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Blue skies, warm weather, and a spirit of excitement and camaraderie were in the air at last weekend Community Betterment Weekend. The events themselves (golf, tennis, paddling) brought many people together. However, the reason behind these events is what makes this weekend so special. The Alexandria Bay Chapter of the Foundation for Community Betterment has given over $54,000 to community organizations and families in our community in 2026. Money that is raised and dispersed locally is what makes this nonprofit organization so special and worthwhile. The purpose of this week’s Ripple Report is to highlight the events of July 10 and 11, from the first swing of a tennis racket on Friday morning to the conclusion of the Recipient Ceremony on Saturday afternoon. It was an amazing weekend that will not soon be forgotten. Especially with the ripples of generosity that filled the hearts of those in our community. People were inspired to go out into the world and make a difference, which is what this weekend is all about. The John Russell Memorial Tennis Tournament began at 9 a.m. on Friday at the Alex Bay Municipal Tennis Courts. Women’s and men’s pairs took to the courts with high enthusiasm, themed outfits and patriotic decorations on display.  Dick Stockton, Terry Satterley, Tad Clark and Jamie Drinkwater Stockton show off their patriotic flair at this year’s John Russell Memorial Golf Tournament Women’s Consolation Round Winners: Jan Coleman and Kathy Banks Men’s Consolation Round Winners: Andy Austin and Stephen Anderson Women’s Doubles Runners-Up: Averell Manes and Jamie Stockton Women’s Doubles Champions: Coleen Austin and Diana Grater Men’s Doubles Runners-Up: Bob Weldon and Dalton Munson Men’s Doubles Champions: Jonathan Kendall and Bruce Beckstead The July 10th Golf Tournament was a great success, with rounds taking place at 10:30 and 2:00 at the Alex Bay Municipal Golf Course. The results from the day’s golf events are as follows: Men’s Division: first, Reecy Gionet and Shawn Martin; second, Dave Hurst and Ticky Millett; third, Tom Turgeon and son Tom Turgeon. Women’s Division: first, Robin Martin and Lucy Gionet; second, Teagan Ward and Robin Martin; third, Lori Turgeon and Pat Dolan. Co-ed Division: first, Danny and Maddy Gionet; second, Kyle and Susie Gionet; third, Gary and Jane Bryant. Individual Hole Prizes were won by Reecy Gionet, Jane Bryant, Danny Gionet, Maddy Gionet, Tom Turgeon, Millie Savarese, Rick Roberts, Danny Gionet, Robin Martin, Carol Mossien, and Mary Day.  Golfers await the beginning of their round as volunteer Lori Turgeon says a few quick words of thanks. As the sun sank lower in the sky, the festivities moved to Bonnie Castle. The evening began with a special gathering on the deck overlooking the river, honoring and thanking the “25 Ripple Donors”. Rosemary Savage was a special guest honored at the Ripple Donor party. Rosemary received financial support from Betterment several years ago to assist with her educational goals. She is now a physician in St. Augustine, Florida. Dr. Savage thanked Betterment and the teachers in attendance who saw her potential and helped her to become the successful individual that she is today.  Doctor Rosemary Savage is flanked by many of those who have supported her educational journey at Friday’s Ripple Party. From left to right: Lucy Gionet, Carol Babcock, Robin Martin, Patty Wagoner, Martha Grimes, Rosemary, Katy Allen, Melinda Comstock, Jeanne Snow, and Lisa Tillman The Welcome Party followed this gathering, and was well-attended by event participants, volunteers, donors and sponsors. The band Serendipity provided fantastic entertainment as guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres, desserts, raffles and a silent auction. The backdrop of the beautiful St. Lawrence River served as a perfect reminder of the ripples of goodness that brought everyone together. The sun was shining brightly at Scenic View Park on Saturday morning, as 115 paddlers began arriving with their kayaks, canoes and