If you're excited about what we all did this year and are optimistic about what we can continue to do together, signup to attend, sponsor or be a vendor at our 3rd Birthday Party January 28th at the Landmark Theatre, or chip in $5, $50 or $500 to help power us forward into 2016.
Here are 5 highlights from the year that inspired more belief in Syracuse and made our community a better place to live.
1. "Light up Syracuse"
2. A Historic Swim in Onondaga Lake
Our Clean Lake Party in the Park at Willow Bay had over 300 attendees, over 50 swimmers such as the head of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, former County Executive Nick Pirro, a former head of SUNY ESF, Pam Brunet of Leadership Greater Syracuse, and ordinary people who are members of Believe in Syracuse.
The swim garnered great attention from a long list of local media outlets. We even got national press including the New York Times and Reuters.
3. Supporting Kids in our City Schools
This summer, the Education and Community Service Committee of Believe in Syracuse partnered extensively with the Latin School which is part of the Syracuse City School District. Our volunteers dramatically improved their courtyard space where students spend a lot of their time. This committee also were an integral part of Mary Nelson's Youth Day and distributed an incredible amount of backpacks and school supplies to needy kids in our city. |
4. Events that brought our community together
In 2015, Believe in Syracuse held many events that were all about highlighting and contributing to the progress Syracuse is making. On January 29th we had our 2nd Birthday Party. Over 250 of you came out to Sky Armory and celebrated another year of local progress. Join us for our 3rd Birthday Party this year! This year we also held some great brunch events at Funk n Waffles, Mohegan Manor, the Mission and at other locations. They were a member benefit so if you'd like to be part of those events next year click here and sign up! We also held Syracuse Rising: Downtown, Syracuse Rising: Eastwood and Syracuse Rising: Giving back. The first two highlighted the progress happening in those neighborhoods and the third highlighted all the great work in the local non-profit sector. All told, our events this year were attended by hundreds, perhaps thousands of unique people from all walks of life in CNY. They brought our community together and helped contribute to a city on the rise. |
5. Exponential growth for Believe in Syracuse
This year was our first full year as an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization lead by our superb board of directors that only gets stronger and stronger. Riding high off our 2nd Birthday Party, we held our Committee Kickoff in February this year to launch our 4 committees. All year long we brought on new corporate sponsors like Wegmans and The ICON Companies who we are proud to partner with. This summer we opened up our first official headquarters giving us a home in the South Side Innovation Center. This fall we kicked off a new initiative: our Grassroots Organizing Program that is building teams on the Northside and South Side of the city to empower residents to improve and promote their neighborhoods. This program was kickstarted by a grant from the Central New York Community Foundation. Through fundraising we have been able to expand our capacity to make a difference. Early this year we launched our individual membership structure and recently surpassed the 200 member milestone! Every one of our members owns a little bit of this movement. If you'd like to be a corporate sponsor or an organizational partner, click here. |
We hope this article gives you a sense of how we have put all the support you have given us to work in the community. Considering everything we did this year, just imagine all the great things that we'll do in 2016.
Let's stand together with a positive message for Syracuse. If you're not yet a member, click here and consider joining. Consider chipping in $30 $75 or whatever you can. Consider attending, sponsoring or getting a vendor table at our 3rd Birthday Party January 28th at the Landmark Theatre.
Together we'll fight the cynicism and make Syracuse a better place for our children and grandchildren.
Thanks
John DeSantis
Believe in Syracuse
2610 South Salina St
Syracuse, NY 13205
315-657-7478 j[email protected]
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