An Update for Friends of Franklin Community Center—Fall 2016

“ W e Ar e M a k i n g A D i f f e r en c e ”
An Update for Friends of Franklin Community Center—Fall 2016
Executive Director
Kari Cushing
Board of Directors
Christopher Cook
(President)
Jason Lynch
(Vice President)
Andrew Ferrara
(Treasurer)
Matthew Riker
(Secretary)
Matthew Brobston
Molly Bush
Brian Corcoran
Stephen CuttingMiller
Karen D’Andrea
George Igler
Zachary Manz
Marne Onderdonk
Michael Russo
Project Lift is growing again and we couldn’t be more excited! A little
background for those of you who aren’t familiar with our program (wow, are
you going to love this). Project Lift is a free, after-school prevention
program run by Franklin that has been operating in the Saratoga Springs
City School District since 1984.
At Franklin we believe that youth hold the key to the future of our
community and we work tirelessly to make sure that no one is ever
overlooked, which is why this program is vital to our community. We were
thrilled when the school district approached us wanting to expand for the
2015-2016 school year and last fall we added to our team and went into
those four schools in full force. We made new friends, involved more
families and really began carving our path. Shortly after, we were approached by an anonymous foundation who wanted to see the program go
even further – they wanted all the Saratoga Springs public elementary
school children and families to have the opportunity to attend Project Lift.
With that being said, plans are underway to expand our services into all six
elementary schools starting in October 2016.
Our task…to place emphasis on positive youth development activities, raise
self-esteem and the development of refusal, decision-making, problem
solving, and communication skills to equip children with information they
need to make healthy decisions on their own. We are ready for this
challenge and are looking forward to moving our Family Outreach Educators
into the schools full time. Their focus is to serve the entire family: to act as
a guide, mentor, caseworker and advocate – to work with our Lift families to
help them grow and develop new skills. With this stronger partnership
between the Saratoga Springs City School District and Franklin Community
Center we will be able to tighten up many of the gaps in service and
together, we will make an even larger impact. Stay tuned to find out more
about Project Lift and if you are looking to get involved just reach out – we
have plenty of opportunities.
Project Lift is funded in part by the New York State Office of Alcohol and
Substance Abuse Services and meets (and exceeds) all necessary
requirements. For more information please visit our website.
Franklin Community Center is pleased to announce the addition of
two new members to our Board of Directors. Our new members
are, Molly Bush, Assistant Controller at Informz, Inc. and
Stephen Cutting-Miller, Senior Vice President at Continuum
Wealth Advisors, LLC
A New (returning) Addition
Franklin Community Center is
excited to welcome Chloe
Williams to the staff as Family
Outreach Educator for Project
Lift! Chloe is a graduate of
Vassar College and brings with
her experience working with
youth and their families.
Chloe is a familiar face
around the office- she has
been both a volunteer and an
intern in years past.
Don’t Forget:
Donation day at our “free store”
at 101 Washington Street is
Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
We will begin fall clothing in
September and winter items in
October. Small household items
always needed.
Food Items Needed:
100% fruit juice, raisins/dried
fruit, applesauce (no sugar
added), canned fruit,
canned tomato products,
brown/wild rice, rolled oats/plain
instant oatmeal, whole grain
pasta, quinoa/whole grains,
cereal, cereal bars, canned
tuna/chicken/salmon, dried
beans, canned beans, nuts &
seeds, peanut butter, coffee/tea,
vegetable oil, powdered milk—
regular/soy/almond, fresh
meats & fish
Together, we are making a
difference.
Rev. Drew Sperry
Franklin Community Center l 10 Franklin Street l Saratoga Springs l NY l 12866
phone: (518) 587-9826 l fax: (518) 587-5293
email: [email protected]
What’s Happened & What’s Happening!

**PROJECT LIFT UNIVERSITY** will be held on October 13, 2016 at Longfellows Inn. Check out page 3...

We are looking for donations of items to be auctioned off at Project Lift University. If you would like to donate, or know someone who would like to donate, contact Jaime.

Our 18th Annual Franklin Open Golf Tournament was a huge success! We raised $20,000! Thanks to all who contributed.

Our 2nd Annual Guest Bartender Evening was held on August 23rd at Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar—stay tuned to find out more.

The food pantry has served 4,085 individuals between January—July 2016 and the number of people served monthly is up
18% .

Franklin is hosting our Annual Halloween Costume Drive — we are collecting NOW at our main office.

Our Holiday Assistance program is ready to go!! Please contact Lindsay Welsh if you are interested in learning more about how
YOU can help a family over the holidays.

Food Pantry hours: Monday—Wednesday 9am—2pm & Thursday 2pm—7pm. Donations accepted at the pantry during open
hours or use our food drop bin when pantry is closed (drop bin is located just inside picket fence off Franklin Street).

