…And The Good It Does – A Siro’s Cup Preview
SARATOGA SPRINGS – Get ready fellow track lovers, it’s that time of the year again. The time when restaurants no longer run their Wednesday specials, parking is nearly impossible and if you live in Saratoga your morning stroll to retrieve your newspaper requires you to also grab the empty beer bottles left on your lawn.
Ahhh but wait, isn’t that why you love it here-to jump, (with your elaborate track hat) head first into the swarm of people moving from one of Saratoga’s fabulous restaurants or bars to the next? To sit on a wooden bench and people watch for hours? To dust off that seersucker suit, the one that could – and should, only be worn to the track? Yep, it’s the 153rd race season, and we are off.
Listen up my new friends, I am about to share a very well-known secret! If you want an early peek into the track season, I have the event for you! The 24th Annual Newton Plaza and Marini Homes
Siro’s Cup to benefit the Center for Disability Services Foundation takes place this Thursday starting at 6:30 pm. This event is always on the eve of opening day of the Saratoga Racetrack, and should not be missed.
Why, you ask? The answer is obvious….
It’s the perfect excuse to get a sitter while not having that dreaded mom guilt. It’s being able to put on that new slip dress instead of wearing your boyfriend jeans and ribbed tank top, all the while having an adult conversation that lasts over five minutes.
Yes to all that, but also…
Dancing the time away listening to The Electric City Horns, ‘noshing’ on a tasty buffet, sampling drinks from the open bar, enmeshing yourself with jockeys/trainers and notable individuals from the horse racing and world of sports.
All obvious, BUT the real reason this event should not be missed is…
THE CAUSE!
The Center for Disabilities Services mission statement is as follows: “To enable and empower people, primarily those with disabilities, to lead healthy and enriched lives.” Did you know the Center has been helping individuals in the capital region and right in our back yard for the past 73+ years! The funds raised from Siro’s Cup helps to support the Center’s , Adult Services, Center Health Care, CloverPatch Camp, CloverPatch pre-school, Langan School, Prospect Center and St. Margaret’s Center.
I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist and have been working with individuals with disabilities my whole career. Fortunately , I work in a location where several of my students reside at St. Margaret’s, come to my Elementary School from CloverPatch and attend the Langan School for summer services.
So I have seen first-hand the power and beauty of these locations and have seen first-hand what these two centers provide. Allow me to share this with you:
The CloverPatch is a preschool/school where students can be submerged in a learning environment that meets their educational needs. That means including adaptive equipment (handicapped accessible playground), assistive technology (computers with speech output), having sensory enriched environments (such as weighted blankets to help the student feel more regulated, which in turn helps the learning process), and educators who have a passion for the disabled population. These kiddos and teaching team are all spectacular and the growth they achieve given the right tools and placement is breathtaking.
St. Margaret’s Center is a skilled nursing facility that provides care be it long-term, short-term or even respite care to children and young adults. These individuals have complex medical needs which often can’t be provided within their home. Families entrust St. Margaret’s to provide comfort, therapy services and meet all basic daily needs.
This is beyond impressive –right? And just a morsel of what the Center for Disability provides.
Ok, back to our initial question: Why must you attend the Siro’s cup on July 20th?
Because while wearing that powder blue gingham suit you will be getting a jump start on the track season WHILE donating to an extremely worthy cause.
If that is not reason enough… I will be there! And, since we are now friends, I’m sure you know we love to hang out together.
Mandy Mittler
July 16, 2017
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mandy Mittler is a caring mom, a Speech-Language Pathologist, and a member of the Board of Directors for Jake’s Help From Heaven. She will be part of our gala coverage, specializing in posts about the goals of not-for-profits and the people they help.
