Vibe Check: Raise the Region & PLAN for the Future
Two standout Saratoga events, one night.
Raise the Region
When Mindy Derosia and Shelly Connolly from the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region first invited me to their Raise the Region event at Prime, they were quick to say “or are you going to the Saratoga PLAN event?” To be honest, I didn’t even know about Saratoga PLAN’s annual PLAN for the Future fundraiser yet, but I interpreted the news of competing events as a challenge—who says I couldn’t go to both?
So at 5:02pm last Thursday, my friend Erica and I pulled into an already-packed Saratoga National parking lot for Raise the Region, an event honoring Capital Regionites Jim Gold and Jahkeen Hoke for their personal and professional commitments to making our community a better place. We were greeted with a welcome sangria and exuberant “hello” from woman-about-town Marcella Hammer, who admitted she was “the orangest” with her strawberry blonde hair and midi orange T-shirt dress.
Next we bumped into Living Resources’ Deneen Palmateer, who was rocking an elegant blue hat and hair tinsel, and Elizabeth Martin, one of my fellow models in the Tribute to Transforming Lives fashion show. (She assured me that on fashion show day, everyone’s afraid of Becca Beers.) We also met Sue Nigra of Ronald McDonald House Charities, who spoke with Erica about the times in school at Albany Medical College when the PA students would make breakfast for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House. “That is my favorite,” Sue said. “You walk in and you smell it. And the families are so appreciative.”
After contemplating grabbing a second welcome drink and determining it would be a party foul, we headed to the tent where small bites (like little slices of spaghetti pizza) were being served. Guests took their seats—I spotted Business for Good’s Ed Mitzen, Saratoga Preservation Foundation’s Samantha Bosshart, the Golub Corporation’s Neil Golub and Albany Symphony’s Anna Kuwabara in the audience—and Community Foundation President and CEO John Eberle took the stage.
“Today’s philanthropists are not only recognized for the size of the check they write but rather for the many different ways they work to raise our region,” John said. “Tonight we’re celebrating two great philanthropists: Jim Gold and Jahkeen Hoke. Both give back to their community by giving of themselves day after day, year after year. They’re wise and they’re persistent, and their kind efforts inspire us all. They will leave our whole community brighter and more hopeful for generations to come.”
As we ducked out of the tent to head to our next engagement, a man who evidently had just finished golfing eyed the welcome drinks still displayed on the table and then looked at us. “You gonna take one to go?” he asked. I did.
PLAN for the Future
The first 45 minutes of my time at fundraiser No. 2 were completely monopolized by two of my favorite tennis friends—PLAN volunteer Heidi Kaufmann and supporter Diane Denny. After a short golf cart ride from the parking lot to the dining hall at Middle Grove’s Camp Stomping Ground, Heidi checked us in while regaling us with the glories of Friends Lake Inn, a hotel and wedding venue at which she serves as the official nondenominational officiant. Then, Diane got my ear (or I got hers—I’m not really sure). She shared a progress report on SoBro Conservancy, the organization she and husband Tom founded to turn vacant South Broadway lots into pollinator-friendly green spaces; hugged friends (“if you need a hug, this is the lady,” one woman told me); and told us about her days as a health teacher. “In middle school, you can teach out of the box,” she said before breaking into song: “Let’s talk about sex, baby…” This, after she warned other guests to watch what they say around me because I was reporting. (Fun fact: 38,000 people drive by SoBro’s first project at the corner of Route 9 and Route 50 every single day.)
While Diane taught us where Stony Creek, NY is, we taught her about cinnamon sugar rims, and gave her her first cocktail with one—an apple-flavored concoction from Little Lucy’s Mobile Bar, which was serving beer, wine and fall-themed cocktails outside the venue. Inside, we sat at long banquet tables and were served a family-style meal by Farm to Fire made with ingredients sourced from within 30 miles of the venue, before PLAN Executive Director Rob Davies addressed the crowd. “Anyone who says that conservation is easy has never done it,” he said. “It requires a group of likeminded people and organizations determined to get it done. It isn’t easy or quick, but if it’s done right, it’s forever.”
Rob went on to talk about how John Munter bought and saved Camp Boyhaven (now Camp Stomping Ground), PLAN’s 20th anniversary (this year), and its latest project (Graphite Range Community Forest) before introducing emcee/auctioneer/fundraising specialist Tom Stebbens, who went on to host an incredibly lively paddle raise that had him traversing the room and standing on benches. “He always does this,” my tablemate Gail said when Tom pulled out a magnum bottle of wine that would be given to the final bidder of the night. “And he always wears that jacket.” Tom’s tactics clearly worked: The paddle raise ended up bringing Saratoga PLAN over the $50,000 fundraising mark by the end of the evening.
“Just this week the New York Times called Saratoga ‘an oasis at the foothills of the Adirondacks’” Tom said as part of his moving call to action. “You are in this room because you understand that oasis is under threat. You are in this room because you are one of its protectors. If it’s in the New York Times, they’re coming, y’all.”
—Natalie
Party Pics From Both Events:
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