Health & HappinessThe

HERALDFOUNDED BY CHARLES R. WOOD AND PAUL NEWMAN

GO

WINTER 2014–15

Beyond

A Message from Victor and Max . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Medical Volunteers: McKennas Make Camp Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3

Volunteer of the Year: Todd Earl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5

Power to Push . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–7

Welcome Board Members to Double H Ranch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–9

Every Penny Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Let the Sunshine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Winter: Hamilton College Goes Beyond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Give the Gift of Happiness this Holiday Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Founding DirectorsCharles R. Wood & Paul NewmanBoard of DirectorsVictor Hershaft, ChairmanEmily Bailey BerryDerek Brown Lauretta ChrysCharlie CrewNeil Golub, Honorary Life ChairmanGeorge HearstTom IndoeKevin JohnsonKimberly Sanger Jones Walter “Buzz” LambRobert LaughlinEd Lewi, Honorary Life Vice ChairmanSenator Betty LittleElizabeth Matthews McCarthy Ed MitzenMaureen O’Brien Vincent T. Riggi Christina RiversWalter Robb, TreasurerJohn RyanSheryl SchwartzRoss SheridanSandy ShermanKathy StrikerEd SwyerAnthony Tartaglia, MD, Vice ChairmanMichael Toohey Marian Wolgin, SecretaryCharlene Wood

Executive Director/CEOMax J. Yurenda

Emeritus DirectorsRobert Dorfman, Esq. & CPAUrsula GwynneA.E. HotchnerAgnes PompaDr. Sam Ross, Jr.Floyd H. RourkeJosie Beckos-Wood

Medical Advisory BoardKathleen Braico, MD, Medical DirectorEmo Castle,BS, RN, Nursing DirectorJacquline Bovair, RNTimothy Carey, RRTTina Facteau, BSNGerard Florio, PhDDorothy Grover, RPTGinelle Jones, RN, FNPMarilyn Kacica, MD, MPHMartha Lepow, MDAimee McMaster, ACNPJennifer Pearce, MDMargaret Shea, RNClara E. Somoza, DOAmanda Steen, SRPh, CIAnthony Tartaglia, MDDanielle Viola, RD Raymond Walsh, MD

Newsletter ContributorsEditor: Eileen NashContributor: Jacqui RoyaelGraphic Design: APROPOS Design SolutionsPhotos: Dave Bigler, Mark Morand

In This Issue

Contact UsDouble H Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Road, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846-3318 • Tel: (518) 696-5676 • Fax: (518) 696-4528Development Office: Tel: (518) 696-5921 • Fax: (518) 696-7186 • www.doublehranch.orgA publicly supported 501(c)(3)charitable corporation.

A MESSAGE FROM VICTOR AND MAX

Each year, the operations team identifies a new theme for the staff, volunteers and children that participate in our year-round programs . The theme in 2014 is “Go Beyond” and it has inspired all of us to step out of our comfort zone and challenge ourselves to think out of the box and try new things .

The creativity well at the Double H Ranch will never dry up . We empower our volunteers, campers and staff to have input into the future direction of our organization . We encourage our extended family to face challenges head on with the knowledge that there will always be a strong support network by their side .

Preserving our traditions is important, but we need to constantly modify our strategic thinking and plan to insure success in an ever-changing world . Our Board of Directors must “Go Beyond” their daily responsibilities to take our organization to the next level of maturity and sustainability .

Our volunteers and staff “Go Beyond” to insure that our campers have the most memorable, exciting and empowering experience possible . They give everything and more to our kids and we are grateful for their unconditional gifts of support, love and sharing .

We celebrate our campers every day and they are truly the ones who “Go Beyond .” Perhaps it is that leap of faith on the high ropes challenge course or displaying a thoughtful act of kindness to another child who is struggling . As our campers face prolonged hospital-izations and painful treatments they “Go Beyond” and face these challenges with courage, hope and memories of their time at the Double H Ranch .

We have celebrated twenty-two years of giving back to our community and most especially to our children and families . Our team of staff, volunteers and the Board are driven with passion, commitment and a sense of obligation to preserve and expand the legacy of our founders .

We are deeply touched and grateful to our local communities for their continued support and dedication to our critical mission .

Health and Happiness,

Victor Hershaft Max J . YurendaChairman of the Board CEO/Executive DirectorTel: (914) 273-5395 Tel: (518) 696-5676, ext . 224Email: vhershaft@aol .com Email: myurenda@doublehranch .org

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Double H has been described as a safe

place to call home for many of our camp-

ers . To create this level of trust, comfort

and care we rely on the strength of our

medical community . Doctors and nurses

that give well beyond their talent and ex-

pertise . They give so much of themselves

to camp that it reminds us of all the genu-

ine compassion of medical professionals

to see beyond an illness and see the child .

