Our local, professional counselors are one of the many things that set us apart from other au pair agencies. Senior Community Counselor Cindy Garruba has more than 15 years of experience with Au Pair in America, and works year round to ensure host families and au pairs have a happy and successful experience.
As the single mother of a 24 year old daughter, Cindy knows the challenges and joys of raising children. When her daughter was younger, Cindy served as PTA president, a Girl Scout Leader and Sunday school teacher. She continues to volunteer in her community to this day.
Cindy grew up in Setauket and has spent the majority of her life in Suffolk County. She graduated from Dowling College on Long Island and currently lives in Riverhead. Cindy loves spending time on the local beaches, and shares a beach house in on the North Fork of Long Island with her sisters. Decorating is a passion of Cindy’s and she is a graduate of the Metropolitan Institute of Design and a certified home stager from Staging Training By Design.
A Senior Community Counselor for Au Pair in America, Cindy has served Suffolk County host families and au pairs since September 2000. She admires the young women who travel far from home and lovingly care for their host children. She feels her host families are warm and welcoming and embrace the program for the cultural exchange and the immeasurable benefits its provides to children and parents alike.
At her monthly cluster meetings, Cindy always arranges a special activity for her au pairs. They welcome new members, discuss child care, safety and other helpful information on life in the U.S. She always includes social time so au pairs can visit with one another in Cindy’s home. Conversation is lively and the au pairs form long lasting friendships.
Cindy has stayed in contact with many of her au pairs and is thrilled to see them go on to have successful careers, marriages and children. Cindy says:
Many of the host families and au pairs continue their relationships long past their year together and continue to feel like family. Children benefit from growing up in homes where they learn about cultural diversity from someone they love. The experience is rewarding to the host parents, the children and the au pair. I truly believe world peace can be achieved by learning as much as we can about people from all corners of the globe. Individual to individual, we learn we all need and want the same things; we all want the best life for ourselves and our families.
Cindy is part of a great team at Au Pair in America helping busy Suffolk County families solve their child care needs! For questions about the au pair program, schedule a consult with us at a time that’s convenient for you.
