Did you know that injury is the leading cause of death for person’s ages 1-44? It is likely that you or someone you know has been touched by injury: a relative killed in a car crash; a neighborhood child who drowned; a colleague who suffered burns from a house fire.

Injuries affect everyone, regardless of age, race, or economic status. In the first half of life, more Americans die from injuries- such as motor vehicle crashes and falls- than from any other cause, including cancer, HIV, or the flu. And deaths are only part of the problems. Each year, millions of people are injured and survive. They are faced with life-long mental, physical and financial problems.

Injuries, including all causes of unintentional and violence-related injuries combined, account for 50.6% of all deaths- that is more deaths than from non-communicable diseases (cancer, heart disease, etc.) and infectious diseases combined. There are more than 180,000 deaths from injury each year, 1 person every 3 minutes. There is an estimated 2.5 million people hospitalized with injury each year and an estimated 31.6 million people treated in the Emergency Department for injury each year. There is an estimated 465 billion cost annually in medical costs and lost productivity.

Research and prevention saves lives. Injuries are so common that we often accept them as just part of life. But many of them can be prevented, and their consequences reduced. We know that research and prevention help. But much work is still needed. For example education in driving safety is needed. In 2008, more than 3000 teens ages 15-19 died as a driver or a passenger of a teen driver. 75% of serious crashes are due to “critical errors” in going too fast, being distracted by cell phones or other teen passengers, lack of scanning needed to respond to hazards. They were not due to poor weather, vehicle malfunction or drowsy driving.

Compared to other leading causes of morbidity and mortality hardly any money is raised for research, education and awareness related to injuries. The only cure for injury is prevention.

Youth²- Youth Helping Youth is a Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Youth² seeks to transform young people (up to age 22) by giving them the opportunity to participate in meaningful community work. Contributions to Youth²- Youth Helping Youth help fund volunteer, social action or social awareness projects that are proposed, approved and led by young people. What makes Youth² unique is the kind of participation required by the youth involved. It is the only program of its type in the capital region.

Walking side by side with your child, the alternative holiday market will provide shoppers with the opportunity to make donations to their favorite community organization that works to help everyone throughout the year. You can give a gift in honor of a loved one that keeps on giving. You can give a financial contribution or have your child donate in-kind items such as a blanket to the Backstretch Employee Service Team or socks for the Domestic Violence shelter. Please refer to www.youthsquared.org to locate items that each agency could use.

This year the event will include a “Youth Challenge: Calling All Kids” grant stimulation effort. Young people who are Saratoga County residents, age 22 and younger can think of a way that they want to improve the world and write a grant proposal to realize their dream. Youth²- Youth Helping Youth which will award $1500 in grant awards on the day of the Community Giving Fair. You can get a group of kids together as part of your school or college club, community organization, church or synagogue youth group, to come up with an idea that will serve other youth in your local community or in the world. There will be an informational meeting about how to secure these monies on Wednesday, October 12^th at 7 pm. in the Glasby Room of Saratoga Springs Library and the grant deadline will be on November 12^th.

The Community Giving Fair will provide a fun and engaging forum that empowers youth to make a difference by encouraging them to think about social change, to participate in social action and to donate to the agencies or groups of their choice. This year we are hoping to involve more youth efforts in our circle of groups participating. Youth groups that are interested in having a table at the Fair please contact Beverly Lazar Davis at *protected email*

Participating agencies, Saratoga county Children’s Committee, Franklin Community Center, Domestic Violence, Uganda Relief Club, Backstretch Employee Service Team, Ballston Spa Community Center, Help the World, The Giving Circle and others will directly benefit from increased public awareness and financial and gift/in-kind donations. Fair trade holiday gifts will also be available by Mango Tree Imports. There is no cost to participate. Local agencies and youth organizations that would like to participate can contact Beverly Lazar Davis at *protected email* to secure a space at the event.

We will create a festive mood with live music, bake sale and light lunch, Stone Soup, raffle items, Social Action tables offering ways for youth to make “Good Health Kits” for our community, activities for kids to use small change for big change, a Volunteer Match table and an alternative giving person, “Pockets”, handing out ideas on community service. The Saratoga Performing Youth Artists (SPYA) may contribute a pertinent theatrical event again this year.

Youth²- Youth Helping Youth is a Field of Interest Fund formed under the guidance of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Youth² won the 2011 Champions for Children Award in the Capital Region. Youth² engages young people to think about issues that they care about and to create volunteer, social awareness and fundraising social action local and global projects for youth and by youth. Youth² is committed to giving both financial and thoughtful support to help interested young people turn their ideas into realities.

Wish Lists

Join us and support the organizations that take care of our community!

19 Roosevelt Dr.
Saratoga Springs, NY 112866

or

PO Box 1182
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Christine MacLellan or Stacie Mayette
moc.rr.pacynnull@camsm
518-583-8898 or 518-587-4427

http://www.homemadetheater.org

P.O. Box 1254
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Kathy Kelly
moc.oohaynull@etkoyllekk
518-399-6629

http://www.saratoga.org/sccc

The Rummage Sale will be held on Saturday, August 13th 2011, from 9am to 3 pm at the Presbyterian New England Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 24 Circular Street, Saratoga Springs, New York.

You can bring a non-perishable food item and pick a discount coupon you can use to get something free at the sale. In this way, the event will also be helping to fill the Soup Kitchen Pantry. From 2-3pm (the last hour of the event), there will be a special $2.00 bag sale.

If you want to donate household items, books, small appliances or clothing or have further questions, please call 518-281-9130.