Community Impact

CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION

Commitment to Community

INSIDE: Tribute to Paula Stopera $100K in Infrastructure Grants 370+ volunteers honored

CAP COM Cares Foundation volunteers, led by David Jurczynski (far right), join Shawnta Rivas of C.O.C.O.A. House in Schenectady where the Foundation donated 100 Thanksgiving meals.

PAGE 2 CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT · FEB 13, 2022

Giving is in our DNA at CAP COM. Going out to meet the people who do good work in their communities is inspirational. I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many leaders who are passionate about what they do. They include William Rivas at the C.O.C.O.A. House in Schenectady, who pairs students from Union College with local school-age children, providing them with mentorship and friendship.

In 2021, the CAP COM Cares Foundation partnered with the C.O.C.O.A. House to provide 500 backpacks to students. For Thanksgiving, we worked together to feed more than 100 families. This year, C.O.C.O.A. House is developing a community garden. There are hundreds of other nonprofits in our community, and CAP COM is grateful for the opportunity to help.

I want to personally offer my sincere gratitude to donors for their generosity. Their support helps sustain our partner nonprofits, who – aided by CAP COM volunteers – serve thousands of children, families, and others who are under-resourced in our region.

I also want to thank Becky Daniels and Paige Rueckert of the CAP COM Cares Foundation for their tireless leadership. They work directly with community nonprofits and with other philanthropic organizations to uncover the greatest need. Taking the time to understand challenges in the community enables Becky and Paige to distribute the funding where it will make the most collective impact.

Finally, I want to recognize CAP COM employees for all the ways they show they care. Nearly 400 volunteered last year to support people in need across the Capital Region. Teaming up with co-workers or pitching in on their own, they logged 4,000 hours of community service.

This commitment to the greater good defines who we are as individuals and shapes our culture here at CAP COM. We look forward to putting the power of kindness into action in 2022 and teaming up with community partners to make it happen. Best wishes to you for a healthy and happy year.

2021 by the Numbers The CAP COM Cares Foundation surpassed the $5 million milestone of giving back to the community since its inception in 2003.

Here are some other amazing numbers from 2021:

20 local nonprofits are using a total of $100,000 in grants for infrastructure needs.

40 students received scholarships totaling $86,500.

Chris McKenna Board Chair, CAP COM Cares Foundation President & CEO, CAP COM Federal Credit Union

Mission Statement: CAP COM Cares Foundation

235 children are staying warm with new winter coats.

We nurture our community by supporting large and small local organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people in New York’s Capital Region.

Thank You to Our Board of Directors

Chris McKenna, Chair Becky Daniels, Vice Chair David Jurczynski, Treasurer Sharon Phillips, Secretary Susan Rosko Fogarty, Foundation Liaison Pat Kelly, Board Liaison

Areas of Giving As we continue to grow as an organization, our goal remains to support our community in the best way possible. To accomplish this, we made the decision in early 2021 to prioritize giving to entities that focus on current needs in the community and support: • Fighting Hunger & Food Insecurity • Access to Mental & Behavioral Healthcare • Financial Literacy & Workforce Readiness Programs

600 households received Thanksgiving meal deliveries

3,000+ children were equipped to excel with backpacks full of school supplies

- Paula A. Stopera

The Legacy of Making a Collective Impact Paula Stopera & Sharon Phillips Compassionate Leaders, Community Servants Paula Stopera and Sharon Phillips founded the CAP COM Cares Fundation in 2003. These two incredible women devoted their careers to serving others – at CAP COM and across the Capital Region. With every volunteer effort, donation to a local organization, and act of kindness, the entire CAP COM family honors Paula and Sharon’s vision.

Twenty years ago, the giving landscape at CAP COM looked different than it does today. The credit union’s sincere intent to give back to the community was there, but these well-meaning efforts were loosely organized.

“The positive impact we were working so hard to make was earnest but scattershot. We wanted to do better,” recalled David Jurczynski, CAP COM’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

So, CAP COM’s President/CEO Paula Stopera, executive Sharon Phillips, and a few others joined Dave as they laid the groundwork for the foundation’s concept and filed for 501(c)(3) status.

The CAP COM Cares Foundation was established with a focus on issues affecting children and families: health and wellness, education, and financial literacy. In 2004, its first full year, the Foundation raised and donated $90,000. By 2008, the $1 million milestone was reached.

