From The Golden Girls to Friends to Gilligan’s Island, iconic characters from classic film and television co-mingled at NYSUT’s Central New York Leadership Conference in Saratoga Springs last fall.
“We do a theme every year and this year, we are celebrating friendship,” explained Central Valley Teachers Association President Tara VanCauwenberge dressed as Louise Sawyer from Thelma & Louise.
More than 300 participants from over 70 NYSUT locals attended and took part in the conference’s longstanding tradition of raising money for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign. This year’s fundraising and theme, “Thank You for Being a Friend,” was orchestrated by VanCauwenberge, Oneida BOCES Teachers Association President Dede Giffune, and Chittenango Teachers Association President and NYSUT Board Member David Chizzonite.
“I don’t know anyone that has not been affected [by cancer], and this is just such a great event where we’re able to bring so many educators to represent the cause and do some excellent leadership collaboration,” VanCauwenberge said.
Chizzonite, dressed as Charlie Brown, added, “This is our union folks coming together from the Central New York area to make a difference for something that impacts every family, every local, every community and it’s an amazing accomplishment.”
The Central New York Region raised more than $30,000 at their conference in addition to funds from local Making Strides walks and other events.
Thanks to the hard work and generosity of NYSUT members from every corner of the state, NYSUT ranked first nationally for the third consecutive year in fundraising for the 2025 Making Strides campaign.
More than 540 local teams raised more than $835,200 – far surpassing major companies including Walmart and Chevrolet – proving the power of working together, and that no one has to fight cancer alone. On Long Island, teams raised over $166,000. In Buffalo, NYSUT members generated over $86,000. And in the Hudson Valley, our educators pulled in nearly $50,000.
“NYSUT members show what it truly means to be a union family by coming together to invest their time and resources in the fight to find a cure,” said J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT secretary-treasurer, whose office coordinates the statewide union’s social justice initiatives. “Cancer touches every one of our lives in some way, and that’s why NYSUT remains deeply committed to standing with our members, their families and our communities in this fight.”
NYSUT has been a flagship sponsor for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events since 2002. For more information about how you can join Team NYSUT and raise funds for breast cancer research and prevention, visit https://nysut.cc/makingstrides.