We are conducting a healthy food drive for the pantry—please see list on front page of current needs.

Project Lift expansion— We are excited to offer Lift in all 6 of the public elementary schools and this year our Family Outreach
Educators will be working directly out of the schools they will be serving. We will miss them at the office but are thrilled that we
can work with the schools to provide such wrap around services.

Project Lift collaborated with the school district on their new Summer Explorer Program—a new approach to turn traditional
summer school into an experience that focuses on academics using hands on learning.

Food Pantry Volunteers Needed!!

Please make sure you check us out on Facebook, on Twitter (10FranklinSt) and now on Instagram too!
Food Pantry Update
Julie Slovic, Food Pantry Administrator
Dear Friends,
We are working hard to help families with food insecurities live a healthier lifestyle. Our hope is that by providing and promoting
healthier options we can reduce chronic diseases for families and grant families access to the often pricey fruits and veggies
found in today’s marketplace. We are working in collaboration with the National Garden Writers Association’s Plant A Row Project, coordinated through Sue DuBois, which encourages gardeners to grow a little extra and donate the produce to local pantries
and soup kitchens. We have also launched a Free Produce Day which will run twice monthly May thru the end of growing season.
The produce comes from our very own gardens, New York Regional Food Bank, the Food Pantries, local backyards and is made
available for friends in need to take. With the help of our pantry and Wildwood volunteers the program has been successful. Eat
Smart New York representative, Siobhan A’Hearn, attends as well to provide recipes, advice and ideas.
We are currently conducting a “healthy” food drive. Please see the front page of the newsletter for items we are in need of.
The success of our pantry relies heavily on the volunteers who help it run and we are always looking to grow that team. Please
contact [email protected] for information on volunteering or donating.
See page 3 for how you can help support Project Lift!
Franklin Footnotes
www.FranklinCommunityCenter.org
2
Fall 2016
Join Us For
Project Lift University
October 13, 2016
Longfellows Restaurant
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Enjoy live music, open bar, heavy hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, auctions and mingling
while supporting our after school prevention program, Project Lift
$75 regular ticket / $140 pair / $50 junior ticket
(under 30)
Tickets can be purchased by phone, in person or on our website
WWW.FRANKLINCOMMUNITYCENTER.ORG
Entertainment Includes:
Live music by Rich Ortiz
Tarot Card & Numerology
Check out our website at www.franklincommunitycenter.org for up-to-date information
Here is our list of amazing sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor:
Major Sponsors:
AMERICAN NATURAL GAS
CHRISTOPHER & MEGHAN COOK
DA COLLINS COMPANIES
DUNKIN DONUTS
ESMI COMPANIES
Franklin Footnotes
FINGERPAINT
POLYSET COMPANY INC
FOUR WINDS SARATOGA
SARATOGA NATIONAL BANK & TRUST
HEALTHY LIVING MARKET & CAFÉ
SARATOGA TODAY
LONGFELLOWS INN
TOWNE, RYAN & PARTNERS, P.C.
LOOK TV
TRISHA MILLIER PHOTOGRAPHY
MINICH MACGREGOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT
VERIZON
www.FranklinCommunityCenter.org
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Fall 2016
Presorted Standard
US Postage PAID
Saratoga Springs, NY
Permit #208
Franklin Community Center, Inc.
10 Franklin Street
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
www.franklincommunitycenter.org
[email protected]
[p] 518-587-9826 [f] 518-587-5293
or current resident
YOUR AD HERE!
FANTASTIC ADVERTISING SPACE
A GREAT WAY TO GIVE BACK
Contact [email protected]
for details
Project Lift was able to provide 71 weeks of camp to our Project Lifters for
summer 2016. Thank you to all those who made these experiences possible!
Summer camp memories provided courtesy of: Christopher Dailey Foundation,
Saratoga Springs Rotary Club, YMCA Camp Chingachgook, Camp Little Notch, Saratoga
Arts Council, All Stars Camp, Saratoga United Methodist Church, Skye Farm Camp, Skidmore Sports Camp, Camp Northwoods, Cutting Edge Martial Arts and Saratoga Children’s Theatre.
Here’s what’s on our Project Lift Wish List as we gear up for back to school:

School supplies (please visit our website for a list of needed supplies)

Backpacks

Individually wrapped snacks

Small, “fun” items for the prize box (think stickers, silly putty, candy, jewelry, hacky sacks, gel pens, etc.)

Long jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, fashion duct tape, small dry erase boards

Children’s socks and underwear

Previously loved (or new) children’s sporting equipment (including cleats)

Halloween costumes
Franklin Footnotes
www.FranklinCommunityCenter.org
4
Fall 2016