Presenting the donation from Casella Waste Systems, from left are Doug Fry, Division Manager for Casella; Katelyn LaPlante, Territory Sales Representative for Casella; James Button, President & CEO of Citizen Advocates; Amanda Tagliarino, Senior Director of the Fieldstone Foundation; and Helen Sullivan, Territory Sales Representative for Casella.
The Fieldstone Foundation received a generous $6,000 donation from Casella Waste Systems, raised during their annual benefit Golf Tournament. The event united community members who raised $3,000, which Casella matched, doubling the impact to support a truly worthy cause.
These funds will directly benefit the Fieldstone Foundation’s initiatives, which focus on providing safety net support for children, families and individuals facing food, housing and financial insecurity. A significant portion of this donation will support the Foundation’s Backpack Program, ensuring children in Franklin County have access to nutritious weekend meals throughout the school year. Currently, the Backpack Program serves students across seven Franklin County schools, including Brushton-Moira Elementary School, Chateaugay Central School, Davis Elementary School, Flanders Elementary School, St. Joseph’s Elementary School, Salmon River Elementary School, and St. Regis Falls Central School. In the 2023-2024 school year, the Backpack Program supported over 450 students and delivered 56,000 meals.
“This major donation from Casella is why we live where we do, and what makes our community so special,” said James Button, President & CEO of Citizen Advocates. “This is about North Country people caring for North Country people, and the funding support for the Fieldstone Foundation will go a long way to helping individuals and families in our region overcome adversity.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Casella and everyone who participated in the golf tournament,” said Amanda Tagliarino, Senior Director of the Fieldstone Foundation. “This event was not only a day of fun but also a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together. With Casella’s generous match, we’re able to deepen our impact and continue addressing the critical needs that exist within our region.”
The Casella Golf Tournament showcased the strength of community collaboration, with Casella Waste Systems’ matching donation enhancing the Fieldstone Foundation’s ability to continue its mission of building a healthier, more resilient community.
“Our efforts to help cultivate sustainable communities do not end with the services we provide,” said Casella Market Area Manager, Bill Meyers. “We feel strongly that by supporting events and organizations, like Fieldstone Foundation, that help provide support for the community’s most vulnerable, we are investing in the overall sustainability of the region and ensuring that the communities we serve are welcoming and a safe place for all people to live, work, and play now and in the future.”