FIVE QUESTIONS
Five Questions with Allison Cherkosly, Ph.D.:
Cherkosly is the new executive director of local nonprofit Saratoga WarHorse.
1 What is Saratoga WarHorse?
Saratoga WarHorse Foundation is a nonprofit organization that assists veterans experiencing invisible, psychological wounds as a result of their military service by providing an equine-assisted experience that initiates empowering life changes. We aspire to be an integral part of the solution to the growing problem of veteran suicides, post-traumatic stress, and other barriers to veterans leading happy, healthy lives.
2 How has your background prepared you to take on your new role as executive director?
As a combat Army veteran, I feel like I bring a unique perspective to the organization. Having served in Afghanistan, I am deeply connected to the Saratoga WarHorse mission and personally invested in the success of the program. Additionally, I have worked for a decade in the nonprofit sector focusing on fundraising and organizational management, so I certainly have a comprehensive understanding of what is required to expand Saratoga WarHorse in order to meet the demand for our services throughout the United States.
3 What do you enjoy most about your work with Saratoga WarHorse?
Hearing directly from the veterans we work with about how we’ve made an impact in their lives is, by far, the most rewarding part of this job. When I first started working for Saratoga WarHorse, I asked the staff to bring me the unopened mail each day so that I could see the unedited feedback from veteran participants. I was amazed to find nothing but positive, meaningful feedback from every veteran who wrote to us. Every day we strive to reach one goal: to positively impact as many veterans as possible. More than 900 veterans have graduated from our program since 2011, and we will continue to deliver on our promise and do our best to reach every U.S.A. veteran who may benefit from our unique service. It’s really an honor to be a part of this organization.
4 Your annual gala is coming up on Aug. 13, what can people expect this year?
Our annual gala is taking place on Monday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs. We are thrilled to announce that this year’s event will highlight the organization’s milestone of serving our 1,000th veteran in 2018, so it’s going to be
a very special and meaningful gala this year. The event will feature veteran speakers who have been positively impacted by the Saratoga WarHorse program, live music, and open bar. For more information, or to
purchase tickets you can call 518-886-8131 or visit www.saratogawarhorse.com/events. 5 How can people get involved with the program if they know someone who might benefit from Saratoga Warhorse? With no cost to veterans, the program is covered by the generosity of grateful citizens. The program serves veterans from any branch of service, no matter when or for how long they served, and it’s available to veterans from anywhere in the United States. For more information, people can visit our website at www.saratogawarhorse.com, or call me directly at (518) 886-8131.