(Credit: Courtesy Saratoga Casino Hotel, 2022)
AIM Services' CEO Christopher Lyons and Bo Goliber, chief development and communications officer (center) receive a $10,000 donation from Saratoga Casino Hotel executives Skip Carlson, vice president of external affairs (left) and CEO Sam Gerrity (right). Story, below.
The Wesley Foundation announces appointment of new board members
From a press release: The Wesley Community today announced a series of appointments to the Board of Directors of The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs.
As Foundation Board members, Beth Brucker-Kane, George W. “Skip” Carlson and MacKenzie Zarzycki will support The Wesley Community’s mission through a broad range of development strategies and fundraising initiatives.
“We are pleased to welcome these three extraordinary individuals to The Wesley Foundation Board of Directors,” said J. Brian Nealon, CEO of The Wesley Community. “Beth, Skip and MacKenzie each bring a wealth of experience and passion for community service to the Board. Their leadership will guide us forward in supporting our efforts to offer the best care to our residents and their families.”
Beth Brucker-Kane is the Associate Director of Donor Engagement and Stewardship at Skidmore College, where she also serves on the Campus Sustainability Committee. Her 27-year career at Skidmore includes previous roles as Development Associate in the Office of the Dean of Special Programs and Associate Director of the Skidmore Fund.
George W. “Skip” Carlson is the Vice President of External Affairs and Signature Service at Saratoga Casino Hotel, where he has held a wide-ranging number of leadership and communications positions since 1977. Carlson is also treasurer of the Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation and serves on the Saratoga Springs Advisory Board of the New York Racing Association.
MacKenzie Zarzycki is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Discover Saratoga, the convention and tourism bureau for Saratoga County. She has previous experience in the not-for-profit, beverage and tourism industries. After completing the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Saratoga program in 2018, Zarzycki joined the Leadership Saratoga alumni board.
‘Lightning Storms of the Adirondacks’ art exhibition to benefit the Charles R. Wood Theater
Rachael Rhianna, owner of Cre8ivology at The Shirt Factory in Glens Falls, will exhibit her paintings “Lightning Storms of the Adirondacks” at the gallery in the Charles R. Wood Theater, located at 207 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801. The show runs Dec. 16 to 28, with a reception Dec. 16.
The gallery is open during box office hours, Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.
Ten percent of sales will be donated to the Wood Theater, and donations will be accepted.
The show is open to the public. For information, visit www.rachaelrhianna.com. Rachael Rhianna, based in Queensbury, has been painting for 20 years professionally. She studied art at SUNY Adirondack and has been inspired by artists like Salvador DalÍ and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as numerous other artists. Nature is one of her greatest inspirations.
“Being creative is how I recharge, and painting is my medication. I love the idea of making beautiful things that I can share with the world,” Rhianna said. “I’ve always loved lightning storms. I’ve always felt energized by them. I literally feel like all that energy that’s exploding out into the atmosphere is also energizing me. It’s one of the most amazing things that nature does.”
Saratoga Casino Hotel Makes a Difference with $120,000 in Donations
From a press release: Saratoga Casino Hotel celebrated ‘Giving Tuesday’ by donating $120,000 to twelve Capital Region non-profit organizations during their Make A Difference holiday luncheon in Vapor yesterday.
“Our annual Make A Difference event is something we look forward to every year,” said Skip Carlson, Vice President of External Affairs at Saratoga Casino Hotel. “We have some amazing organizations in the Capital District that give back in so many ways to make our community stronger. It seems fitting that on Giving Tuesday, we can give back to them so they can continue to make a difference in the lives of so many every day.”
Cindy Hollowood, Executive Director of Sponsor-A-Scholar expressed her gratitude, "Saratoga Casino Hotel continues to be a major sponsor of our organization each year. Because of their generosity and our successful annual Derby Day event held at The Lodge, we were able to accept more students into our program in 2022. We are forever grateful for their ongoing support."
The following twelve organizations each received a $10,000 donation.
- AIM Services, Inc.
- Albany Medical Center Foundation
- Capital Roots
- The Donna M. Crandall Memorial Foundation
- Folds of Honor
- Franklin Community Center
- Jake’s Help from Heaven
- Saratoga Community Health Center
- Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar
- SNACpack Program (Saratoga Nutrition Assistance for Children)
- Wellspring
- The Wesley Community
Over the last 19 years, Saratoga Casino Hotel has donated over $3.2 million to different charitable groups in the Capital Region. Their 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.