JANSS EARNS AWARD FOR PHILANTHROPIES : PHOTOGRAPHER SAYS NONPROFIT WORK `TEAM SPORT'.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer Lawrence Janss isn't the kind of man to boast. A founder, chairman and member of about a dozen nonprofit groups and foundations, Janss speaks little of his commitment to help mankind. A protege pro·té·gé n. One whose welfare, training, or career is promoted by an influential person. [French, from past participle of protéger, to protect, from Old French, from Latin of photographer Ansel Adams who has traveled the world capturing images, Janss says his life is ``not glamorous but certainly blessed.'' And when he was named Philanthropist of the Year this week, Janss refused to take all of the credit. ``I view philanthropy philanthropy, the spirit of active goodwill toward others as demonstrated in efforts to promote their welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with charity. as a team sport,'' said Janss, 46, who was honored Thursday by the National Society of Fund-Raising Executives - NSFRE NSFRE National Society of Fund Raising Executives (now the Association of Fundraising Professionals, AFP) - a national group of directors who spearhead fund-raisers for nonprofit organizations Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. . Janss is the son of Edwin Janss Jr. and Virginia Sherwin of Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. . The Janss family is credited with developing more than 90,000 acres across the state. Members of the family have donated hundreds of acres for colleges and parks. Lawrence Janss earned the award for founding the Gold Coast Performing Arts Association and the Liberty Hill Foundation Liberty Hill Foundation is one of the nation’s leading social justice foundations. Liberty Hill was launched with $100,000 and a commitment to change, not charity -- a commitment to making lasting changes in people’s lives, not just offering short-term relief. , which helps fund alternative social programs by raising more than $1 million a year. He is also a member of the Board of Governors for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza is a performing arts and administrative center located in Thousand Oaks, California. It was built in 1994 on the former site of "Jungleland" at a cost of $63.8 million. and a trustee of the Athenian School in Danville, Calif. During his acceptance speech at the awards ceremony, Janss said he couldn't have done it alone. ``As I look across this room, I see all the people who helped make these projects possible.'' Janss' modest demeanor is what makes his efforts shine, colleagues say. ``He has that bashfulness that I find refreshing,'' said Kathleen Mann, director of development for Viewpoint School  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . in Calabasas, where Janss has supported many fund-raisers. A member of NSFRE's board of directors, Mann nominated Janss for this year's philanthropy award. ``He's always believed that philanthropy is a team effort and that one person should not be singled out,'' Mann said. ``That shows the kind of person he is. He treats everyone as his equal. People work with him because of his modesty Modesty See also Chastity, Humility. Bell, Laura reserved, demure character. [Br. Lit.: Pendennis] Bianca gentle, unassuming sister of Kate. [Br. Lit. .'' The husband, father and teacher is as modest about philanthropy as he is about photography. ``I've only recently had the confidence to promote myself,'' said Janss, whose work will be exhibited in ``Photography of the Last Decade'' later this month in Thousand Oaks. It is the third time Janss' work will be featured in Ventura County. Looking back at his first photography class more than 20 years ago, Janss ``never believed this would happen.'' The exhibit's signature picture depicts an exotic plant Janss spotted on the slopes of the volcano Citlaltepetl in Veracruz, Mexico. Unlike philanthropy, Janss breathes life into his images by not focusing on the larger picture. ``We live daily in a world made up of things - we want to get ahead, get this, get that. There's a lot of `get' in the world,'' Janss said. ``But it's cotton in one's eyes. It clouds the recognition of where one is.'' Using his art as a therapeutic form of expression, Janss believes photography reflects his life. ``Black-and-white photography is the antithesis antithesis (ăntĭth`ĭsĭs), a figure of speech involving a seeming contradiction of ideas, words, clauses, or sentences within a balanced grammatical structure. Parallelism of expression serves to emphasize opposition of ideas. of my life,'' Janss said. ``My life is point and shoot - but my cameras require patience and disciplining myself,'' he said. ``It has taught me to calm down, to slow down. When one calms down, then the music of the spheres can be heard.'' THE FACTS WHAT: ``Photography of the Last Decade'' by Lawrence Janss. WHEN: March 29 through April 27. WHERE: Borders Books and Music, 125 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. An opening reception for the artist is planned from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 29. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Photo: (color in Verb 1. color in - add color to; "The child colored the drawings"; "Fall colored the trees"; "colorize black and white film" color, colorise, colorize, colour in, colourise, colourize, colour CONEJO edition only) Lawrence Janss changes his perspective from the ``big picture'' to isolated details when he looks for images to photograph. Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News Box: THE FACTS (see text) |
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