SARATOGA SPRINGS – In the afterglow of a fabulous, successful event – such as the Seventh Annual Family Fun Day to benefit Jake’s Help From Heaven (JHFH see: Their Website Here) on Sunday, April 30 at the Saratoga Strike Zone (32 Ballston Avenue)- some immediate conclusions can be drawn:
1)- This is a community that is unified in its motivation to make a difference. The turnout at this event shows that this motivation is not the sole province of corporate big wigs and ‘upper crusties’ who write checks and say ‘have a good day’ – but extends throughout our citizenry, at all levels of society. Forgive a bit of proletarian pride, but as one who has lived elsewhere I want to emphasize how unique this is… and it is May Day after all!
2) The second conclusion is less controversial: Everyone should immediately add more red to their wardrobe. You all were looking good!
Yes, yes – looking good indeed. But side-by-side with the spectacle of the colors, lights, noise, kids, parents, grandparents and fun – there is a real component.
Real people who will directly benefit from the money (A whopping $85,000!) raised on Sunday.
One of the key strengths of JHFH is that they reinforce your donations by showing you where your money goes. Families who benefit are front and center at each Family Fun Day. Their stories are at the core.
One such story was posted by a person named Hillary Savoie, whose family is a recipient of assistance from Jake’s Help From Heaven. She posted this last night on JHFH Co-Founder Heather Straughter’s Facebook page. I reprint part of her post with a journalistic tip-of-the-hat, for she expresses that gratitude more eloquently then I ever could:
“When you walk on the path of parenting a medically fragile child, most of the world can feel like it is made up of things that are out of reach or not made for you and your child–from seats and toys to schools and vacations. If you are lucky, as Esmé is, you have a crew on your side. However, children like my daughter need more than family, they need a life-long community. Heather Straughter and JHFH have made it their mission to provide families like mine with the kinds of tools and equipment that help make our children’s lives just that much easier and more enjoyable. And over the years they have provided us with a number of things that were absolutely life altering for Esmé: hippotherapy sessions, a special tomato sitter, therapy tables, an iPad (and beyond). But more than that–they have built a community of people who we know are pulling for children like Esmé…people who see them and celebrate them and recognize that they need this kind of extra attention in order to thrive in their own beautiful ways. People who are willing to invest their time, money, and energy into children like mine. This is a life-changer of a different sort…
“I am so grateful to be a part of this community.” – Hillary Savoie
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Bravo Hillary. Bravo everyone!
Arthur Gonick
May 1, 2017