“Love marks are what we called those positive impacts,” Dave noted. “Forming the

CAP COM Cares Foundation allowed us to give to the community intentionally, impactfully, and lovingly.”

The Foundation surpassed the $5 million giving milestone in 2021, a year that saw nearly $1 million in donations.

Amanda Goyer is Paula’s daughter and was Director of Community Engagement at CAP COM for five years. She recalled being with Paula when they met Coach Carmen Duncan of Mission Accomplished Transition Services about 10 years ago. The organization helps guide young professionals in their careers.

“Coach Carmen had just founded the nonprofit. My mom asked her, ‘What do you do and what are your dreams?’

We committed that night to be Mission Accomplished’s first corporate sponsor,” Amanda said. “(Paula) had a unique way of connecting with people quickly and authentically. She always led with her heart.”

“We did everything with pride and in the best interest of those we were serving,” Sharon said.

She and Paula are credited as founders of the Foundation (2003). Paula was President/ CEO at CAP COM from 2004 until her retirement in 2019. She passed away in 2021, leaving an incredible legacy.

“Paula’s influence on CAP COM is beyond measure,” President and CEO Chris McKenna said. “As the architect of our philanthropic culture and a passionate advocate for our ‘every member, every time, every day’ philosophy, Paula shaped the direction of CAP COM forever.”

“She found ways to support and help people everywhere she went. Her legacy lives on because of that,” said Community Impact Manager Paige Rueckert.

“When you talk to people in the community, everyone knows her and has a story to tell about her.”

Added Amanda, “It was about the relationships, not the checks.”

Dave described Paula as “Stubborn, thoughtful, caring, visionary.” Then he raised a finger to his eye, tracing it down his cheek to symbolize a tear.

“She was truly one of a kind.”

PAGE 3 FEB 13, 2022 • CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT

“In order to lead, we must serve.”

PAGE 4 CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT · FEB 13, 2022

Hunger & Food Insecurity Partners Received grants in 2021: Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls BlueLight Development Group, Inc Capital Roots

Ending the Food Desert in the South End On a sunny day just before Christmas, Travon T. Jackson chatted with residents on the sidewalk along South Pearl Street.

Jackson had some great news to share. Across the street, they could see the building he helped the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region purchase for a new grocery store.

The people who live in Albany’s South End are the reason that Travon has been working so hard to end the “food desert” there.

A McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of South Pearl Street and Madison Avenue closed in late 2019. The opportunity was literally across the street from where Travon works with his colleague Jeff A. Bonilla.

Travon is President and

Managing Director at BlueLight Development Group, Inc., a nonprofit development consulting firm that specializes in space design, strategic planning, and financial analysis. He founded BlueLight in 2016.

“Our preeminent goal is to give food away for free, hence our fundraising, philanthropic efforts, and the capital we’ve committed so this food can be given away in a more sustainable and substantial way,” Travon said. “If there is any cost to acquire the goods, we would want to have that covered, and we would still give it away.

We’re trying to keep people alive and healthy.”

The CAP COM Cares Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant toward the $850,000 purchase, and

BlueLight secured a $200,000 low-interest loan from CAP COM Federal Credit Union.

BlueLight provided $400,000 of philanthropic capital toward the purchase. The Albany County Capital Resource Corporation ($200,000), KeyBank ($100,000), and the Carl E. Touhey Foundation ($50,000) and also provided funding.

“It’s a wonderful example of the collective impact of organizations to make a humongous difference,” said Becky Daniels, Director of Community Engagement at CAP COM. “We’re grateful to be able to donate dollars and provide financing for partners in the community. For them to tell us what they need – that’s so important. These are folks who Continued on page 11

2021 Highlights

• Donated $139K+ to partners addressing Hunger and Food insecurity.

• More than 80 volunteers provided 600 meals to local families in collaboration with 20+ local partners.at Thanksgiving. We partnered with Price Chopper/Market 32, which helped us secure frozen turkeys weighing a total of 5,499 pounds.

• CAP COM partnered with SEFCU to donate more than $350,000 to food pantries and rescue missions in a year-end event December 30.

CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity) City of Cohoes C.O.C.O.A. House Connect Center for Youth Eden’s Rose Foundation The Food Pantries for the Capital District Franklin Community Center Homeless and Travelers Aid Society Knickerbacker Middle School Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County Marillac Family Shelter Montessori Magnet School New Scotland Elementary School Rensselaer Park Elementary School Rotterdam-Mohonasen Central School District The Schenectady Foundation Schenectady Greenmarket School 14 (Troy) School 16 (Troy) School 18 (Troy) Shelters of Saratoga (SOS) Soul Fire Farm Institute, Inc. South End Children’s Cafe St. Catherine’s Center for Children St. Paul’s Center Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region Turnpike Elementary School USCRI (Refugees and Immigrants) Visiting Nurses Association of Albany Watervliet Elementary School Wildwood Foundation YWCA of the Greater Capital Region, Inc.

PAGE 5 FEB 13, 2022 • CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT

Mental & Behavioral Healthcare Partners Received grants in 2021: Albany Medical Center Beyond My Battle, Inc. Bus Stop Club The Foundation for Ellis Medicine HicksStrong Inc. In Our Own Voices IPH (Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless) Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. (MHANYS) Northern Rivers Saratoga Center for the Family Things of My Very Own

2021 Highlights Donated $151K+ to partners addressing Mental & Behavioral Healthcare. $30K to Albany Medical Center $25K to Northern Rivers $20K to The Foundation for Ellis Medicine $15K to Things of My Very Own $10K each to - In Our Own Voices - IPH (Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless) - Saratoga Center for the Family

Mindfully Managing Health-related Stress Beyond My Battle is an organization that helps people manage the stress of illness and disabilities. And if there’s one stressor we can all understand, it’s COVID-19.

When Beyond My Battle hosted a fundraising art show in Saratoga Springs last fall, someone brought their artwork in person. It was their first time leaving the sanctuary of home since the pandemic began.

“We share each artist’s story at the event,” said Martel Catalano, the Executive Director of Beyond My Battle. “It was a really special occasion.”

Martel founded Beyond My Battle with Nell Pritchard in

2017 to provide support and educational resources for people dealing with health-related stress. She was diagnosed at age 13 with a rare eye disease that leads to blindness. Now, at age 32, her visual field is less than 20 degrees, and she no longer drives. Nell, 31, was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at birth and had a double lung transplant when she was 21.

CAP COM and the CAP COM Cares Foundation sponsor Beyond My Battle’s virtual support groups.

“We’ve created a diverse but connected group,” Martel said of the people who have been meeting virtually for several

months. “It’s home to a vibrant, living community. People check in with each other and send each other gifts in the mail. They have formed lasting friendships that extend beyond the group.”

Beyond My Battle received $5,000 from the CAP COM Cares Foundation in 2021.

“Martel lives and breathes her mission, and she understands the people and caregivers who are part of her organization,” said Becky Daniels, Director of Community Engagement at CAP COM. “By listening to Martel, we find out what’s most needed and provide that support.”

The most common struggles Continued on page 11

“One of our biggest challenges is that people don’t really talk about domestic violence or sexual assault. This (Infrastructure Initiative) grant will help fund a podcast, so people know we’re here for anyone who needs our services.

A mom who’s driving to soccer practice can listen for 10 minutes in her car about how to talk to her kid who’s going off to college about consent. Or a co-worker who’s really concerned about her friend who keeps missing shifts of work because of the domestic violence she’s experiencing at home.

A podcast might give her insights into how she can help.”

- Stevie Fellows, Director of Development at Wellspring

PAGE 6 CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT · FEB 13, 2022

A PASSION FOR GIVING More than 370 employee volunteers from CAP COM gave their time and energy in 2021 toward philanthropic causes. All that volunteering added up to more than 4,000 hours of giving.

“Being able to help give back to my community gives me great joy and happiness.”

-Dan A., Mortgage Specialist

“Taking time to help our community always leaves me feeling more connected to it.”

- Kaitlyn J., (left) Digital Marketing Specialist “Volunteering means stepping outside my comfort zone and paying attention to the needs of others. Not only does it fill my cup to give back – it helps me to better understand the perspective of others and how I can adapt my everyday life to contribute to the success of our community.”

- Gabby R., (right) Talent Development Specialist

“Volunteering allows me to give back to the community that I love living in. It’s knowing my small act of giving time, energy, and talents is making an impact.”

- Staci M., Digital Marketing Administrator

“I volunteer because I know I can make a positive difference in people’s lives. Every day I have an opportunity to do that; we all do. And there are people out there in our communities that need our help, hope, love, and support every day.

It’s that simple. Volunteering and getting involved in my community is helping me become the best version of myself I have ever been.”

