Clowes Foundation awards $100,000 for sensory gardens at new Damar Village adult living complex

The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation has generously provided a $100,000 grant to the Damar Foundation for sensory landscaping at the new Damar Village adult living complex, which is under construction on the nonprofit’s southwest-side campus.

When it opens in spring 2021, the complex will expand Damar’s services to more adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and provide them with safe, permanent, supported and affordable housing in an inclusive community setting.
 
The Clowes grant will help pay for three sensory paths with plants and water features, a walking path encircling the complex and raised beds for a community garden with vegetables, herbs and flowers.
 
“We’re grateful to the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation for helping us create not only beautiful outdoor spaces, but also therapeutic environments that will help residents reduce anxiety, create calm and be inspired,” said Ken File, president of the Damar Foundation.
The need for the Damar Village adult living village is clear. People with developmental disabilities are living longer, so their caregivers are no longer outliving them. According to the Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities, the average life expectancy is  now 70 years for most people with developmental disabilities, quickly approaching that of the general population.
 
“By far, the top concern among parents of our adult clients is who will care for them after the parents are gone,” said Dr. Jim Dalton, president and CEO of Damar Services. “Damar Village will provide a safe, supportive environment for up to 128 individuals.”
 
Damar Village is being funded as part of Damar’s $21 million capital campaign, Our Road to Remarkable.
 
About the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation
The primary mission of the foundation is to support charitable organizations that promote or preserve the Arts and Humanities and those that were supported by Mr. Clowes during his life. More at www.awclowescf.org.
 
About Damar Services
For more than 53 years, Damar Services has been a leader in providing services to children and adults challenged by autism and intellectual, developmental and behavioral disabilities. From its main campus on Indianapolis’ southwest side, three ABA clinics and other locations across the state, Damar offers residential and community-based treatment, outpatient behavioral health services and ABA Autism Services by Damar. In addition, Damar operates two schools and provides foster care services. For more information, visit www.damar.org.