Displaying items by tag: Dunkin' Donuts

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In an effort to give back to those caring for the most vulnerable population during the coronavirus pandemic, Dunkin’  delivered nearly $2,000 in gift cards to support frontline healthcare workers at The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs.

The delivery was designed to express appreciation for the staff and their work to keep aging adults healthy and safe during the coronavirus pandemic. The gift cards will be distributed to nurses and staff members who have been working around the clock to care for residents at the senior living campus.

“Our Capital Region franchisees want these local heroes to know that we have their backs and they can count on Dunkin’ to help keep them running,” said Dunkin’ Field Marketing Manager Eric Stensland. “Dunkin’ is proud to give back and support these frontline healthcare providers who continue to work hard to care for the elderly in our community.”

The delivery marks Dunkin’s latest initiative in an ongoing effort to support frontline employees and volunteers during the pandemic. Since mid-March, Dunkin’ has donated thousands of baked goods, coffee and gift cards to first responders, nurses, food pantry employees, coaches and child care staff.

“We are so thankful for this generous donation from Capital Region Dunkin’ franchisees,” said The Wesley Community Chief Executive Officer J. Brian Nealon. “The last several months have been challenging for everyone and these gift cards will provide our staff members a special thank you as they continue to provide exceptional care to our many senior residents on campus.”

The Wesley Community is a non-profit senior living campus that serves more than 700 patients. For nearly 50 years, Wesley has provided seniors with a variety of levels of care including independent living, assisted living, long-term care, outpatient therapies, short-term rehabilitation and home care.

The Wesley Community’s unique blend of community living, caregiving and resident enrichment activities ensures the highest quality service at every stage of life. The continuum of care model provides a distinct resource to aging individuals and their families in Upstate New York.

Front photo shows Hall of Fame jockeys Javier Castellano (left) and John Velazquez at the Maple Avenue Dunkin' Donuts on Aug. 30. Photo by Larry Goodwin. Gallery photo provided by Ed Lewi Associates. 

WILTON – As customers filed through the doors of Dunkin’ Donuts on Maple Avenue Wednesday morning, famed horse jockeys John Velazquez and Javier Castellano waited inside to greet them for a promotional contest and the introduction of a new flavor.

“It’s a pleasure to be here,” offered Castellano, who has competed at the Saratoga Race Course and other national thoroughbred tracks for nearly 20 years. He joked how that is not as long as Velazquez, who has raced for 27. 

Tom Burke of the Burke Network had coordinated the Hall of Fame jockeys’ visit to the Wilton store as a means to promote the Dunkin’ Donuts “Sip. Peel. Win.” contest. It offers a variety of prizes and specials to customers who purchase large or extra large coffees, teas, or hot chocolates.

Castellano and Velazquez enticed willing customers to peel off oversized stickers from a store employee who was disguised as a coffee cup; the jockeys also served up samples to people as they relaxed at tables in the store.

The “Sip. Peel. Win.” contest runs through the end of September at participating Dunkin’ Donuts stores, or until supplies run out. 

The celebrity-backed promotion, according to Burke, was also part of introducing Maple Pecan, a new Dunkin’ Donuts flavor, and the Maple Sugar Bacon Breakfast Sandwich.

“This maple-inspired event was part of a national Dunkin’ Donuts program, in which 15 Dunkin’ Donuts shops located on Maple Streets, Maple Roads and Maple Avenues throughout the country offered free maple-flavored coffee and breakfast sandwich samples,” explained a statement from the Albany firm Ed Lewi Associates.

The “Maple Pecan-flavored coffees and lattes serve a sweet and nutty taste for an exciting new way to stay energized around the changing of the seasons,” the statement continues. The flavor is available in the “full coffee lineup” at Dunkin’ Donuts stores, it adds, including hot or iced beverages, espresso, and frozen or cold-brew coffee.  

For more information, visit the websites www.sippeelwin.com or  www.DunkinDonuts.com.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — When Kasandra Carda decided to buzz into Dunkin Donuts on South Broadway, on Tuesday, July 26, about 10 a.m. for some quick refreshment on her way to some real estate appointment, she had no idea that her life was about to change. “I went in that side entrance—the one only locals know about,” she said with a smile.

And there it was. The perfect, quintessential, only in Saratoga Springs photo op.

Mounted Officer John Sesselman, aboard the mighty police horse King Tut – ordering a coffee for himself and a single glazed munchkin for his steed. “It happened by accident, and I couldn’t resist. So I snapped the photo – with my cell phone – and impulsively threw it on Facebook. I knew my friends would like it,” Kasandra said.

That became quite an understatement. In short order, she was rapidly accumulating likes, loves, ha ha’s, comments, and shares. Nothing unusual – it’s a great pic. We printed it ourselves on page seven (Neighborhood Buzz – July 29) last week. But then something else happened. Somehow, one of the “shares” reached the attention of a Boston TV news reporter for WCVB, an ABC News affiliate. Kasandra Carda started getting inquiries from all over the nation.

All of a sudden, Kasandra started to worry. She was concerned that this sort of publicity might not be appreciated by her local police department. Here, she was just beginning to launch her own realty firm, Saratoga Spa Realty, LLC – a joint venture with Bella Home Builders and herself (visit SaratogaSpaRealty.com), and as anyone who has started a business knows – there’s already plenty to be concerned with, even with a well-established partner.

As it turned out, Kasandra had nothing to worry about. “I actually reached out to Officer Sesselman, and spoke to his wife, very nice,” she said. “She said everybody in the department loved it!”

This was confirmed by Mounted Officer Glenn Barrett, whom Cassandra ran into near the Saratoga Race Course. But, like I said, Kasandra never needed to worry.

For the reporter in Boston, the one who somehow got ‘shared’ Kasandra’s quintessential Saratoga photo, and put her on that viral road…

Is named…Jenny. Pombo. Sesselman. “She is Officer Sesselman’s sister-in-law,” Kasandra said, with a smile.

Like my hero Paul Harvey used to say: “Now you know…”

But wait – there’s still more to …the rest of the story.

Along the way, ABC Boston shared with other ABC affiliates, as networks are wont to do. Eyewitness News in Raleigh, NC broadcast the photo; Eyewitness News in New York City tweeted it on their page. And along the way, the Associated Press (AP) picked it up.

The AP, which is headquartered in New York City, operates in more than 280 locations worldwide. Their affiliates number in the thousands. AP’s 2015 annual report tells the tale:

“More than half the world’s population sees content from The Associated Press every day via 15,000 news outlets worldwide.” - Source: ap.org T

hat, my friends is the definition of viral. There is no way I know of to measure the amount of eyeballs that have seen, or will see, Kasandra’s picture. And it all started right here in Saratoga Springs – where she was born, raised, and lives with her husband and daughter.

And she’s a nice person to boot! So help her out - buy a house from her – two if you can afford it.

Lest she be tempted to switch to photojournalism or something…

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