-Dan F., Business Banking Advocate

“Volunteering to me is giving time to connect, give hope, and work with others towards a common goal to be better or do better. The time given has a meaning beyond monetary value with the goal of change, whether small or large, with a willingness rather than obligation to do so.”

-Kendall G., Mortgage Loan Support Specialist

“I was raised that you should always help others no matter the size of the act. I feel sometimes we take the small things in life for granted. Being a part of a team that continuously gives back to our community is amazing. Going somewhere meeting new people, putting smiles on faces, brings a feeling to me that I can’t put into words.”

-Toi J., Title Agency Rep

“I decided to volunteer because I enjoy giving back to the community and help those that may need it. It is always hard asking for help, so I think everyone who asks for help is very brave. I enjoy helping those who need it. Volunteering isn’t something I have to do. I do it because seeing the smile on people’s faces makes my day.”

-Bill M., Senior Member Relationship Officer

“Helping others when their need is greater than yours is good for the soul. It’s never wrong to do the right thing!”

- David J., (left) Executive Vice President & CFO

“Shortly after the pandemic hit, I ordered a pizza where I live in Troy. I empathize with the service industry and how critically they have been impacted. I wanted to share these feelings because sharing is everything when you live in a community. I organized a ‘Benefit for Troy Waitstaff’ in association with Troy Savings Bank Music Hall to raise money and share an important perspective about how the service industry has been impacted. All of this started with a pizza delivery, and everybody knows ... pizza is for sharing!”

-Kirk J., Director, Quality Management

“Volunteering is an opportunity to give back to our community, to give thanks for our blessings. It’s a way to ‘make a positive impact on someone’s day today’ as Chris McKenna (CAP COM President/CEO) always says.”

- Chris P., Senior Member Relationship Officer

PAGE 7 FEB 13, 2022 • CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT

“Growing up in NYC, poverty levels were always high. Witnessing people struggle at a young age made me want to make a difference and contribute any way I can. My grandmother always made an extra plate of food for a neighbor who didn’t have enough to eat. Seeing how happy it would make her when my grandmother brought her food was a reward in its own.”

- Valerie G., Branch Manager

PAGE 8 CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT · FEB 13, 2022

$100,000 INVESTMENT

in Nonprofit Infrastructure

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The CAP COM Cares Foundation granted $5,000 awards to 20 local nonprofits for infrastructure projects during the summer of 2021. This initiative stemmed from conversations with nonprofit partners across the region who consistently share how difficult it can be to fund these types of projects. Our goal is to help our partners take care of their infrastructure needs so that they can focus their attention on fulfilling their mission and serving their clients.

Here’s the list of organizations and how they used the grants to help meet their needs: Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls

Technology upgrades

Albany NAACP

Website and social media

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Capital Area

Security system

Brightside Up Inc.

Technology upgrades

CAPTAIN Community Human Services

Building upgrades and security

CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity)

HVAC

Crossroads Center for Children

Separation walls

Eden’s Rose Foundation

Pandemic produce pick-up market

Habitat for Humanity

Roof replacement

IPH (Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless)

Technology upgrades

MHANYS (Mental Health Association in New York State)

Production enhancement

Northern Rivers

Upgrades to outdoor areas and swimming pool

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County

Ramp

Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY

Reporting technology

Safe Inc. of Schenectady

Housing upgrades

SEAT Center (Social Enterprise And Training Center)

Reporting technology

SiCM (Schenectady Community Ministries)

Pavilions for urban farms

The Charlton School

Renovating dorms

Veterans Community Housing Coalition

Housing

Wellspring

Podcast equipment

VIDEOS To see more information, including videos, or to donate to one or more of our winners, visit www.capcomfcu.org/infrastructure.

Or use your phone’s camera and point it at this QR code:

“If you have information, then you’re able to make decisions about the quality of life. We have applied for this grant with CAP COM to help us develop a communication system. We’re looking at how best to outreach to young people, to share information on the social connections about who we are and what we do to bring younger people to become more involved and engaged in the NAACP.” - Debora Brown-Johnson, President of NAACP - Albany Branch

“We provide services to about 18,000 children and families. We provide foster care services, mental health services, educational services, and community services to help families and children grow, thrive, and learn. One of the ways we used our infrastructure funds was to invest in one of our outdoor pools in Schenectady.”

-Bill Gettman, CEO at Northern Rivers

“This money is going toward a ramp that we’re installing in front of our building in Ballston Spa. It houses our offices, and we opened a store that supports our mission called Reach Out for the Good. This ramp is going to be huge not only for the homeowners who visit but also for the general public. Thank you very much.”

