For Immediate Release

                                                        

 STRIDE, Inc.                                      476 North Greenbush Rd. Ste. 9 ,   Rensselaer NY 12144

               

EMAIL:  mwhitney@stride.org     WEB: www.stride.org

Contact:       Mary Ellen Whitney- (518) 598-1279

For Immediate Release

WellPoint Foundation Employees help Clean up the SCORE Center

 

(Chatham NY)  STRIDE Adaptive Sports has a year under it’s belt in developing the 85 acre facility formerly Girl Scout Camp Sha-Te-Muc located in Chatham, NY.  The facility, now called STRIDE Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education (SCORE Center)  is used as a retreat for youth with special needs, and Wounded Warriors and their families to enjoy in educational programs including camping, hiking, archery, fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing. The 2500 square foot lodge offers a large space for trainings seminars and retreats.

On Saturday, April 27 employees from WellPoint Foundation, a division of Empire Blue Cross will assist STRIDE in spring clean up for the second year. Approximately 40 employee volunteers will be clearing trails throughout the 85 acres; building wheelchair ramps, and cleaning up the lodge and out buildings. “We are thrilled to have this kind of support;’ says Mary Ellen Whitney, CEO for STRIDE, “such a large group of committed professionals who give up a weekend to support this kind of endeavor shows the commitment of our community.”

Tenting pavilion areas have been named on the property; including ‘Yellow Ribbon Pavilion”; “Purple Heart Pavilion”; and the games and flagpole cabin is now called the “Gold Star Field”. STRIDE has been fortunate to have the support of many Scout troops in the region, who choose Eagle Scout projects at SCORE. Last year fire pits, new signs, a wheelchair accessible dock and a wheelchair accessible trail was created. Underway this year are more projects which include a 9 hole disk golf range; a competition level archery range, raised bed gardens and a professional horseshoe pit. Spring and summer enrichment programs are now being scheduled.

STRIDE’s mission is to educate and empower individuals with special needs in life-changing sport and recreation programs to sustain healthy, active and fun lifestyles. STRIDE is a volunteer organization with all sport lessons being taught by highly qualified volunteers, and STRIDE serves our Wounded Warrior community with rehabilitative sport and recreation programs to help them adjust to life and helping them adapt to their permanent injuries that they sustained during recent conflicts overseas.