paddle boards. The beach soon became filled with color, laughter and happy chatter as people awaited the beginning of the 25th Paddle for Betterment. At 9:00, the Alex Bay fire boat sent up a celebratory spray of water, signaling the beginning of the event. Paddlers made their way along the shore of the river, with planned stops along the way to pick up playing cards. Each vessel was gifted with a dry bag to keep their cards and personal belongings safe and dry. Once back on the beach these cards could be turned in as a poker hand, with the chance to win prizes. Prizes were also given to first-, second- and third-place finishers in adult and youth categories. In the adult category, Greg Lewis from Grand Island, NY finished in first place, Jen Pickman Ogdensburg in second and Gayle Schneider from Rochester in third. In the youth category, Lenora Bates from Alex Bay finished in first place, followed by Cooper Ramm from Alex Bay in second. Dylan Curley from Annapolis, Maryland finished in third. Raffle and square board winners were also announced at this time. Although early finishers were recognized and given prizes, the spirit in the pavilion was not competitive. Everyone who returned from the paddle talked about how beautiful it was to be out on the river, what fun they had, and how they couldn’t wait to do it again next year.  Many of the paddlers embark on their journey at Saturday’s Paddle for Betterment. Closest to the camera is Craig Garlock, joined by 5 of his grandchildren as first mates. Craig and his crew were the last to arrive back at the beach, but they all arrived safely. The Recipient Ceremony began at 11 a.m. in the pavilion, which truly is the highlight of the weekend. Several of this year’s community organizations and individuals receiving financial support from Betterment had the opportunity to be honored and express their thanks. Many of these people helped out at the event and plan to do so in the future. The lemonade stand was also on site, with a family of young volunteers serving delicious lemonade. The lemonade stand had a goal of raising $2,500 this year, in order to have that amount matched by the Northern New York Community Foundation. Amazingly, that goal was met on Saturday morning, with a generous $200 donation from Marta Beach. Marta was also Betterment’s photographer, and she did an amazing job taking photos to capture the entirety of Community Betterment Weekend. The ripples of kindness that take place on this special weekend are truly too numerous to count. In 25 years, this event has grown by leaps and bounds. There is no doubt that Carolyn and Pat Curley would be proud to see how our community continues to unite to make such a positive impact. One other ripple to mention from the weekend is the Thousand Islands Challenge Pickleball Tournament, which took place at the TI Club on Wellesley Island. The Thousand Islands Pickleball Group hosted the 90+ player event from July 9 – 11, which generated a $2,500 donation to Betterment, followed by an additional $500 donation from one of their supporters. The Foundation for Community Betterment is incredibly thankful for the generosity of this group. We look forward to partnering with them in the future. Overall, Community Betterment Weekend was a resounding success. The volunteers, participants and recipients came together to have fun, make a difference and celebrate this amazing community. It truly takes a village to orchestrate an event of this magnitude. The ability to watch the events and philanthropy unfold over the course of the weekend is what it’s all about, and there’s no better place to be. For anyone who is interested in donating, getting involved and giving back, visit communitybetterment.org/alexandriabay. See you next year, July 9 and 10, 2027 for Community Betterment Weekend, where the river becomes a tradition.  Many of the Betterment volunteers gather for a photo after the Recipient Ceremony in the Scenic View Park Pavilion. They are joined by Betterment’s mascot Rippley, who made several appearances throughout the weekend.