-Michelle Larkin, founder of Rebuilding Together Saratoga County

“We have three farms in the middle of Schenectady. We have farmers who work with us. On two of the farms, we’re looking to build pavilions where people can gather under and be a community under. We offer the space, the land, the food, the beautiful growing areas that we have.

They’re for everyone to enjoy, become empowered, and to grow as a healthy, green Schenectady community together.”

- Melissa MacKinnon, Farms Manager at SiCM

“The infrastructures of where we have our offices, of where we spend our days, of our client care, we need to take just as much care of ourselves as we do of our families. CAP COM Cares enables us to make this step to self-invest.

So thank you. It’s meaningful. It’s important. And we are very much appreciative.”

-Madelyn Thorne, Executive Director and COO of Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County

PAGE 9 FEB 13, 2022 • CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT

“During COVID, we converted our garden market – a food outlet point where our urban farmers could sell produce that they grew – into a pandemic produce pickup market.

The grant allowed us to take that work and supply fresh fruits and vegetables directly to community members in need throughout the year. We gave out 250,000 pounds of fresh produce to neighbors in need. Some days, we served 100 people a day.”

- Greg Sheldon, International Project Director at Eden’s Rose Foundation

PAGE 10 CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT · FEB 13, 2022

Financial Literacy & Workforce Readiness Partners Received grants in 2021:

A Seat at the Table Leads to Opportunity Imagine you don’t have a high school diploma or a job. Maybe you have a criminal record. Maybe you have a young child at home.

Maybe you don’t have a home.

If that’s your life, it’s difficult to have hope. That’s where the team at the SEAT Center steps in.

SEAT stands for Social Enterprise and Training. The SEAT Center connects young adults age 18-24 to meaningful work by providing training, access, connections, and opportunity.

“We wrap ourselves around the young person and provide a sense of family and support,” explained Jennifer Lawrence, SEAT Center’s founder and CEO. “If you’re hungry, you’re not going to be able to learn because your mind is elsewhere.”

According to 2020 data from

the New York State Department of Education, 5% of students who attended high school for four years had dropped out. That rate spikes to 15% for people who are homeless or “couch surfing.” The SEAT Center helps many of these people.

“We provide workforce education in a holistic environment. Training won’t be a success without the basics of housing, food, and mental health,” Jennifer noted. SEAT Center’s services include support for daycare, transportation, and clothing. They’ve provided more than 400 cab rides for students.

When Jennifer started SEAT Center in 2015, 16 students participated. “We had to run a program and be a startup at the same time,” she recalled.

This spring, SEAT Center will celebrate 50 graduating students.

It will be its first ceremony in more than two years. To graduate, students must achieve a high school equivalency diploma or industry-recognized diploma and secure a job or enroll in college.

“It’s a big deal. We teach them the walk, moving the tassel. It’s a rite of passage. That’s something you can’t do on Zoom,” Jennifer said.

The CAP COM Cares Foundation gave SEAT Center $15,000 to help fund its Workforce Wellness program and another $5,000 Infrastructure Initiative grant.

“Jennifer is so savvy with how she operates,” said Becky Daniels, Director of Community Engagement at CAP COM. “She’s so Continued on page 11

“One of our buildings, the Rensselaer County Resource Center, recently had problems with our heating and air conditioning. The grant that we received from CAP COM helped us to replace the HVAC system, which is going to provide a more comfortable environment for over 80 Head Start children in that building.”

- Katherine Maciol, President of CEO (Commission on Economic Opportunity)

Albany Community Action Partnership Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center (WERC) CAPTAIN Community Human Services C.O.C.O.A. House Community Fathers Inc. Grassroot Givers Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County Living Resources Corp.

Mission Accomplished Transition Services Proctors Collaborative The RED Bookshelf Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) Social Enterprise and Training (SEAT) Center Unity House of Troy, inc.

Vanderheyden

2021 Highlights Donated $132K+ to partners addressing Financial Literacy & Workforce Readiness, including $23K to SEAT Center.

Scholarships • $86,500 given • 40 recipients • 31 scholarships, each valued at $2,500 • 9 Making a Difference Awards, each valued at $1,000 Backpacks • 3,000+ backpacks • 51 volunteers • 26 partner schools and organizations

South End Grocery Store Continued from page 4

are embedded in the community and tell us where the needs exist.”

