December 2011

Skidmore Cares unites campus in effort to help community

As the holidays approach and the fall semester wraps up at Skidmore College, students, faculty and staff are making a concerted effort to help those in need in the surrounding communities.

The lead program in this effort is Skidmore Cares, an annual campuswide initiative launched in 2006 by Skidmore President Philip A. Glotzbach and his wife, Marie. This year the program collected food, toiletries, school supplies and money to assist local service agencies at a time when many area families are feeling the economic pinch.

As Skidmore students and staff set out on Monday morning, December 12, to deliver the donations, the tally was impressive: 1,740 food items, over 400 toiletry items and boxes brimming with school supplies. In addition, Skidmore Cares raised more than $12,000 for local assistance.

Three food banks are beneficiaries of this year’s food drive: the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Franklin Community Center and Salvation Army.

The school supplies were delivered to the Corinth School District; the Latino Advocacy Program of the Saratoga County Equal Opportunity Program; and the Saratoga Springs School District PATHS program (Promoting Academics for Temporarily Housed Students). The PATHS program also received a donation of toiletries from Skidmore Cares.

“In these tough economic times, the number of students in temporary housing continues to rise, yet we no longer have the grant funding to assist them,” said Diane Davis, student advocate and homeless education liaison for the Saratoga Springs School District. “The generous donations from Skidmore Cares help us provide these families with basic necessities.”

Cash donations are going to the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County; Mary’s Haven, a local Hospice home; ASPIRe N.Y. (Autism Spectrum Peer Integration & Recreation of New York); Salvation Army; and Schoharie County Community Action Program.

Said Marie Glotzbach, who spearheads Skidmore Cares, “This year we have reached out to communities in Schoharie Country because they suffered such devastation from Hurricane Irene. We decided that it was important for the Skidmore community to do what we could.”

The Skidmore Cares fundraising effort was boosted by proceeds from "Beatlemore Skidmania,” the college’s annual concert of Beatle music performed by students, faculty and staff. The two sold-out concerts, held in November, were organized by students in the Beatles seminar taught by Gordon Thompson, professor of music.

The Glotzbachs initiated Skidmore Cares six years ago to enhance the meaning of the annual campus holiday open house at Scribner House, the president’s home. Faculty, staff and their families drop off donations in a sleigh on the front yard of Scribner House when they attend the gathering, which this year was held on Sunday, December 11. For those unable to attend the event, the sleigh was available for “drive-by” donations throughout the weekend. The collection effort is coordinated by campus “cheerleaders” in each division of the college.

“Skidmore Cares builds on the college’s heritage of being a good neighbor and encourages participation in a program that makes a contribution to the greater Saratoga Springs region,” said Marie Glotzbach. “It is especially important to us to give back to our community during these difficult economic times.”

Skidmore’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee organized the student component of the drive, which focused on the collection of food and cash within the residence halls.

(Photos by Eric Jenks)

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December 2011

Skidmore Cares gears up for sixth year of community engagement

Skidmore Cares, launched in 2006 by President Glotzbach and Marie Glotzbach to enhance the meaning of the annual campus holiday gathering at Scribner House, has grown into a program that makes a significant contribution to area families in need.

“Skidmore Cares builds on the heritage of being a good neighbor and encourages participation in a program that will result in a collective Skidmore contribution to Saratoga Springs,” said Marie Glotzbach, who is spearheading the effort. “The program enhances the meaningfulness of the spirit of the season at our annual college gathering. It is especially important to us to give back to our community during these tough economic times.”

The program is once again coordinating the efforts of faculty, staff and students in the collection of food, school supplies and money to benefit local agencies. Four local food banks have provided a list of foods considered crucial to their operations, and the drive will target those items. The school supplies will go to the Corinth and Saratoga Springs School Districts and the Latino Advocacy Program of the Saratoga County Equal Opportunity Program. Cash donations will be given to Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services of Saratoga County; Mary’s Haven, a local Hospice home; ASPIRe N.Y. (Autism Spectrum Peer Integration & Recreation of New York); and Schoharie County Community Action Program.

Skidmore Cares organizers are working with a group of employees, designated as campus “cheerleaders,” to determine specific items and goals for the various divisions of the college. The cheerleaders will spearhead the collection effort. The goal of this year’s Skidmore Cares is 100% participation among Skidmore’s faculty and staff.

The student component of the program is being organized by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The student drive will focus on the collection of food and cash.

The fundraising effort for Skidmore Cares was led by the donation of the proceeds from this year’s "Beatlemore Skidmania,” the college’s annual concert of Beatle music performed by students, faculty and staff. The two sold-out concerts took place in Zankel on November 11 and 12 and were organized by students in the Beatles seminar taught by Gordon Thompson, professor of music.

Once again the Skidmore Cares sleigh will be parked in front of Scribner House, 791 North Broadway, for donation drop-offs. The sleigh will be in place from Friday December 9, through Sunday, Deember 11.

Skidmore Cares will culminate in December, when food and school supplies will be collected at Scribner House during the Holiday Open House on December 11. Faculty, staff and their families are asked to drop off their donations in the sleigh.

Last year, Skidmore Cares distributed more than 1,600 food items, nearly 1,100 school supplies and generous cash donations for three local non-profits.

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2011 Collection Assignment List

Skidmore Cares, launched in 2006 by President Glotzbach and Marie Glotzbach to enhance the meaning of the annual campus holiday gathering at Scribner House, has grown into a program that makes a significant contribution to area families in need.

Skidmore Cares culminates in December, when food and school supplies will be collected at Scribner House during the Holiday Open House on December 11. The Skidmore Cares sleigh will be in place in front of Scribner House from Friday, December 9, through Sunday, December 11, for community members to drop off donations

In 2010, Skidmore Cares collected over 1,600 food items, nearly 1,100 school supplies and generous cash donations for three local nonprofits.

* School Supplies

• Flash drives
• Composition notebooks
• Composition paper
• Spiral notebooks
• Pens
• Pencils (plain and colored)
• Pencil boxes
• Highlighters
• Markers
• Scissors
• 1-inch binders
• 3-inch binders
• Dividers
• Folders
• Glue sticks
• Index cards
• Socks and mittens