuary Institute, the organization helps schools, healthcare systems, nonprofits, and other organizations build cultures rooted in safety, emotional well-being, and resilience.
A Night to Imagine What’s Possible will help advance this work while giving supporters an inside look at the next chapter of Andrus’ nearly 100-year legacy. Community members interested in attending or supporting the event are encouraged to learn more by visiting andrus1928.org/soiree.
About Andrus
Andrus is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children, families, and communities build stronger, more stable futures. Based in Yonkers, NY, Andrus provides a full continuum of behavioral health, educational, and community-based services, reaching more than 5,000 individuals annually. Its programs include school-based mental health clinics, residential and special education services, autism support, and community-based family programs. Andrus is also home to the Sanctuary Institute, a globally recognized leader in trauma-responsive organizational change. Through a focus on resilience, healing, and equity, Andrus works to ensure that children and families have the tools and support they need to thrive.