Mitzens named Citizens of the Year
SARATOGA COUNTY, N.Y. » The Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health announced Lisa and Ed Mitzen are the 2018 Citizens of the Year.
Ed Mitzen, the CEO of Fingerpaint Marketing in Saratoga Springs, is the vice chair of the Double H Ranch Board of Directors. Double H Ranch is a camp for children with serious medical conditions and disabilities.
Lisa Mitzen serves on the Board of Directors at Rebuilding Together Saratoga.
According to a release, Ed and Lisa stand out to the mental health community because of their dedication and support for the Code Blue program in Saratoga.
Fingerpaint stepped up at the inception of Code Blue, contributing funds after the death of Nancy Pitts. The couple works at Code Blue sporadically throughout the season, usually cooking and providing meals to the guests, a news release said.
Ed and Lisa are donating an undisclosed amount of money to Shelters of Saratoga to expand their location on Walworth Street to maintain a permanent Code Blue shelter. The proposed shelter, which hasn’t been approved by the Planning Board yet, would be a two-story, 6,500-square-foot shelter.
“Homeless people often are living with mental health or substance abuse problems. Creating a permanent home for Code Blue as part of, and next to, the Shelters of Saratoga facility will improve access for more homeless people to get the help and assistance they need to find permanent housing, jobs and/or treatment,” the Saratoga County Citizens Committee for Mental Health said in the release. “Ed and Lisa’s volunteer and philanthropic support of the Code Blue Program is making a difference for people living with mental illness and substance abuse in Saratoga County.”
The committee will honor Lisa and Ed Mitzen at their annual dinner and fundraising event, “SCCCMH Mental Health Matters Benefit” on May 2 at Longfellows Restaurant from 6 to 9:00 p.m.