To the Editor:

On Saturday, Nov. 16, Judy and Arnie Rothstein will receive The Victor G. Ross Community Caregivers Founders Award at the 19th Annual Community Caregivers Gala to be held at the Albany Country Club. The Rothsteins will accept this award presented “in recognition of significant contributions that have had a major impact on the organization’s long-term success.”

They will be honored and celebrated for their commitment to an organization, Community Caregivers, that has been a vital part of our neighborhoods for almost two decades now. Colin DeMers and The Century House will receive The Joseph A. Bosco Community Caregivers Community Service Award also at this event.

Community Caregivers and its volunteers work tirelessly to help our neighbors and friends be independent and stay in their homes. The support structure of this organization is made up, of course, of hundreds of people from our local communities. Those at Community Caregivers have chosen this time to recognize the work and passion of Judy and Arnie over these past 16 years as volunteers with Community Caregivers. 

I have known the Rothsteins since 1980 when they hired me — Judy as the English Department Supervisor and Arnie as the Administrator for Human Resources at the Guilderland School District. Just as they devoted their talents and energy to our schools for 30 years, they have brought that same level of purpose and skill to their work with Community Caregivers.

They are humbled and grateful for this opportunity to tout the ongoing accomplishments — and needs — of this remarkable not-for-profit organization in our midst.

In a recent conversation with Judy, all she wanted to do was use herself and Arnie as vehicles right now to raise funds for Community Caregivers.  While they truly feel it’s been a privilege to work as volunteers with Community Caregivers, they are hoping that all of their friends over these many years will take the time, as Judy said, to “consider making a donation to Community Caregivers; it’s a 503C nonprofit and donations are one way to help meet the budget needs.”

So many of us mean to donate at various times, I believe, but then it slips our minds in the busyness of everyday life. Now is yet another perfect time — Judy and Arnie’s time — to do this, and it has almost never been easier.

To use a credit card to donate online, go to the Community Caregivers’ website (www.communitycaregivers.org.) You will see a list of Quick Links on the left hand side, with a Donate link at the top. Once you click on that link, use any button that says “donate now through Network for Good” to begin the process. You can indicate that your contribution is in honor of the Rothsteins by entering their names in the “Dedication or Gift” box. The amount, of course, remains unseen if that is what you desire.

You can also mail checks (print a Donation Form from the website first) with the Rothsteins’ name in the memo area to Community Caregivers at 2021 Western Ave., Suite 104, Albany, NY 12203.

Many of us who have known Judy and Arnie for so long understand how exciting this moment is for them, since it’s a perfect opportunity to do some good for Community Caregivers. If you can help them to keep this organization thriving through your donation, please don’t hesitate.

If you want to applaud them and Community Caregivers in person, all are invited to the gala on Nov. 16 (email ). If you can help by volunteering your time and ideas, well, this would be quite a tribute, too. Just call 456-2898. Thanks for taking the time — this time.

Noreen Benton
Altamont