by John Manzi, for the NAADA and Catskill Amateur Club

Monticello, NY — On Veteran’s Day (Nov. 11) at Monticello Raceway. two local amateur driving clubs made donations to the local veterans food bank in Monticello. Both the North American Amateur Drivers Association and the Catskill Amateur Drivers Club each donated $1,000 to help feed their less fortunate veteran brothers.

Geri Schwarz photo

At Monticello Raceway on Veterans Day, Gerry Fielding (left) and Alan Schwartz (right) flank Kathy Kreiter with replicas of the $1,000 checks to be donated to the Veterans Food Bank.

Accepting the checks was Kathy Kreiter, the program administrator of the Sullivan County Veterans Food Bank of Monticello, which is combined with the Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless.

“We appreciate the donations, which will be an incredible help to our organization for the less fortunate veterans,” Kreiter said upon receiving the money.

Alan Schwartz is the vice president of NAADA while Gerry Fielding is the president of CADC. Both are amateur drivers and veterans of the Armed Forces and Schwartz is also the president of the Monticello Harness Horsemen’s Association and served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.

“As the Vice President of NAADA and a veteran myself, I’m extremely happy to be able to help my fellow veterans ,” said Schwartz after he presented the huge check replica in the winner’s circle at Monticello Raceway. His comments were echoed by Fielding in his presentation.

But earlier this season, in late October at Yonkers Raceway, at the conclusion of the North American Amateur Drivers Association’s annual fall trotting series the organization’s president Joe Faraldo presented to the Breast Cancer Foundation a check for $3,000.

“We (NAADA) have been donating to worthwhile charities for many years now and it is our pleasure to be able to do so,” Faraldo said. “The revenues are mainly comprised of amateur driver’s nominating, starting and entry fees, along with additional funds from the NAADA treasury. Additional money came from the greater revenues collected this year when NAADA hosted international amateur driving competitions this season.

“NAADA and its membership are grateful to the participating race tracks for permitting our members to race for these most worthwhile causes.”