Sixteen local charitable organizations
received donations totaling $100,000 at the
Saratoga Casino and Raceway’s 10th annual
Make a Difference event in December.
The donations bring the casino’s total support
to Capital Region charities to $240,000 in 2014,
officials said.
Since its inception in 2005, the annual Make
a Difference event has presented over $1 million
to local organizations, according to the casino.
More than $2 million in monetary and in-kind
donations have been made by Saratoga Casino
and Raceway since opening in 2004.
“It is truly an honor to highlight so many outstanding
organizations in our community,” said
Mike Vild, general manager of Saratoga Casino
and Raceway. “This is about the amazing work
they do every day, and we are proud to be able
to assist them in furthering their missions and
improving the quality of life here in the Capital
Region.”
“The staff and management of Saratoga Casino
and Raceway truly values and appreciates
the contribution of the many not-for-profit organizations
in our community,” said Skip Carlson,
vice president of external affairs at Saratoga
Casino and Raceway. “The positive and lasting
impression these organizations make on the
lives of the people they serve goes a long way
in improving the character of our community.”
Liz Bishop of CBS6 hosted the event. She
presented the checks to each organization,
beginning with two organizations she has been
championing for years, Empire State Youth
Orchestra at Proctors, which received $2,000
and The Melodies Center for Childhood Cancer
and Blood Disorders at Albany Med., which
received $3,000.
Other recipients were:
Rebuilding Together, Saratoga County,
Inc.; Saratoga Hospital Foundation; SUNY
Adirondack Foundation, $10,000 each.
Franklin Community Center, Inc.; Jake’s Help
From Heaven; Shelters of Saratoga; and To Life!,
$7,500 each.
Agricultural Stewardship Association; AIM
Services, Inc.; Capital Roots; Guardian House;
Nathan Littauer Foundation, Inc.; Wellspring;
and The Wesley Foundation, $5,000 each.
“We are thrilled to accept this generous gift on
behalf of SUNY Adirondack,” said Rachel Patten,
executive director of development, alumni relations,
SUNY Adirondack Foundation. “We plan to
use the funds to establish new partnerships with
our students, local residents, and our agriculture
community — an important economic driver in
our region — through the development of an online
farmers market. We are most appreciative
of Saratoga Casino and Raceway’s commitment
to the future vitality of our region.”
Photo Courtesy Saratoga Casino and Raceway