About Us

The Starfish Program HD Quality

this video brings to life the Starfish Program through the eyes of a few of the women who have been mentored as well as the mentors!

Cara Ruff is the Director of Starfish Program, Co-Author of Making a Difference, One Star at a Time.,, and the Founder and Executive Director for Independent Lifestyles, Inc. a Center for Independent Living (ILICIL) which serves persons of all disabilities throughout a nine county service area. Cara Founded ILICIL in 1997. Cara is involved with and Chairs numerous Task Forces, &was awarded the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Award for Social Justice. She is a licensed social worker.

**This Program is sponsored by the Women’s Fund of the Central MN Community Foundation

Can YOU help? Starfish needs YOU! One premise of the program is to connect our Starfish with strong competent women in the community! If you have professional expertise, skills or hobbies that you would like to teach them or share with them, we welcome that! We also would love gently used business casual clothing, shoes and household items! Contact Cara Ruff for more info!! Remember - everyone can make a difference!!

The Starfish Program was based on the legend of the Starfish Story:

One morning, an old man walked the ocean beach littered with thousands of starfish, beached and dying after a violent storm. A young man was picking them up and flinging them back into the ocean. “Why do you bother?” the old man scoffed. “You’re not saving enough to make a difference.” The young man picked up another starfish and sent it spinning back to the water. “Made a difference to that one,” he said.

You make a difference, every day.

Location:

215 North Benton Drive

Sauk Rapids, MN 56379

Hours:

Schedule of each program is arranged at the beginning of the program.