Saratoga Casino Hotel donates $110K on Giving Tuesday
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Saratoga Casino Hotel donated a total of $110,000 this Giving Tuesday to 11 local nonprofit organizations.
Each charity was presented a check for $10,000 at the casino’s Make A Difference holiday luncheon on Tuesday afternoon in Vapor.
The organizations chosen were Capital Roots, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Northeastern New York Chapter, Jake’s Help from Heaven, Make-a-Wish of Northeastern New York, Nathan Littauer Hospital, Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, Ronald McDonald House, Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Sponsor-AScholar and Wesley Health Care.
Closing the books on its 77th year of operation, “We are very grateful and appreciative for the support we’ve received over the years from our casino and hotel guests, the horseplayers and everyone in the Capital Region community,” Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs at Saratoga Casino Hotel, said at the event.
To show its thanks, the management at Saratoga Casino Hotel decided to give back in a major way this year with its 12th Make A Difference donation event.
Representatives from each organization attended the lun- cheon program, emceed by WNYT’s Benita Zahn, to accept the donations.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us, coming at a great time of the year, to cap off the end of the year,” said Capital Roots chief executive officer Amy Klein, of the Troy-based nonprofit.
“It’s very much needed in terms of support for our programs, and it’s a great day for them to do this,” she continued, referring to Giving Tuesday.
“What I love about this event is the mix of charities that they bring together,” Klein said before the program began. “I really think it’s nice to see some of the different organizations together and connect with folks that we don’t often get to connect with.”
While Capital Roots focuses on food security, other organizations included in Tuesday’s
donation strive to care for patients in need, support students in their college careers, and aid families with young loved ones who are ill.
“Many of us are really blessed to have our families close by, a roof over our heads, everything we need to eat, the ability we need to move and walk every day - a lot of things we take for granted - but there are many people in our community that have enormous struggles day after day in their lives,” Carlson said. “From the bottom of my heart, I really want to thank the organizations that are here today that go above and beyond to assist those in need. It’s truly appreciated.”