For the McKenna family,

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS: McKennas Make Camp Home

Dennis, Karen and their four children Jack,

Maggie, Kate and Matthew, they have

supported camp in every season and

embody our summer theme to “Go

Beyond” . Whether it is the kind hand they

lend to a staff member working hard, the

medications they calmly administer, or the

costume they wear in the session ending

talent show, Dennis and Karen make camp

all about having safe fun and a lot of it!

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Karen and Dennis have been an

awesome addition to the Body Shop.

Not only are they both very skilled

at caring for our campers, they do it

in a way that is FUN for everyone.

They truly dive into their work with

the campers and enjoy being a part

of everything at camp. You won’t

find them sitting around in the

Body Shop, but you will find them

out on camp fishing with the

campers, playing with the campers,

and being fully involved!

—Emo Castle,BS, RN

Double H Ranch Nursing Director

Their children integrate into the cabins

each summer and follow in their parents’

footsteps, being a kind friend to their cabin

mates and embracing all the fun camp has

to offer . What seems so special about the

McKenna family is how grateful they are to

Double H for the experience .

Double H is made great by great people .

Thank you McKenna family for helping us

to “Go Beyond” and be the best place for

all of us to call home .

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In Photo on Left: Driver : Karen McKenna, RN, ERG St . Peter’s Hospital; “Thumbs-Up” Passenger: Dennis McKenna, MD, VP of Medical Affairs and Medical Director AMC Emergency MedicineAbove: Notes from Maggie McKenna and Kate McKenna

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Retirement is defined as the action or fact

of leaving one’s occupation and ceasing to

work . Todd Earl retired from his position

as Guidance Counselor from the Hudson

Falls Central School District after 25 years

of dedicated service to students . Retire-

ment is a time to celebrate accomplish-

ments and for some to slow down, but

that hasn’t been the case for Todd . Todd

arrives at Double H almost every morn-

ing with always the same outlook, “put me

where I am needed .” On any given day at

Double H, you might find Todd organiz-

ing the National Ski Patrol supplies and

DOUBLE H VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Todd Earl

schedule in his role as Director of the Ski

Patrol for the winter program, serving as a

summer session volunteer, helping to run

our High Ropes Course on family week-

ends, or lending a passionate and skilled

hand to our facilities team .

Todd began volunteering for Double H in

2006 as a member of the National Ski Pa-

trol . After watching the difference it made

to his wife Rosemarie, he followed her

lead and became involved with the

Adaptive Winter Sports Program . For

the past four years, Todd has served

as the Director of the Ski Patrol and

began to seek out other opportunities

to volunteer for Double H . Today there

is no program, event or facilities project

Todd is not willing to lend a helping hand .

We are incredibly thankful Todd retired

and committed to a new passion to help

the Double H children, families, volunteers

and our staff in any way possible! While

his support in every season can some-

times be behind the scenes, his generos-

ity influences countless members of the

Double H community . For this reason, we

are proud to honor him as the Double H

Ranch 2014 recipient of the Ron & Kathy

Phelps Volunteer of the Year Award .

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Todd is everything we could ask for in a volunteer and so much

more. He is always putting our campers and families’ needs before

his own. Every decision he makes is based on how it will benefit

the people we serve. Todd’s dedication, reliability, inclusivity and

flexibility are unlike anyone I have ever met.

—Erin Peeney, Double H Ranch Volunteer Coordinator

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“Go Beyond “is a philosophy that many of

our campers and families live every single

day . One of those families is the Evans

Family . Shamus is an 8 year-old camper

living with Cerebral Palsy, who loves

coming to the Double H Ranch Adap-

tive Winter Sports Program and being a

summer camper, where he gets a chance

to show his independence at the Ropes

Course . His father Shaun, is an ultra-

marathon runner and next summer they

plan to run from coast-to-coast starting

in Washington and ending near NYC .

Although Shamus can’t walk, throughout

the trek he will be the inspiration as

Shaun pushes him cheering “Go Daddy

Go!” The entire family is part

of the effort . While

Shaun and Shamus run, mom Nichole

and brother Simon will provide support

all along the way . The run will cover 15

states and they will be raising funds for

Ainsley’s Angels to provide more children

with running carriages and promote an

active lifestyle among children in similar

situations to Shamus . In each state they

will donate carriages much like the one

Shamus has to families that need them .

Their Goal is to raise $70,000 and

inspire people to not let anything

hold them back and to keep on

going! For further information visit:

http://crowdrise .com/power2push .

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Power to Push

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8888

Senator Betty Little is serving her sixth

term representing the residents of the

45th Senate District, which comprises

Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Warren and parts

of St . Lawrence and Washington Coun-

ties . Prior to first winning election to

the State Senate in November 2002,

Senator Little served in the New

York State Assembly for seven years .

Senator Little serves as chair of the

Senate Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks

and Recreation Committee . In addition,

she is a member of the following Senate

committees: Consumer Protection; Crime

Victims; Crime and Correction; Educa-

tion; Environmental Conservation; Finance;

and Judiciary . Senator Little has earned

numerous awards and

distinctions during

her years of

public service .

