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2014 Lend A Hand Grant Awards

After the Fire, Inc. is a nonprofit volunteer group founded in 1991 by ladies auxiliary members from Halfmoon and Clifton Park. They provide families in Saratoga County who have had fires with immediate emotional support, information and referrals to resources, personal hygiene products, clothing and a place to spend the night. They also help coordinate donations of household items and furniture. Their members respond to calls for help 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year. Cumulatively, they have covered 364 fires, helping 490 families. Lend-A-Hand Grant will provide funding to immediately help families of Saratoga County get back on their feet after a fire.

Ballston Spa Film Festival

The Ballston Spa Film Festival is a core of dedicated volunteers who are simultaneously preparing for free events and operating the new not-for-profit organization. Every dollar of financial support they receive goes into presenting the annual international short-film festival, the Monthly Classic Film Series, and the expenses such as film licensing, insurance, and equipment, necessary to run the organization. The BSFF is committed to keeping their events free to the community because they want the films they present – from the award-winning classics, to the promising works of student filmmakers – available for all to enjoy and perhaps to be inspired by them. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for this organization to expand the events they offer for outdoor film screenings, which in turn will draw more families to the festival.

Ballston Spa Partnership for Innovation in Education

Ballston Spa Central School District’s Partnership for Innovation in Education program collaborates with business and industry, higher education, non-profit and government agencies to develop innovative educational experiences that re-frame teaching and learning for the 21st century. Preparing students for jobs that do not yet exist in a world where information is growing exponentially requires educational experiences that provide new tools for teaching, curriculum, assessment and professional development. The Partnership seeks experiences that will apply new or current thinking in a different plane that will fundamentally change the learning experiences for teachers and students, creating evidence of mastery in the graduation competencies. Lend-A-Hand Grant will fund the 2015 Girls’ Summit, a full-day, STEM-based forum for and about girls.

Ben Osborn Memorial Fund, Inc.

The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund aims to support youth with “NEED”. This fund was created in memory of CPL Osborn who was killed in Afghanistan, June 15, 2010, while serving in the United States Army during Operation Enduring Freedom. It is their mission and hope that the values being learned, such as discipline and pride, will be encouraged and passed on through Ben’s legacy. As he taught them through example and selfless sacrifice, they simply wish to do their part by “giving kids a little lift” in honor of Ben’s memory. Modest assistance can be provided in the form of items such as: school supplies, tutoring services, winter clothing items, field trip admission expenses, electronics, musical instruments and classes, eyeglasses and more. Lend-A-Hand Grant will fund children in need, age 5 through 18, in the form of gender and size appropriate clothing assistance during the school day.

First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa Lunch Program

The Summer Lunch Program provides free, healthy and nutritious lunches Monday through Friday July 1 through the third week in August for children ages 3-18 who receive free or reduced lunch during the school year and reside within the Village of Ballston Spa, with an expansion to the communities of Malta and Rock City Falls. Meals are prepared daily by the church and distributed 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 pm at three locations. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for the continuation of the program.

Lake George Music Festival

The Lake George Music Festival’s mission is to bring a ten day classical musical festival to Lake George, New York. The Festival brought in over 70 musicians from around the world, most ages 20-30. Musicians represented 46 American Music Conservatories, 27 U.S. States, 9 Nations and 37 professional Orchestras. will help to provide funding for the Season. Talented young musicians gain valuable musical, educational experiences, including the opportunity to perform at a various venues with large audiences. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for the Fifth Year Anniversary Season, August 17-27, 2015.

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame provides the “Horsing Around with the Arts” program that is a youth-based art exhibit at the Museum and is tailored for students’ grades 3-7 and 8-12. The Museum welcomed more than 400 students and family members from throughout the community for an evening of complimentary refreshments, awards, and a private viewing of the Museum. The exhibit remained open to the general public and families to enjoy throughout the spring. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for the “Horsing Around with the Arts” program scheduled for spring 2015.

North Country Wild Care

North Country Wild Care supports licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the care of orphaned, injured and otherwise debilitated wildlife, encourages and foster the education, licensing and training of wildlife rehabilitators, and educates the public about wildlife and wildlife rehabilitators. The hotline services Saratoga County and neighboring regions, acting as a resource in regard to wildlife issues. Help is available 24/7/ 365. In 2014 they responded to 3,250 calls, and were caring for 200 plus animals are in rehab. Lend-A-Hand Grant will provide funding assistance for the North Country Wild Care’s Hotline.

Opera Saratoga

Opera Saratoga serves the communities of Saratoga Springs, the Lower Adirondack and New York State Capital areas by providing access to world-class opera through the production of an annual Summer Festival, as well as year-round activities including extensive educational programs, mentorship of emerging operatic artists, and unique opportunities for the public to experience opera in both our home theater and non-traditional venues that leverage and embrace the unique cultural, historic, and natural resources of the area. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding so Opera Saratoga can expand its programming outside of its traditional performance venue. “Saratoga Sings” is a new program to address this goal. The program will offer free performances over a 6-month period from January – June 2015.