For people who live in the South End, grocery options are few. Price Chopper Market 32 on Delaware Avenue, one mile up the Madison Avenue hill, can be a treacherous walk in the winter. Walmart Supercenter in Glenmont is almost 4 miles away. Most people here don’t have cars, so that means a dangerously steep walk or a 20-minute bus ride. Hence the term “food desert.”

The plan is to bring in fresh food, especially from local farms. Some of the organizations that BlueLight has approached to provide food include: • Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York • Radix Center (local ecological sustainability center with greenhouse and farm production)

• • • •

Honest Weight Food Co-op Free Food Fridge Capital Roots Soul Fire Farm

“This is about sourcing food locally and making it accessible without the barriers that currently exist,” Travon said.

In just a couple of months, Travon’s vision will become a reality, and he’ll be able to share more good news with his neighbors this spring.

HOW YOU CAN HELP You can make donations via the websites of the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, Inc., or Blue Light Development Group, Inc. • www.theaacccr.org • www.bluelightdevelopment.org

BECOME A DONOR Support of the Foundation means a world of difference in our area.

You can be a visible presence in the Capital Region as a CAP COM Cares sponsor. Both Corporate Sponsorships and Individual Giving donors are welcome. www.capcomfcu.org/donate

THANK YOU to our generous donors for helping us make a lasting impact on the lives of so many in our community. Nearly 200 individual donors contributed in 2021. You can see the list at www.capcomfcu.org/donors.

involve the pain and fatigue of autoimmune diseases. Lyme, fibromyalgia, and migraines are common maladies. COVID-19 has only made matters worse.

“Fears and anxieties just skyrocketed,” Martel said. “Many of the people in our community are immunocompromised or live with organ transplants, making them especially susceptible to COVID and increasing their already-high stress load.”

With so much negativity in the world, the best tools for coping might not be what you think.

“A positive mindset is nice to have, but it’s not always realistic.

I talk a lot about toxic positivity,” she said. “We have to feel the things we’re feeling and find a support network that allows us to express ourselves, and mindfully communicate honestly and with

compassion. You should be able to feel how you feel without fear of judgment.

“Co-regulation is when we provide supportive interactions that help others understand, express, and soothe stressful emotions. This is especially important with caregivers.”

In addition to funding from CAP COM, Beyond My Battle is funded by grants and their growing community of donors throughout North America. Individuals can help most with recurring donations.

“You become part of a community, and even if it’s a small amount, your contribution can be relied upon monthly,” Martel said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP To learn more and donate, visit www.beyondmybattle.org.

When There’s a Seat at the Table Continued from page 10

incredibly hands-on, which is difficult when you’re an executive director. She teaches, applies for grants, and provides strategy and wisdom. She has an open-door policy with the students. These are people who are thirsty for what’s offered.”

SEAT Center programs include YouthBuild and Build Up. Career tracks are in the construction trades, tech sector, culinary, and manufacturing.

“The culinary school is a dream come true because it’s a professional facility,” Jennifer said with excitement in her voice. “It’s like you’re on a Food Network show.”

SEAT Center partners with Price Chopper Market32, which provides a professional kitchen for training.

Students work one day per week in Price Chopper’s Market Bistro in Latham.

“There is such a need for employees, and students gain experience and earn money,” Jennifer said.

Some students go on to be first responders. One was recently accepted into the National Civilian Community Corps, which is an AmeriCorps community service program.

“Our job is to bring opportunity to them and give them ways to access that opportunity,” Jennifer said. “From not feeling hopeful to a world of opportunities.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP Learn more and make donations at www.seatcenter.org.

In addition to donating online, you can bring donations to SEAT Center’s warehouse or volunteer to accept and sort donations.

PAGE 11 FEB 13, 2022 • CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT

Beyond my Battle Continued from page 5

CAP COM CARES FOUNDATION IMPACT REPORT · FEB 13, 2022

PAGE 12

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? You can request funding for your nonprofit at www.capcomfcu.org/community.

MEET OUR TEAM

Contact us via email at communityrelations@capcomfcu.org.

BECKY DANIELS

PAIGE RUECKERT

CAITLIN DUMA

KATE FRUSCIONE

ELVIRA CONTI

Director of Community Engagement

Community Impact Manager

Senior Community Relations Specialist

Public Relations Strategist

Youth & Community Relations Associate

THANK YOU!

We thank our: • Donors and patrons • Community partners • Nonprofit partners • Volunteers • Board of Directors