Hospice Event Promises To Please The Palette Again This Year
By S.K. Parker Ward
for Saratoga TODAY
“It’s an inevitable that we’re all going to be in that position someday – and when it does, you’ll want this organization to be there.” Newest Community Hospice event committee member Andi Dolinsky’s words were straightforward; poignant even - and clearly pinpointed the source of the community’s overwhelming support for the Touched by an Angel fundraiser extending nearly two decades.
Touting a 32-page list of sponsors and enticing roughly 500 attendees every year, it’s indeed clear that the average person’s proximity to the organization far exceeds the standard six degrees of separation.
This year’s event, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the National Museum of Dance, promises to be every bit as fulfilling and memorable as the previous years’. Raising more than $120,000 annually, Touched by an Angel allows Community Hospice to continue providing a number of its hallmark services, such as family bereavement programs, as well as more niche offerings like the child-centered Wave Riders program.
Remember 19-year-old Jahaysia Graham’s dream wedding from just a few weeks ago? The Schenectady bride battling an aggressive form of bone cancer was able to experience the time-honored tradition of walking down the isle thanks, in great part, to Community Hospice’s special wish fund. This, too, is supported by the event.
But while many guests attend in support of the organization’s mission, surely they stay for the smorgasbord of food and drink flanked by the event’s signature robe-clad cherubs.
From appetizers to desserts, more than 40 area restaurants will be represented this year, offering everything from the decadent - pan seared Ostrich – to the down home – dry rub pulled pork. Also on hand are glasses of sparking brut wine, hallmark blue bottles of Saratoga water, and demitasses of Italian-roast espresso.
“The restaurants take such pride in how they decorate and what they serve,” commented executive director Barbara Ecker, now in her 17th year with the organization. Amidst the decorations, too, will be the signature Memory Tree again on display, allowing donors to mark an angel ornament in honor of a lost loved one.
With tickets a reasonable $75 per person, it’s truly tough to resist. “I think the reason people love it is that it’s affordable and you can eat and drink to your heart’s content,” remarked Ecker, “After a full Saratoga season, people love coming to this event because they can reconnect with their friends and really saying ‘Hi! It’s great to see you again.’”
Since the start of the year, Ecker has worked closely with 30 committee members, many of who have been active since the event’s inception, to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. From coordinating dozens of local student volunteers and confirming floral deliveries of hundreds of flowers to mapping out the food station setup so guests can easily wander the museum, they’ve worked ceaselessly.
But, again, the organization’s deep-rooted connection is a motivating force. “I’ve had so many friends and family who have benefitted from Hospice’s end of life care, that I had to jump on the opportunity to join this committee,” Dolinksy added.
Currently serving more than 120 patients and having recently expanded its services to fill the needs of southern Washington County, the impact of Touched by an Angel ripples throughout the area in a multitude of ways.
So, why not take next Thursday evening to connect with your friends over exceptional food and support the organization that connects all of us? The doors open promptly at 6 p.m. – Believe me, you’ll want to be there right on time!
For tickets and more information, visit communityhospice.org.