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Community Betterment Weekend is quickly approaching. On July 10 and 11, the community will come together for two days of activity, raising money through tennis, golf, and paddling the mighty St. Lawrence River. The weekend will conclude with a recipient ceremony, recognizing those who will receive much-needed support and reminding everyone of the purpose behind the festivities. Behind every successful event is a dedicated team of volunteers working quietly to make it all happen. Without them, Betterment simply could not exist. Their efforts extend far beyond the weekend itself, with many contributing throughout the year to ensure the organization's continued success. The Alexandria Bay chapter has grown significantly over the past 25 years. What began with a single paddle event has expanded to include golf and tennis tournaments, allowing Betterment to support an increasing number of individuals and community organizations. That growth has also created a greater need for volunteers willing to lend their time and talents. There is no shortage of work to be done. Volunteers organize raffles and prizes, run the lemonade stand, serve on scholarship and recipient committees, coordinate paddle safety, host the participants' breakfast, manage public relations, organize the welcome party and recipient ceremony, and assist at each event throughout the weekend. The saying, "It takes a village," certainly rings true for Betterment. That village is made up of dedicated people who believe in the importance of giving back to their community. This week's Ripple Report shines a spotlight on just a few of Betterment's longtime volunteers. While each has a unique story about how they first became involved, they all share the same commitment: helping neighbors and community organization during a time of need. Robin Martin has volunteered with the Betterment Golf Tournament for 17 years and was part of the group that helped add golf to Betterment Weekend. Robin says, "the reason I became involved was because my parents were both very sick for 12 years, and it became overwhelming," she said. "The Betterment group helped my parents when they needed it most. I know how much it meant to our family to have the community support us, and we wanted to give back to other families in need. It is a wonderful organization that has helped so many people."  Robin Martin and Teagan Ward in 2024 celebrating Robin's hole-in-one at the Betterment golf event. Terry Satterley has volunteered since the John Russell Memorial Tennis Tournament began 12 years ago. He manages the tournament brackets, keeping track of matchups, court assignments, and results throughout the day. "It's a great way to give back to the community," Terry said. "It's nice to be able to help those who need assistance."  Betterment Tennis Tournament directors Terry Satterley and Tad Clark take a moment to smile for the camera at last year’s tournament. Carol Babcock has been a Betterment volunteer for the organization's entire 25-year history. She and her husband, Faye, were friends with Pat and Carolyn Curley. When Carolyn, inspired by her son Brendan, started the Alexandria Bay chapter of Betterment, she encouraged members of their friend group to get involved. Carol has not missed a paddle since. "I'm very proud to be a small part of Betterment and to be able to help people who just need a break during tough times," she said.  Carol Babcock and her grand dog Luna sport some t-shirts from past Betterment events. Heather McKinnon Heath has volunteered with Betterment for 20 years. She recalls receiving an email from Lori Turgeon when they both worked at Alexandria Central School, asking if anyone would be interested in volunteering. That year, their colleague Robin Martin's parents, Shorty and Judy Gionet, were recipients. When asked what Betterment means to her, Heather said, "It is very important to me because, as teachers, we see many more needs in this community than the average person. I love that we are able to help people and see the relief on recipients' faces when we can provide financial assistance, services, or equipment they need. Somewhere along the way I convinced my mother to come help me hand out T-shirts at the paddle. She became the queen of the T-shirts after that and looked forward to the paddle every year."  Heather McKinnon Heath and her mom Ruth supervise the t-shirt dispersal at a former Betterment paddle. The Foundation for Community Betterment is truly grateful for these and all of the volunteers who show up and give freely of their time, effort and heart. As stated at the beginning of this article, it would not be possible to do any of the good work that Betterment does without our volunteers. For those interested in participating in Community Betterment Weekend or volunteering to make a difference, visit communitybetterment.org/alexandriabay.
