by Casey Weakley, marketing media specialist, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway

Saratoga Springs, NY — Saratoga Gaming and Raceway is once again joining forces with the drivers of the Saratoga Harness Horsepersons Association to support the Franklin Community Center.

This coming Saturday, Nov. 20, the SHHA drivers will donate their entire matinee card driving fee to FCC. SGR will match the SHHA donation of approximately $3,000 for a total donation of roughly $6,000.

Franklin Community Center is a non-profit human services agency that works toward fostering a sense of family for those in need, without the discomfort of bureaucratic paperwork and prying questions. This organization offers a wide range of programs including affordable housing, a food pantry, free clothing and furniture distribution, holiday assistance, Project Lift (an after school youth prevention program) and Methods of Motherhood (an educational program for pregnant and parenting teens). FCC estimates they served over 2,500 individuals this year, a significant increase from previous years. With this increase in demand, their organization’s funds and staff are severely stretched.

“SGR is very pleased to partner with the local horsemen to make this donation to FCC,” explains Skip Carlson, Vice President for External Affairs for SGR. “The Center works extremely hard through a variety of initiatives to foster a sense of neighborhood giving to help the less fortunate in the Saratoga community. Our donation will be used to support Project Lift, an after school prevention program that recently sustained $30,000 in budget cuts.”

Currently, Project Lift serves approximately 75 students across three locations — Lake Avenue Elementary, Greenfield Elementary and Geyser Road Elementary. Prevention programming, character building and communication skills are essential components of the program. Enrolled students and their families also have access to FCC ancillary programs such as the food pantry, back to school and holiday assistance, free furniture and clothing distribution as well as advocacy and referral services.

“FCC is dedicated to serving our friends and neighbors in their time of need. With a small staff and a modest budget, we rely heavily on community support to continue providing invaluable services, such as Project Lift, to our community members,” describes Courtney Bissell, Coordinator of Development and Volunteers. “We are proud to be aligned with the SHHA and SGR; their constant dedication to our mission truly helps us continue to make a difference every day.”

To learn more about the FCC, visit www.franklincommunitycenter.org.