Do You Want to Make This Summer a Little Brighter for a Family in Need? The Great New York State Fair Is Calling for Applicants to Participate in Its Adopt-A-Family Program to Enjoy a Day at The Fair

Not-for-profit entities that serve special needs populations, low-income groups, and underserved areas are encouraged to apply

The Great New York State Fair is looking to partner with local not-for-profits to help to make the end of summer a little sweeter for families in need within our community. The Fair is now accepting applications for its Adopt-A-Family Program from not-for-profit organizations to provide underserved members of the community a day at The Fair.

Since its inception in 2014, the Adopt-A-Family Program has helped more than 2,500 families enjoy a fun-filled day by providing vouchers for free Fair admission, free parking, and free food for families who otherwise would not be able to afford a visit to The Fair.

All not-for-profit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) organizations who serve special needs populations, low-income groups, and underserved areas are eligible to apply. Applicants will need to demonstrate established criteria (provided below) and answer all questions within the application, which is available by clicking here. The form is also accessible on The Fair’s sponsorship page on its website. If selected, the not-for-profit group(s) will receive packets containing the following items:

• (1) Fairgrounds parking pass
• (4) full-price Fair admission tickets (NOTE: Admission is free for Children 12 years old and under and senior citizens 65 years old and older)
• (4) potato coupons (redeemable at The Great Potato Booth)
• (4) milk coupons (redeemable at the Milk Bar)
• Food Bucks, value determined based on remaining funds (redeemable at any participating food vendors)

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 21 and will be reviewed by a committee. The following criteria will be considered:

• Mission statement, by-laws, constitution, or similar documentation that demonstrates how the applicant supports the intended recipients of the Adopt-A-Family packets.
• Strength and feasibility of applicant’s plan to select and distribute Adopt-A-Family packets to families in the intended populations.
• Completeness of application with all required documents.

All applicants will be contacted formally with a decision. The number of packets given to applicants will be determined by the Selection Committee and is based on available funding, the total number of packets available, and the number of selected applicants.

The selected not-for-profit organizations will receive their packets for distribution to their clients no later than Wednesday, August 14.

Applicants with questions are encouraged to reach out to Todd Dupell (Todd.Dupell@agriculture.ny.gov) and Erica Dowdall (Erica.Dowdall@agriculture.ny.gov) , who manage the Sponsorship Department at The Fair, including oversight of the Adopt-A-Family Program.

“Family is absolutely central to The Fair and our team is always working to find meaningful ways to make The Fair as accessible as we can to as many families as possible,” said Julie LaFave, Interim Fair Director. “The Adopt-A-Family Program is an important tool to help families create lasting memories and connections here at The Fair. Our Sponsorship Department has received more than 250 Thank You notes and testimonials from families who have benefited from this incredible program. We encourage not-for-profit organizations to apply to help the populations that they serve and give them a day of fun at The Fair!”

The Adopt-A-Family Program is made possible through a partnership with the New York State 529 College Savings Program.

The Great New York State Fair begins on August 21 and continues through Labor Day, September 2.

Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture and provides top-quality entertainment and is a key piece of the State’s CNY Rising strategy, which focuses on growing Central New York’s economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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