NYRA Photo

NYRA donating Belmont Stakes Racing Festival reserved Picnic Paddock tables to charitable organizations

by Pat McKenna

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) today announced it is providing 25 local nonprofit organizations with a reserved picnic table for each day of the 2024 Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which will be held at Saratoga Race Course from June 6-9.

The nonprofits primarily comprise those with the mission to deliver human services and provide direct assistance to individuals experiencing food insecurity, financial hardship, homelessness and mental and physical disability.

Organizations were also selected for their support of veterans, families and children, and promotion of the arts.

“NYRA is pleased to recognize the important role that nonprofit organizations play in our communities with the donation of these coveted reserved picnic tables as potentially lucrative fundraising vehicles,” said Robert Hines, NYRA Community Affairs Manager. “We are grateful for the many ways these organizations enhance Saratoga and the greater Capital Region.”

The selected beneficiaries will each receive one six-person table in the reserved picnic paddock during the Racing Festival to be used for fundraising activities, donor support or to raise awareness for their respective mission. NYRA's donation of 100 reserved picnic tables is worth nearly $25,000.

“We would like to express our sincerest appreciation to NYRA for their support of the local nonprofit community,” said Anne E. Schneider, Center for Disability Services Foundation, Inc. Senior Vice President of Communications and Development. “This continues NYRA’s decades-long history of support for the Center and its annual Siro’s Cup event, for which we are truly grateful.”

“We truly appreciate NYRA’s contribution to our efforts, which highlights the importance of partnership to empower and foster positive change for those facing homelessness in our community,” said Duane J. Vaughn, Shelters of Saratoga Executive Director.

The program recipients include:

AIM Services, Inc. – Provides residential and community-based services and care for people with disabilities and traumatic brain injuries in Saratoga Springs.

Bernard and Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center – Established in 1986, the children’s hospital is a 125-bed facility that serves the medical needs of infants, children and adolescents in 25 counties throughout New York.

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area – Provides safe spaces with structured programs for youth ages three to 19 in Albany and Rensselaer counties.

Caffè Lena – Located in downtown Saratoga Springs and widely regarded as the longest continually operated folk music venue in the United States.

CAPTAIN (Community Action for Parents, Teens and Interested Neighbors) Community Human Services – A volunteer-driven organization that operates 30 programs and services, including an emergency runaway and homeless youth shelter, street outreach, an emergency food pantry and family assistance in southern Saratoga County.

Center for Disability Services – Empowers people with disabilities to lead healthy, happy and productive lives in 80 locations throughout 15 counties. The organization serves more than 12,000 individuals with 300 different diagnoses, including cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, autism, epilepsy, down syndrome and more.

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga – Designed for kids ages seven and under, this hands-on museum features a series of themed playrooms and exhibits that inspire curiosity, spark imagination and nurture discovery.

Double H Ranch – Located in the Adirondack Park, Double H Ranch provides year-round programs and support free-of-charge for families and children with life-threatening illnesses.

Equinox, Inc. – Serves adults and youth with chemical dependency, victims of domestic violence, families living with mental illness and homeless youth in the Capital Region.

LifeWorks Community Action – Formerly the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, the organization works to alleviate challenges faced by local underserved families in Saratoga County, including hunger, utility costs, child care and language barriers.

Northeastern New York Chapter of American Red Cross – Provides relief for disaster victims, health and safety training, support for members of the military, and a safe and stable blood supply to area residents.

Opera Saratoga – Opera Saratoga hosts innovative world-class performances that inspire, educate and heal audiences and artists through the power of the human voice.

Operation Adopt A Soldier – Provides support to US soldiers stationed worldwide through assistance from volunteers in Albany, Queensbury and Clifton Park. The main office is located in Saratoga Springs.

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York – Works with a robust network of food pantries to alleviate hunger throughout 23 counties of northeastern New York.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region – Focuses on the critical needs of children and their families facing serious health challenges by providing physical, economic and emotional assistance and a place to call home while their child receives treatment.

Saratoga Hospital – Offers a comprehensive range of medical services in Saratoga Springs, including medical specialties and is the leading provider of outpatient services, from urgent care to primary care to state-of-the-art imaging, pain management, diabetes care, rehabilitation and more.

Saratoga Regional YMCA – Puts principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body and has grown from one to five branches that currently serve 27,000 members.

Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar – Founded in 2009, the program annually identifies 10 high school sophomores in the Saratoga City School District who show academic motivation and potential, to assist them through grants and mentoring to achieve a college education.

Shelters of Saratoga – Assists those facing homelessness with supportive services, safe shelter and a path to independence.

The Salvation Army – An international movement founded in 1865, its mission is to meet human needs without discrimination.

To Life! – Founded in 1998 to provide personalized breast cancer education and support services for Capital Region women and their families.

United Way of the Greater Capital Region – Fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in the greater Capital Region through its donation-funded resources and programs.

Veterans & Community Housing Coalition – Provides housing and support services to all military veterans and their families experiencing housing hardship.

The Wesley Community – A continuum of care community in Saratoga Springs that provides affordable housing for independent seniors, enriched living apartments for seniors who desire additional support, in-home health care services, short-term rehabilitation and long-term nursing care, as well as outpatient therapies for people of all ages.

Whitney Young Health – Provides accessible quality medical, dental and behavioral healthcare services on a sliding fee scale at centers in Albany, Troy and Watervliet.

For more information about the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course, visit BelmontStakes.com.