Prospect School (Center for Disability Services)

Langan School at Prospect Center is a fully accredited private educational facility which serves students with developmental disabilities ages two to twenty-one living in Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Essex and Hamilton counties. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding to cover the cost of equipment used in an innovative and unique program called M.O.V.E. (Mobility Opportunities via Education) which assists students, many with severe physical and cognitive disabilities, in increasing their independence and improving their health.

Racing City Chorus

The main purpose of Racing City Chorus is to get out and sing for their community. They sing at annual shows, a number of community events, and at annual competitions. Another great passion of theirs is learning more about the art of a cappella singing. Vocal instruction is a regular part of chorus rehearsals, and a very important component of the chorus experience. From time to time, they will get coaching from a visiting master in the art of barbershop, where they improve the quality of our singing. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding so the RCC can entertain the area’s senior citizen population by bringing them the familiar sounds of holiday music during the Christmas season.

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County helps neighbors to improve the homes and lives of homeowners in need. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding to support a much-needed technology upgrade that will enable RTSC to implement their planned Safe and Healthy Homes Initiative. This includes the purchase and implementation of the Healthy Homes tool.

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

The Retail Store Donation Program brings in millions of pounds of meat, dairy products, and fresh produce every year, which the Food Bank distributes to food pantries, soup kitchens, and other charitable feeding programs, as well as to low-income people directly. In 2014 the Food Bank helped feed more than 36,000 chronically hungry people in Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding to support the Food bank’s Retail Store Donation Program or RSDP. Through RSDP, the Food bank partners with retailers to make frequent pick-ups of smaller amounts of donated products from individual stores.

Saratoga Bridges

Saratoga Bridges has been instrumental in providing the highest quality services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families by offering programs: Clinical, Community Integration, Day Services and Habilitation, Employment and Supported Work, Family Support, Information and Referral, Outreach and Advocacy, Occupational, Speech and Physical Therapy, Public Education, Seminars and Workshops, Recreational and Social, Residential, Service Coordination and Transportation. While we assist children, most of our programs are designed for adults over 21. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for their “Breaking Down Barriers through Art” program. This program provides art opportunities for their clients using an integrated community outreach model.

Saratoga Center for the Family

Saratoga Center for the Family’s Heel to Heal program provides twelve teenage girls one hour in a group counseling session focusing on self-esteem and mindfulness and the second hour is spent training for a 5k Goal Race which is completed at the end of this program. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for the “Heel-to-Heal” 10 week program for high school aged girls (8th – 12th grade) to increase self-esteem, confidence, mindfulness, coping skills and physical activity.

Saratoga Community Health Center/Saratoga Hospital

To purchase a Portable Auto Refractor for the Health Care Center, which measures the cornea, pupillary distance, and secures a baseline for vision prescription.

Saratoga Independent School

At Saratoga Independent School, their mission is to empower students to become confident learners who are capable of critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork. They strive to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they will need to succeed in an increasingly complex world, while enriching each day of their childhood. Lend-A-Hand Grant will provide funding for the purchase of (10) scales and an additional $300 for development of mathematics and science curriculum materials. The balancing scales will allow students to visualize math and science concepts, test hypotheses and explore relations and change.

Saratoga Sponsor A Scholar

Saratoga Sponsor A Scholar is a seven-year-old nonprofit corporation formed by local residents, Skidmore College, the Saratoga Springs High School and the Saratoga Mentoring Program. Its purpose is to assist fiscally disadvantaged students who are academically capable of achieving their dream of attending college but who do not have the same opportunities as other students. Lend-A-Hand Grant will provide funding for the purchase of graphing calculators for the incoming class of program participants made up of academically motivated, but economically disadvantaged sophomores in the Saratoga Springs City School District.

Saratoga Springs Synchronized Program

Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for three teams to be developed via this program. The Saratoga Springs Synchronized Skaters are girls which are part of three teams: one competitive team and two exhibition teams.

Adult and Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga

Adults age 50 and over can join and participate in programs, trips & social activities tailored to adults and seniors. Those striving to maintain an independent lifestyle can make new friends, share in a meal, play a game, exercise, take a class or learn a new skill. The social interaction provided at the Center is essential to physical and mental health. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to fund the bus trip program. The trips are in high demand with about 250 senior citizens annually enjoying the activity. The grant from ATCCF helps contain cost so that the program is sustainable.

Wait House

WAIT House’s Emergency Shelter Program provides a secure living environment with adult supervision and material and emotional support while life-skills training, connection to education and job training and linkage to needed services is provided. It is the only program of its kind in Warren and Washington Counties. Lend-A-Hand Grant will help to provide funding for case management services in their Emergency Shelter program. This program targets youths from 16-21 years of age.