Skaneateles Vincent House Guild’s 2025 Summer Kick-Off
Skaneateles Vincent House Guild’s 2025 Summer Kick-Off
June 23, 2025
This past Friday, June 13, 2025, Suzie and I had the humble honor of hosting the Skaneateles Vincent House Guild’s 2025 Summer Kick‑Off Party at our home. It was a night I’ll never forget, not just because it became the best‑attended and highest‑grossing event in over 50 years of Guild history, but because every moment reminded us of the power of community to lift one another up.
As friends, neighbors, and supporters gathered under the summer sky to enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and lively conversation, the true purpose behind the celebration came into sharp focus. We were there to support Universal Pre‑K programs in Syracuse. Programs that mean everything to the children and families they serve.
But amid the camaraderie, we heard heartbreaking news. Nearly half of Syracuse’s children (49%) are growing up in poverty. Hundreds of families are currently experiencing homelessness, living day‑to‑day in motels and shelters. These are our neighbors, our children, and witnesses to deep systemic need.
Yet within this struggle shines a story of hope. The Skaneateles Vincent House Guild and its dedicated pre-kindergarten staff offer a free, safe haven each day to kids in the city. Children arrive hungry, and they leave nourished, having had both a full meal and a snack. When the weather turns cold, they are given warm coats and the comfort of knowing they belong. In that room, every child is seen, supported, and celebrated. Every young learner enters kindergarten ready to grow.
That evening, as we looked around at a record crowd, I felt a profound sense of gratitude: gratitude for the Vincent House Guild’s vision, for the sponsors whose underpinned 100% of event expenses so that all proceeds go directly to the program, and for each guest who opened their heart and checkbook in service of these children.
Hosting this party at our home was about joining hands to ensure the next generation has a strong start. In that space, we celebrated not just fifty glorious years of service, but the promise of tomorrow.
We’ve learned that generosity is more than giving; it’s seeing clearly the challenges before us and choosing to respond. If even one more child enters school with the confidence, warmth, and nourishment they deserve, then together, we’ve done something meaningful.
From Suzie and me, heartfelt thanks to everyone who came, gave, and believes in a brighter future for every child. Let’s continue to be each other’s answer.
