POTSDAM, N.Y. -- SUNY Potsdam will recognize the Stewart's Foundation with the 2012 Leadership Through Service Award, one of the college's highest honors, during spring commencement on May 19.
SUNY Potsdam established the Leadership Through Service Award to honor those outstanding individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment of service to the Potsdam community. Each year, award recipients are acknowledged for demonstrating a special contribution to the betterment of the Potsdam region through dedicated service.
Founded in 1945 by the Dake family in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., who purchased a dairy and ice cream shop from Donald Stewart of Ballston Spa, Stewart's Shops has grown into an employee- and family-owned business with 328 convenience shops employing 4,000 people in more than 30 counties in Upstate New York and Vermont. Every year, Stewart's Shops donates 5% of its profits toward the greater good, with the goal of enhancing the quality of life in the communities where it operates.
The Stewart's Foundation will contribute approximately $2.25 million to local charities and not-for-profit community organizations in 2012. Contributions include monetary donations, products and gift certificates. It never questions whether it will give, just to whom. The Stewart's Foundation supports local charities in conjunction with all of its new shop openings. Stewart's encourages its employees to take an active interest and become involved in their communities, and it matches employee contributions to organizations that they are not already substantially supporting. In addition, the Stewart's Foundation annually chooses from what are considered more unusual opportunities that may have an especially positive impact on society to fill in funding gaps.
In its highly successful Holiday Match Program, Stewart's also matches customers' donations and makes gifts to benefit children under 18 in the areas of social services, health, education, recreation and the arts. Stewart's and its customers have contributed more than $16 million to thousands of organizations over the last 24 years through this program.
The Stewart's Foundation has made a commitment to support SUNY Potsdam programming that benefits the community as well.
Click here for details on how the Stewart's Foundation operates.
Founded in 1816 and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges.
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