NYRA Announces Community Booth Schedule for This Racing Season

The community booth lineup has been announced by NYRA for the 2016 Saratoga Race Track season, with more than 40 area nonprofits and school organizations participating.

The majority of the community groups at the track this year will be found at the Community Outreach Booth, which is located next to the Jockey Silks Room and across from the Saratoga Walk of Fame.

The Community Outreach Booth will host one organization a day. Guests visiting the track will have the opportunity to check out the groups at this booth, learning more about our area’s various nonprofits and the important work they do.

“The New York Racing Association is honored to welcome a diverse array of nonprofit organizations from across the region to Saratoga Race Course to help further their marketing, outreach, and fundraising efforts,” Vanessa Rodriguez, Manager of Community Affairs for NYRA, said in a statement. “We recognize how important these organizations are to those they serve and are pleased to assist them in building a stronger community.”

Groups at the booth will also be hosting fundraising initiatives, which can include autograph sessions, live music, arts and crafts, and other activities.

One of the organizations you can expect to see at the track is Saratoga Hospital: “We’ll be promoting our Cancer Patient Fund this year, which provides resources for patients to cover travel expenses, pay for wigs, or purchase special equipment not covered by insurance,” Amy Raimo, Vice President of Community Engagement for Saratoga Hospital, said in a statement.

In addition to the Community Outreach Booth, seven area schools will be in attendance at Berkshire Bank Family Mondays throughout the season. The schools will be hosting a specific activity with the suggestion of a donation; NYRA and Berkshire Bank will be providing matching grants. All other activities during Berkshire Bank Mondays will be free of charge.

The full schedule for who you can expect to see at the Community Outreach Booth for the 2016 racing season is as follows:

Friday, July 22nd: Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saturday, July 23rd: SADS Foundation
Sunday, July 24th: Saratoga Springs Figure Skating Club
Monday, July 25th Albany Police Athletic League
Wednesday, July 27th: Watervliet Civic Chest
Thursday, July 28th: Saratoga Regional YMCA
Friday, July 29th: North Country Wild Care
Saturday, July 30th: Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund
Sunday, July 31st: Ladies of Charity-Diocese of Albany Saratoga Vicariate
Monday, August 1st: Commission on Economic Opportunity
Wednesday, August 3rd: Saratoga Springs VFW
Thursday, August 4th: Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation
Friday, August 5th: Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue
Saturday, August 6th: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
Sunday, August 7th: Jewish War Veterans Post 36 Saratoga Springs
Monday, August 8th: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Wednesday, August 10th: Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Thursday, August 11th: Floyd Warriors
Friday, August 12th: Troy Boys & Girls Club
Saturday, August 13th: AIM Services, Inc.
Sunday, August 14th: Backstretch Employee Service Team
Monday, August 15th: Saratoga Hospital
Wednesday, August 17th: Center for Disability Services
Thursday, Auguts 18th: Dyer-Phelps
Friday: August 19th: Saratoga Bridges
Saturday, August 20th: Backstretch Employee Service Team and The Lustgarten Foundation
Sunday, August 21st: Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region
Monday, August 22nd: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region
Wednesday: August 24th: Racing City Chorus
Thursday, August 25th: Gallop NYC
Friday, August 26th: Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council
Saturday, August 27th: Backstretch Employee Service Team
Sunday, August 29th: Saratoga Springs Synchronized Skating Program
Wednesday, August 31st: The Wesley Foundation
Thursday, September 1st: Habitat for Humanity
Friday, September 2nd: Rerun Thoroughbred Adoption
Saturday, September 3rd: Capital Region Toys for Tots Foundation
Sunday, September 4th: Living Resources
Monday, September 5th: Cohoes Connect Center for Youth