SARATOGA SPRINGS — The third year of Project Lift University, the college-course-themed fundraiser for Franklin Community Center’s Project Lift, will take place at Longfellows Restaurant on October 17.
Going from 6–9 p.m., Project Lift University guests are invited to return to their college registration days and “enroll” in exclusive classes taught by local experts. The “silent auction” experience will give people different opportunities, such as the chance of buying a class that lets you sail on Lake George with a master sailor on a 27-foot sailboat with three friends, or receive the ultimate beer experience at Davidson Brothers Brewing Company.
“My big push right now is to make people aware of what we’re doing,” said Jaime Williams, Project Lift’s associate director who is also in charge of marketing. “People need to realize the importance of this program and how unique it is to the community. It’s an all-encompassing program and we have a really dedicated staff that makes sure these kids get what they need. And the fundraiser is super important to Project Lift.”
In its 29th year, Project Lift continues to help students and families of Geyser Road Elementary and Greenfield Elementary. Starting in early October and running through the middle of June, the program is in need of funding to continue what it does best—helping prevent kids from alcohol, drugs and tobacco while also helping increase social skills and self-esteem.
But the program extends beyond classroom’s students in grades 1–5. It helps families, while becoming a tight-knit family on its own.
“The families we work with typically come from an at-risk background,” Williams said. “This day in age runs the gamut. There’s a lot of factors that put you at risk…A lot of our students, who participate in elementary school, come back in high school. It’s pretty unique in the fact that we can grow with these kids. They spend a lot of time with their classroom teacher, but every year that changes. It’s just a really strong bond that we’re able to form with the kids and their families.”
Now in her 11th year at Project Lift, Williams stressed the importance of the program and the need for fundraisers such as Project Lift University to support it.
Project Lift also provides family’s with holiday assistance, food pantries, school supplies, winter coats and summer camp scholarships that fit their specific needs.
This year, a student, whose parents are both deaf, was able to attend a special education camp for children of deaf parents through Project Lift.
“It’s just all over the place, from the school day to everything at home and everything in between,” Williams said.
The camp scholarships are helped made possible by community donations, such as the ones from Saratoga Springs Rotary and the Christopher Dailey Foundation.
Last year, the Project Lift University fundraiser made $27,000. This year the goal is $30,000.
“With the shift in the economy and the way things have been, the people who are losing services are the ones who need them the most,” Williams said. “With the shift in the economy, we’ve seen a hit, which is why there was such a need for us to look for other avenues of funding, which is why we approached the [Saratoga Springs] Board for this fundraiser."
Williams and other members of the committed Project Lift staff plan to expand to even more elementary schools, as they continue help local kids.
“We’re going to be here another 29 [years],” said Williams.
“Tuition” for the event is $75 per person, or $140 for two tickets. For “juniors” (under 30), tickets are $50. The price includes classic college food stations with heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and music by Kid DJ.
To purchase tickets, or to help Project Lift or the Franklin Community Center, call (518) 587-9826 or visit www.franklincommunitycenter.org. Also, visit “Project Lift University” on Facebook.
