Thursday 17th January, 2019 - 2:28pm
Three Capital Region non-profit organizations have joined forces to share resources and serve the community in a larger capacity! This morning, Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region (Girls Inc.), LifePath (formerly Senior Services of Albany), and Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA), cut the ribbon on the newly renovated building at 80 Central Avenue in Albany.
“Turning the challenges of three non-profits into one collaborative community solution has been an incredible journey,” said Ashley Jeffrey Bouck, Executive Director for Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region, an organization providing free after-school and mentoring programs to girls grades K-12. “We’re excited to see our collective vision come to life because it doubles the capacity for Girls Inc. and allows us to serve more girls, particularly in the City of Albany.”
NABA, who assists individuals, who are blind or visually impaired, achieve independence and growth, has owned the 8,300 square foot property for many years. “We had been searching for another non-profit organization to fill the building’s vacancy, “ said Christopher Burke, NABA’s Executive Director, “Bringing all three of us together under one roof, by building out the two unfinished floors of the property, was a great idea that allowed us to maximize the available space.”
“We are thrilled to be part of this innovative collaboration,” said Monika Boeckmann, Executive Director of LifePath, an organization whose mission is keeping our older neighbors and friends healthy and safe by providing effective programs and support to help them stay connected to our communities. “This community center will provide inter-generational programs, evidence-based health education, and a large variety of recreational activities for older adults in the City of Albany. It will be a place to access community resources and provide neighbors with a place to connect.”
With daytime programming for seniors and after-school and evening programming for girls grades K-12, the new community center will now be fully utilized. The shared resources of the three organizations connects their missions, and provides opportunities for intergenerational and non-traditional programming that enriches the lives of children, seniors, and the visually impaired. The collaboration also advances Albany Mayor, Kathy Sheehan’s plan to reduce the number of vacant buildings in the City of Albany.
A capital campaign to renovate the building began in 2017 and is ongoing. “Our tri-nonprofit collaboration has had tremendous support from Capital Region donors and philanthropists who believe in what we’re doing. Without them, none of this would be possible,” said Ashley Jeffrey Bouck.