Column: In celebration of our regional heritage

Recently I attended an event that recognized and celebrated the next generation of business and community leaders. Prior to the event, we were asked to fill out a questionnaire and one of the questions was, "what can the North Country do to make the region more appealing to a younger generation". I remember thinking that there needs to be a greater focus on cultural events (music, art, and theater) and that is exactly how I answered. While at the event I was reminded, by an incredible woman, that our job now is to remind the younger generation that this area is full of our own heritage, has so much potential and opportunity, and it really is an exciting place to live. How can we engage the younger generation and keep them in the area? Let us focus on bringing in different types of events or revamping events that have been taking place for years. Let us celebrate our regional heritage by remembering and reflecting on past events that had huge impacts on our region. For example, the Winter Olympics that were held in Lake Placid in both 1932 and 1980. How cool is it that our beautiful Adirondacks have seen two Winter Olympics? That is truly something to be proud of. The inaugural golf event was held in honor of Jack Shea, an American speed skater, who won two Olympic gold medals in his hometown of Lake Placid in 1932. Jack was also instrumental in the Game's return to Lake Placid in 1980. United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc. has been hosting our annual Olympic Celebrity Golf Classic for the last 20 years and has always made it a point to keep that small piece of our regional heritage alive by pairing a team of three with an Olympian or Celebrity residing in the area. Having had to cancel last year's event due to COVID-19 we are really looking forward to having one this year. Our Olympic Spirit Golf Classic will be held on Thursday, June 17, at the Lake Placid Club – Mountain Course as it has been the last several years. Even though there are still restrictions in place we took the opportunity to change things up a bit but will continue to keep the Olympic spirit alive throughout the day because it is an important reminder about the history of our area and that aspect of the tournament has always set ours apart from other golf events. The Olympic Spirit Golf Classic has always been a great way to engage the business community and provides us the ability to raise money in order to address high priority needs in our three-county (Clinton, Essex & Franklin) area. If you would like to sponsor a team, a tee box, or a hole flag please contact our office at 518-563-0028 or visit our website at www.unitedwayadk.org. -Holly Lafountain is the business manager at United Way of the Adirondack Region, Inc.

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Column: In celebration of our regional heritage

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