Highlights of The Wesley Community’s history from groundbreaking to present day to be featured during golden anniversary celebrations
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, will host its 50th Anniversary dinner fundraiser at the Saratoga Springs City Center on Tuesday, Sept. 20, beginning at 5 p.m. The evening is part of a series of celebratory events in 2022 conducted to honor and reflect upon The Wesley Community’s 50 years of caring and compassionate work since opening its doors in 1972.
Presented by The Adirondack Trust Company, the evening is a tribute to Wesley’s 50th year as a vital nonprofit organization supporting seniors in the community. Since its founding, The Wesley Community has established itself as a long-term senior care community and has steadily grown into a continuum-of-care campus featuring independent and assisted living apartments, compassionate skilled nursing, home care and memory care services.
“The Wesley Community has been providing exceptional senior care and services for 50 years, and this year of ongoing celebrations has been a fitting way to recognize not only our rich history but also the people who have made it all possible,” said The Wesley Community CEO J. Brian Nealon.
“Adirondack Trust is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of The Wesley’s Community’s 50th Anniversary Celebration,” said Adirondack Trust Company President and CEO Charles V. Wait, Jr. “We have long supported Wesley’s mission of caring for the elders of our community, as well as others in need. We look forward to many more years of Wesley serving this great community we all call home.”
Highlights of the occasion will include anecdotes from individuals who played an integral role in The Wesley Community’s rich history and the first look at a soon-to-be released commemorative book and video that chronicle the journey. The book was co-authored by Field Horne and Greg Dixon with design provided by David Clark Perry. The video is being produced by LOOK Media’s Jesse Jackson, Dayna Peck and Jack Hojohn.
Among the milestones that will be highlighted during the anniversary celebration are:
- Approval of a motion in 1966 to establish, raise funds for and hire the first executive director (Ralph J. Barron) of a retirement center to be called Saratoga Retirement Center;
- Groundbreaking for the Embury Apartments in 1969 and for The Wesley Health Care Center in 1971;
- Opening of Embury Apartments in 1972 featuring Mrs. Selma Ogden as its first resident;
- Debut of The Wesley Health Care Center in 1973;
- An expansion, the Victoria Building, in 1985;
- Neil Roberts succeeding Ralph J. Barron as CEO in 1988;
- An 80-bed expansion, the Hathorn building, is added to Wesley in 1994;
- Woodlawn Commons opens with 60 independent and 40 assisted living apartments in 1999;
- The Wesley Foundation is formed to raise funds to enhance residents’ lives in 1999;
- J. Brian Nealon succeeds Neil Roberts as CEO in 2003;
- Multiple renovation projects and upgrades to the campus from 2010-present.
Tickets for the 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner on Sept. 20 can be purchased for $175 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by phone at 518-691-1420 or at www.wesley50.org.
The Saratoga Springs City Center is located at 522 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.
Partner Sponsors include Kodiak Construction and Bond and Schoeneck & King Attorneys; Friend Sponsors include Unidine, MLB Construction, Munter Enterprises, Ruth Pouliot and Wendy Cooper; Supporter Sponsors include Andrew and Cheryl Wise, Kevin and Mary Tully, William and Candace Krueger, Elliott and Cathy Masie, Dr. Gregory Pinto and Dr. Natalie Adler, Brian and Sandy Nealon, A.C. Riley, Paul and Deborah O’Brien, The LA Group, FreedMaxick, Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co, Luther Forest Wealth Advisors and Wilcenski Pleat Law. Serving on the Honorary Committee are Shelly Amato, Frederick and Sheelagh Baily, Mark and Brooke Bardack, Peter Barron and Carolyn Cappuccino, The Boghosian Bros., Skip and Colleen Carlson, Bill and Susan Dake, Greg Dixon, Katelynn Ethier, Victoria Jupin, Phil Klein, Mac Noonan and Katie Lahoff, Tom and Kristie Roohan, Liz Rovers
Jennifer Runkel, Saratoga Springs Lions Club, Marti Simmons, Caitlyn Simmons, Tara A. Pleat, L. Clifford Van Wagner, Pati Wade, Nikki Williams
More details on each of the celebratory community events that have taken place throughout the year can be found at www.wesley50.org.
Upcoming public events include two viewings of The Wesley Community’s documentary, produced in recognition of the 50th anniversary, on Oct. 11 at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. at SUNY Adirondack in Wilton. Admission is free of charge but advance reservations are required and can be made by calling 518-691-1420 or via email at [email protected]. The video will be released on The Wesley Community website after it premiers. The book is available for a donation online at www.wesley50.org.
About The Wesley Community
The Wesley Community is a 37-acre, not-for-profit agency in Saratoga Springs, NY, which serves the needs of the elderly, as well as active seniors, adults and pediatrics. Sponsored by United Methodist Health and Housing, Inc., The Wesley Community’s unique continuum of care community provides independent and assisted living for seniors, affordable independent senior housing, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, as well as home care services and outpatient therapies available for people of all ages.