Community Non-Profit Groups and Youth Scholarships Will Benefit

From Proceeds of Saratoga Springs Rotary Club’s Annual

Home and Garden Show, March 2-4

NEW THIS YEAR: Saturday, March 3 “Summer Fun – Stay & Play Showcase”
Highlighting Region’s Summer Activities and Entertainment,
Presented by Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

(Saratoga Springs, NY) -- The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club Home & Garden Show will be held on Friday, March 2 through Sunday, March 4, 2012, at the Saratoga Springs City Center, with proceeds to benefit Saratoga area non-profit organizations, youth scholarships, and Rotary’s international humanitarian efforts. Show hours are Friday, March 2 from 5 pm to 9 pm; Saturday, March 3 from 9 am to 7 pm; and Sunday, March 4 from 10 am to 4 pm. General admission for adults is $6; children 5-12 are $1, and children under 5 are free. Complete information is at www.saratogahomeshow.com

Show Details – Prizes, Exhibitors, and Sponsors

Over 120 exhibitors will offer diverse products and services for inside and outside the home. Attendees have the chance to win hourly door prizes and this year’s grand prize, a Samsung 46-inch LCD flat-panel HDTV.

The show includes many local experts and longtime exhibitors such as California Closets, Capitol District Supply, Jerome Roofing, Mandy’s Spring Nursery, and Granite & Marble Works, as well as companies exhibiting energy-saving, “green,” and high-tech home solutions. The Adirondack Trust Company is the Show’s major sponsor. Other sponsors include Allerdice Building Supply (door prizes), Ray Supply (grand prize), Crawford Door & Window, and The Saratogian.

“The Home and Garden Show brings our whole community together, making it easy for consumers to talk to providers of home products and services, and helping our local businesses to reach their customers efficiently,” comments event chairman Charlie Wheeler. “This year, we’re especially pleased to have the support of our community- minded exhibitors and sponsors, as well as the Saratoga County Chamber, the Downtown Business Association, and the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, who are each offering something special at the show.”

Admission Discount and Dinner/Show Special

A web coupon at saratogahomeshow.com provides a $1 discount on adult admission, good for any day of the show.

On Friday night, March 2, the Rotary Club has teamed up with the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association to provide a Dinner/Show special: adults can receive a $5 discount by showing a dinner receipt from a downtown Saratoga Springs restaurant, dated between February 27 and March 2 (inclusive). The discount is good for up to two adult admissions, resulting in a show entrance fee of $1 per adult.

“We want to make it easy for people to enjoy dinner after work and then come over to the show. Friday night is a great time to meet with exhibitors, as the show has just opened up for the weekend,” notes Wheeler.

Community Partners Add Local Flair to Home & Garden Show

Plan A Saratoga Summer Stay-cation
All day on Saturday, March 3, a special “Summer Fun – Stay & Play Showcase” presented by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce will give attendees many ideas for a summer “stay-cation.” This area will feature more than 30 regional summer hotspots, including SaratogaArtsFest; Super Bounce; Saratoga Rowing; Airway Meadows Golf Club; Stock Studios; Alcove Marina & Pub; Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce; and Lake George Steamboat Company. Entrance to the Showcase is included with Home & Garden Show admission, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Preserve and Restore Your Historic Home
For owners of historic homes, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is hosting a Restoration Corner all weekend, where local builders, architects, stone quarriers, painters and other specialists are available from several local businesses to discuss plans for historic homes. Since 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has been the leading advocate for the preservation of the city’s unique architectural, cultural, and landscaped heritage.

Show Benefits Area Non-Profits and Youth Scholarships
In recent years, the Rotary Club’s Home and Garden Show has raised over $100,000 annually, most of which is divided between local contributions and major financial gifts to community organizations and youth scholarships. In the year ending June 30, 2011, Saratoga Springs Rotary Club awarded Major Gifts of $14,800 to CAPTAIN Youth & Family Services in Malta and $7,000 to Franklin Community Center, with additional contributions of more than $24,000 given to other local organizations such as Little League, Rebuilding Together, Shelters of Saratoga, Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services, and others. The Club also provided $10,000 to Rotary International to support polio eradication around the world, to help Japan’s earthquake and tsunami victims, and for other humanitarian projects.

An additional focus of Saratoga Springs Rotary is youth scholarships. In 2011, the Club awarded 14 area high school seniors with scholarships worth $48,000 for their pursuit of post-secondary education. The scholarship program is supported financially by the not-for-profit Saratoga Springs Rotary Education Foundation (www.saratogaspringsscholarships.org). Saratoga Springs Rotary Club scholarships in the past few years have ranged from $1,500 up to the Club’s Presidential Scholarship, which presently provides $16,000 over four years to one graduating senior.

About Rotary

Membership in the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club (www.saratogaspringsrotary.org) offers an excellent opportunity for Saratoga area businesses and individuals to make a positive impact in the community and the world. Members of the Club meet every Wednesday from 12:15 to 1:15 at Longfellows Restaurant for fellowship, lunch, and an informational program. Community residents and businesses interested in membership are invited to contact Club President Jim Doern at 581-8441.

The 1.2 million Rotarians who belong to more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in nearly every country in the world share a dedication to the ideal of “Service Above Self.” Rotary clubs are open to people of all cultures and ethnicities and are not affiliated with any political or religious organizations. Rotary club members are men and women of all ages and professional backgrounds who use their talents, skills, and energy to improve the lives of people in communities at home and around the world. More information about Rotary International is at www.rotary.org.