SARATOGA COUNTY CHAMBER ORGANIZING
LEAP OF KINDNESS DAY
Saratoga Chamber aims to use leap day for good.
 
Saratoga Springs, NY – On February 29th, 2020, the Saratoga County Chamber will participate with local organizations in order to perform acts of kindness for others throughout the community.
 
This initiative, called The Leap of Kindness Day, will be the Chamber’s second time using the extra day provided by the leap year to do good for others - the first celebration being in 2016.
 
The Saratoga County Chamber announced its Leap of Kindness Day 2020 plans, on January 23, in front of hundreds of Saratoga County’s business leaders at the Chamber’s 102nd Annual Dinner. At the dinner, the Chamber handed out Leap of Kindness Day “Thank You” cards urging all attendees to write and send a thank you note on February 29^th to someone who made a positive difference in their life.
 
Chamber President Todd Shimkus said, “We invented Leap of Kindness Day in 2016 and it spread to chambers and communities in more than 30 states. Locally, we had dozens of organizations and hundreds of people that did something incredibly kind for thousands of people across Saratoga County on the extra day we all get every Leap Year, on February 29^th. Leap of Kindness Day was also honored as the most “Innovative Chamber Program of 2016,” by ChamberMaster which provides software solutions to chambers around the US.”
 
Shimkus continued, “This year, we’re working with even more local nonprofits to obtain requests as to what they need and trying to match them up with organizations who can run drives to collect those items. We’re also hoping local organizations will again find other creative ways to do something kind for first responders, public safety agencies, teachers, direct care workers for those with disabilities, nursing home residents and employees, children in local hospitals, crossing guards, and so many others who make our lives here that much better.”
 
For the Leap of Kindness day this year, the nonprofits who have already listed ideas for participation include: Habitat for Humanity, Mechanicville Area Community Center, Franklin Community Center, CAPTAIN Human Services, Shelters of Saratoga, The Wesley Community, The Salvation Army, Kelly’s Angels, Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, as well as the Backstretch Employee Service Team.
 
The Saratoga County Chamber expects to add more nonprofit requests as they are received. The Chamber will also share the other creative acts of kindness that its member businesses across Saratoga County are planning in order to participate in this unique celebration. Nonprofits, businesses and individuals that decide to participate are asked to post their Leap of Kindness Day plans and to use the hashtag #leapofkindnessday so the Chamber can track and share all of these acts of kindness.
 
For more information, please visit www.saratoga.org/foundation/leap-of-kindness-day-2020/ or call the Chamber at 518-534-3255.