The purpose of the Ripple Report so far this year has been to promote Community Betterment Weekend, highlight our volunteers, and call attention to our fundraising endeavors. This week’s article shines a spotlight on the reason for Betterment’s existence in our community – the recipients. This year alone, Betterment has given over $54,000 to local individuals and organizations in need. That money is raised here in our river community through charitable donations and event participation. The ripple effect is alive and well right here in the 1000 Islands and is evident in a few of the recipients that are featured in this week’s article. The Alexandria Bay Chapter of Community Betterment proudly offers two annual scholarships to graduating seniors at Alexandria Central School. The first is a Community Service Award recognizing outstanding volunteerism and impact. The second is a Technical Scholarship supporting students pursuing education in a trade or vocational program. Both awards honor local youth making a difference and investing in their future. The Community Service Award was established in 2021. The purpose of this award is to recognize and support high school seniors planning to continue their education whose good deeds and volunteer service show a positive contribution to our community. This year’s Community Betterment Scholarship Recipients are William Weldon, Harlee Bendle, Addisyn Dunn. The Technical Scholarship Award was established in 2024. This scholarship reflects the need for students to access support as they pursue technical, vocational and trade-oriented schools/programs after high school. This year’s Tech Scholarship winners are Austin Duerr and Ronan Amato. Anyone who has ever visited the Alexandria Community Thrift Store (ACTS) and Food Pantry knows what a busy place it is. The parking lot is almost always full, as people stop by to shop, make donations and pick up food. In conversation with ACTS board members last year, Betterment board members were made aware of some projects that had been identified to meet growing needs, one being an expansion of the current parking lot. Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) was brought into the loop as well for this endeavor to create a three-way partnership. Betterment is donating $8,000 for this project, which is being matched by the NNYCF. ACTS is doing their own fundraising to cover the remaining costs, which will allow for more parking for this thriving, charitable organization. Betterment is thrilled to be able to help a staple of our community that does so much to help others – another example of the ripple effect in action.  Thrift Store: The Alexandria Community Thrift Store and Food Pantry are in need of an expanded parking lot to better serve the public. Hearts for Youth is a nonprofit organization in Alex Bay. According to their website, they provide “meaningful opportunities for youth through after-school, evening, weekend, and summer programs that promote learning, creativity, physical activity, and positive social connections.” Their mission is “to help young people become healthy, educated, respectful, and productive members of our community by offering engaging experiences in a safe and supportive environment.” Betterment has committed to underwriting the funding of nutritious snacks and beverages for Hearts for Youth programming for a year. They do so much to support and engage the children in our community. It’s a worthwhile endeavor to provide support for them.  Hearts for Youth: Hearts for Youth staff gather at an event at Alexandria Central School. From left to right – Caitlin Sherbino, Sarah MacPherson and Carolyn Patroni. The recipients in this article and many others will be celebrated and honored at the Recipient Ceremony being held at 11:00 this Saturday, July 11th at the Scenic View Park Pavilion in Alexandria Bay. All are welcome to attend the Recipient Ceremony. It is free, and you do not need to have participated in any of the Betterment events to be there. It is inspiring to gather by the river that we all love to hear the stories of lives being changed for the better through acts of benevolence. We encourage you to come be a part of it and create some ripples of your own. In other Betterment news, there is a bench project underway in the village of Alex Bay. There are a limited number of benches available for purchase. These sturdy, weather-proof benches will be placed around the village. Every purchase supports Betterment causes and will include a plaque that can be personalized to commemorate or memorialize an event or loved one. Benches are $500 each, including the plaque. With a limited number available, these benches are expected to sell quickly. Anyone interested can contact Court Rutherford at [email protected]. For information about any of this weekend’s Betterment events, visit communitybetterment.org/AlexandriaBay. Golf registration is closed, as all of the spots have been filled, but tennis and the paddle are still open. Tennis begins at 9:00 on Friday, July 10th at the Alex Bay Municipal Tennis Courts, and the paddle begins on Saturday at 9:00 at Scenic View Park. Online registration for both events closes on Thursday, 7/9 at 5:00pm, but interested paddlers can register on the day of, beginning at 8:00am. We hope to see you at Community Betterment Weekend, where the river becomes a tradition.  Joe Russell: The late Joe Russell accepting a Community Betterment check from Trevor Garlock on behalf of River Hospital at a previous Recipient Ceremony. The Russell family generously donates to Betterment each year in Joe’s memory.
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