Courtesy Saratoga Casino and Hotel
Saratoga Casino Hotel celebrated Giving Tuesday on Nov. 30 by donating $110,000 to 11 Capital Region nonprofit organizations during a Make A Difference holiday luncheon at the facility.
“We are humbled and sincerely grateful to receive this very generous donation for SNACpack from Saratoga Casino Hotel,” said Karey Trimmings, SNACpack program coordinator. “The pandemic has created a greater need of children living with food insecurity, as well as an increase in food costs. We were able to continue to provide food throughout the past year and a half of COVID because of generous donations from our community, including past donations from the casino.”
The following eleven organization each received a $10,000 donation: The Donna M. Crandall Memorial Foundation in Loudonville, Franklin Community Center in Saratoga Springs, Jake’s Help from Heaven in Saratoga Springs, LifePath Supportive Services for Older Adults in Albany, The Joseph C. and Anne T. Palamountain Scholarship Fund in Saratoga Springs , Saratoga Community Health Center, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar, SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children), the Wesley Foundation and Wellspring in Malta.
“It was a natural fit to align our annual Make A Difference event with Giving Tuesday,” said Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “We’re so fortunate to have these organizations in our community and we’re happy to provide them with some assistance so they can continue to make a difference every day to so many.”
“For Jake’s Help From Heaven, receiving a Make A Difference grant truly does make a difference, especially now,” said Heather Straughter, president of Jake’s Help From Heaven. “Over the last 20 months, the need for support of our families has increased tremendously yet our ability to fundraise has decreased. We are preparing for our final board of directors meeting of 2021 and this grant will allow us to continue to come from a ‘place of yes’ when we review applications. The generosity of Saratoga Casino Hotel really does make a difference for so many in our area and we are grateful for their support.”
Over the last 16 years, Saratoga Casino Hotel has donated over $3 million to different charitable groups in the Capital Region. The Make a Difference initiative that started in 2004 has since been their main charitable event to honor and provide funding to local non-profit organizations.