In 1992,

she was

the recipi-

ent of the

prestigious

Liberty

Bell Award

for Community

Service and in 1997

she was awarded the Adirondack Girl

Scouts’ Women of Distinction Award . For

her advocacy on behalf of armed services

men and women, she was presented the

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Mary G . Roebling Distinguished Service

Award in 2011 by the Association of the

United States Army First Region . This past

March, the New York State School Boards

Association presented her with their

State Leader of the Year Award for her

exemplary advocacy on behalf of public

education . In December 2007, Senator

Little was awarded an honorary doctor-

ate by her alma mater, the College of

Saint Rose . Born in Glens Falls, New York,

Senator Little is a graduate of St . Mary’s

Academy and the College of Saint Rose

with a degree in Elementary Education . A

former teacher and realtor, she resides in

Queensbury . Senator Little is the mother

of six children, Elizabeth, David, Robert,

Thomas, Carolyn and Luke, and the proud

grandmother of fourteen .

Welcome New Board Members to the Double H Ranch

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Lauretta Chrys is Executive

Vice President and Director

of Retail Banking New York

at RBS Citizens Financial

Group, Inc ., one of the

10 largest commercial

bank holding companies

in the United States ranked

by assets . She is responsible for

the 150 branch network in New York

State . During her 25-year banking career,

Chrys has held a variety of leadership

positions in Consumer Banking, Wealth

Management, Small Business Banking, Cash

Management and Government Banking .

In the community, Chrys serves as trustee

of the Union Graduate College and

member of WMHT Public Broadcasting;

Board Finance Committee . She is a for-

mer Board President of Capital Repertory

Theater, Board Secretary of the Albany

Downtown Business Improvement

District, and Board Member, Board

Treasurer of WMHT Public Broadcasting,

and past chair of the Retail Banking

Executive Committee of the New York

Banker’s Association .

Chrys’s honors include recognition by

American Banker as a member of the RBS

Citizens Top Women in Banking Team, as

a Woman of Excellence by the Albany-

Colonie Regional Chamber of

Commerce for her achieve-

ments in private-sector

management, and as a

“40 Under Forty” by the

Capital District Business

Review as a young profes-

sional making a difference in

her business and community .

Chrys earned an MBA from Union

College Graduate Management Institute

and a bachelor’s degree in economics

from the State University of New York

at Albany .

101010

The Double H Ranch is very

fortunate to have Corporate

Partners that go above and

“Go Beyond” the call of duty in

supporting our mission . It could be a group of volunteers helping to rake our

320 acre facility in the Adirondacks! It could be a corporate team with warm

smiles welcoming our campers or it could be a donation of an auction item

or a financial donation to assist us with reaching our financial goals . Recently

the Double H Ranch has partnered with Rite Aid and their charitable giving

program dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children .

KidCents provides an opportunity for RiteAid customers to partner with them

to support programs that make a meaningful difference in the lives of children

in our local communities by simply rounding-up their change .

Members of Rite Aid’s wellness+ program can round up every purchase to

the nearest dollar and give their change to the Double H Ranch, an approved

KidCents charity . To enroll in KidCents and help support the Double H Ranch,

please visit: kidcents .riteaid .com .

Every Penny Counts:

1111

Always looking for ways to improve our

programs and facilities, the Double H Ranch

will be partnering with (NY) US Light and

Energy and embarking on a new endeavor

toward a greener and more sustainable

future by installing a solar panel field this

spring . The system is designed to generate

enough energy to satisfy the yearly con-

sumption of the electricity the camp uses

which will significantly lower the camp’s

energy expenses . This installment will be the

largest in the Adirondack Park . By installing

this environmentally friendly energy source,

Double H Ranch will continue to be good

stewards of our Adirondack home .

Let the Sunshine

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As a college student, there are many

opportunities to give back to your com-

munity . One special group of students

from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY

have found inspiration on the slopes of

the Double H Ranch, as volunteer ski and

snowboard instructors .

The partnership with Hamilton College

and the Double H winter program began

in 2011 . A summer staff member and

winter volunteer, Timothy Driscoll, had

the idea of sharing his love for camp with

fellow students at Hamilton . Through his

determination and coordination, Hamilton

WINTER: Hamilton College Goes Beyond

College agreed to fund the transportation

and support the efforts of these gener-

ous volunteers as a new college club . This

year will be the fourth year Hamilton

students help provide an experience of a

lifetime for the students in the Adaptive

Winter Sports Program . In this time, over

30 Hamilton students have volunteered to

teach skiing or snowboarding, giving over

50 days of service and teaching a com-

bined total of over 200 lessons . We are

grateful for the kindness they show and

the determination they each have had to

make each winter at the Double H Ranch

one to remember .

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