SARATOGA SPRINGS — Christopher Lyons, Executive Director of AIM Services Inc. of Saratoga Springs, announced today that Jeff Vukelic, President and CEO of Saratoga Eagle was unanimously elected to the AIM Services Board of Directors at its April 2020 meeting.
“AIM Services is very near and dear to my heart for personal reasons and I embrace their ‘person-centered’ focus of support,” said Vukelic at his first AIM Services board meeting.
Vukelic immediately offered the organization a $10,000 Giving Tuesday Now challenge grant to help the organization reach its 2020 annual fund goal and continue to provide essential care during the COVID19 pandemic to the vulnerable population that AIM serves every day. Vukelic has agreed to match every donation to AIM dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000, through May 30, 2020.
“Jeff recognized the opportunity Giving Tuesday Now presents for AIM and wasted no time in offering this generous challenge,” said Lyons. “At a time when our direct support professionals are giving new meaning to supporting others and dedication to their jobs, Jeff stepped up to show that appreciation and fill an important health care need locally.”
“It is a critical time in our country and in our community and it will take all of us working together to raise what we need to ensure those with diverse abilities are not forgotten during this pandemic.” said Vukelic.
Vukelic joins AIM Board President Brian Gwynn as well as other board members Martin “Buddy” Glastetter, Neil Edmonds, John Paolucci, Jim Norton, Robert Ricketts, Tara Anne Pleat, Denise Stasik, Don Kozak, John Fleming, Linda Casse, and Mitch Havens in guiding the growing service organization. Vukelic also currently serves as vice chairman for the board of directors of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, is a member of the board of trustees of the Saratoga Regional YMCA, and is a trustee at LeMoyne College.
Located in Saratoga Springs, AIM Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving over 3,000 individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities and their families, in Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties, with a reach covering all of eastern New York including Long Island’s Suffolk County. AIM Services, Inc. provides support unique to each person’s individualized needs, goals and dreams. AIM’s mission revolves around promoting inclusion, independence, and self-confidence in those they serve through community-based services, advocacy and education.
In response to the COVID19 crisis, a new national day of giving, Giving Tuesday Now was created for May 5. The goal is to maximize the ability of charitable organizations to raise funds during this critical time. For AIM Services, which serves a uniquely vulnerable population, the event is especially poignant and Vukelic’s challenge becomes critically important during this health crisis. By announcing the $10,000 challenge, Vukelic hopes to motivate others to donate in order to help AIM secure resources it needs to continue to serve the thousands of members of the disabled population and provide the DSP workers with the safe PPE that they need. As of May 7, almost $6,000 has been donated, exceeding the halfway mark to their $10,000 match goal.
More about AIM’s annual fund, Keeping Their Dreams Alive can be found on their website.
