On Thursday, October 10, a crowd is expected to fill the beer hall of Middle Ages Brewery, a local hot spot and Syracuse’s oldest brewery in the city, for The Loretto Foundation’s Blues and Brews Festival. In between dance steps to the bluesy and eclectic flow of the popular Central New York band, The Shylocks, guests will be getting a taste of something different from Diamond Catering, employer to some of the finest chefs around.

There’s still plenty of time to cash in on exciting prizes and experiences during The Foundation’s silent auction and don’t sell yourself short, participate in the raffle giveaway, which has even more exhilarating winnings that you won’t want to skip.

While Blues and Brews will undoubtedly be a lot of fun, it’s important to remember the real reason behind the event: supporting The Loretto Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of residents and employees in our community.

By attending Blues and Brews, you’re not just enjoying a great night out—you’re helping to make a tangible difference in the lives of Loretto’s community. Learn more about how your support will make a difference below.

What You’re Supporting

 

 

WeCare Fund

We are there for our employees during extreme times of need. The WeCare Fund was created to be a financial blanket for employees facing unexpected hardships beyond their control. Eligible employees could receive a WeCare Grant of up to $1,000 towards their hardship at absolutely no cost to them. Last year, the WeCare Fund awarded over $20,000 to ensure employees had the resources they needed while dealing with unexpected troubles.

 

Diaper Program

According to the CNY Diaper Bank, an adequate supply of diapers can cost a family $100 a month per child, and diapers are not covered by WIC or SNAP benefits.  It also says low-income families will spend two times as much as families who have access to bulk buying options for diapers. The Loretto Foundation strives to make sure each and every single one of its employees has free access to diapers through our diaper program. The diaper program supplies families with up to 50 free diapers per child a month.

 

Nurse Education Courses

A job is never just a job here at Loretto. It’s the start of a new career and often times, the gateway to a better life. We’re happy to be able to invest in two training programs, the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program and the Licensed Practical Nurse Apprenticeship (LPN) program. The programs not only aim to educate students on the skills of nursing, but also prepares them for life, teaching skills such as conflict resolution and emotional intelligence. Students also go through the program while still employed at Loretto and are paid while advancing their careers.

The Loretto Foundation also offers frontline workers essentiALZ, a nationally recognized certification program developed by the Alzheimer’s Association that teaches evidence-based, person-centered practices to care for individuals with dementia.  Once employees earn their certification, they receive a $0.25/hr wage increase.

Learn more about our CNA and LPN programs.

 

Memory Care Technology

The Loretto Foundation is happy to fund research and developments in memory care and relevant technology used in Loretto facilities to better the lives of its residents. Recently, a Memory Special Care Unit at The Commons on St. Anthony became the first of its kind in Auburn for those with the most advanced stages of dementia. The floor is designed thoughtfully with sce3nic murals, porch lights and familiar community relics to bring a neighborhood feel to the floor. Hallway pictures help residents with wayfinding.  Residents also benefit from LifeLoop’s It’s Never Too Late (iN2L) technology and a Lucynt technology gaming system designed to improve cognition and other skills.

How You can Help

There’s still time to help support these programs and resources that are available to our employees and older adults in our community. Get your tickets to The Loretto Foundation’s Blues and Brews Festival today! Don’t forget to purchase raffle tickets.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Read more about sponsorship and how your support will play a pivotal role in helping ensure a bright future for Loretto’s staff, residents and participants.