NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Salengo, 518-377-9430 or jim@downtownschenectady.com
“TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS” RAISES $51,200 FOR BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY JAY STREET FIRE
Total includes $25,000 in matching funds from Neil & Jane Golub
SCHENECTADY, NY, APRIL 15, 2015 – The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC) announced today that area residents, businesses, and organizations contributed $51,200 toward the “Taking Care of Business” fundraising campaign to benefit Downtown Schenectady businesses that were directly impacted by the March 6 fire at 100-102 and 104 Jay Street.
Businesses benefiting from the fundraising effort are Bel Cibo (96 Jay St.), City Hall Barbershop (114 Jay St.), Esmeralda Jewelry (100 Jay St.), Executive Lounge (112 Jay St.), Persian Bite (96 Jay St.), Schenectady Safe & Lock Co.(435 Liberty St.), and Tara Kitchen (431 Liberty St.). The Katbird Shop (425 Liberty St.) and Leva’s News & Lottery (114 Jay St.), which were each closed for nearly three weeks, asked that their share of the proceeds be distributed among other businesses that were more directly affected by the blaze.
City Hall Barbershop, The Katbird Shop, Leva’s News & Lottery, Schenectady Safe & Lock Co., and Tara Kitchen have all reopened. Bel Cibo, Esmeralda Jewelry, Executive Lounge, and Persian Bite remain closed.
Jim Salengo, DSIC Executive Director, said, “This was truly a community-wide effort at all levels, from donations of a few dollars up to the generous matching contribution by Neil & Jane Golub.” He added, “These hardworking business owners were forced to close their doors through no fault of their own. They are extremely grateful for this outpouring of financial and emotional support as they work to recover from the fire and reestablish themselves in Downtown Schenectady.”
The fundraising effort kicked off on Wednesday, April 1 from 5-8 p.m. with a “Taking Care of Business” event in Key Hall at Proctors hosted by the DSIC and Mazzone Hospitality; the space and food were donated by Mazzone. Additional materials and staffing for the event were donated by Experience & Creative Design, Olson Signs & Graphics, and Schenectady Rotary. More than 400 supporters attended the event, which raised approximately $19,000 to assist the affected businesses.
Prior to the event, local philanthropists Neil & Jane Golub issued a fundraising challenge, pledging to match all donations to “Taking Care of Business” dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 through Friday, April 10. From April 2-10, an additional $7,200 was raised through direct and online donations, bringing the community’s contribution to $26,200 and resulting in the full $25,000 matching donation from the Golubs.
Other major donors to the “Taking Care of Business” fundraiser included Freihofer’s, SEFCU, and the employees from Golub Corporation/Price Chopper’s main office on Nott Street, Schenectady.
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The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote Downtown Schenectady as a premier location for commerce, recreation and living by enhancing, facilitating and supporting economic and cultural growth.