This past year we’ve worked with Special Olympics NY, Boys and Girls Club of Ulster County, Trans Closet of the Hudson Valley and Dutchess Pride Center, and Hudson River Housing. Dutch Guard SG and Great Life Brewing drop off toys from the Friends of Great Life Toy Drive to the Boys & Girls Club of Ulster County In addition to fundraising, Mellisa is also a coach for one of the local unified sports teams who regularly compete in Special Olympics competitions. We couldn’t do it without you all!Ī thank you as well to Mellisa Higgins for their efforts every year to promote and fundraise for Polar Plunge and Special Olympics. From coordinating the toy drive to jumping in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics, they’ve been there to help us. A summary of our philanthropic efforts in 2022 as featured on the ballotĪ special thank you to Cody and our friends at Great Life Brewing and Red Maple Winery for working with us to support our community. This honor is given annually to the supporters group that shows an outstanding effort towards supporting their community just as passionately as they support their clubs.Īt acceptance club president Anthony Saullo thanked the members of the ISC for their many suggestions of over the years that helped our fundraising efforts as well as acknowledging the support of our local community and fundraising partners. The Dutch Guard has been honored by the Independent Supporters Council as the 2022 Philanthropic Group of the Year. Not only for the supporters who will now be able to show their passion in pyro but for the artists, photographers, and videographers who will now have significantly easier access to special effects for their work. When done responsibly, pyro brings a whole other level of passion and energy to the stands during the game.ĭutch Guard Supporters Group supports the passage of HB05496 to legalize the usage of these pyrotechnics. Since our club’s founding in 2016, pyrotechnics have been used safely and legally at our home field in the Hudson Valley, NY with no issues (minus a couple of burn holes in our jerseys and t-shirts). smoke bombs) is an essential part of a soccer game day. However, we both agree that the safe usage of special effect pyrotechnics (ie. You may not know it but fans of Kingston, NY’s Stockade FC, and Hartford, CT’s Hartford City FC don’t agree on much. We have submitted the following testimony to the CGA Committee on Public Safety in support of passing HB05496: These groups have been successful in introducing legislation to the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) that would legalize the purchase and use of smoke bombs in the state. The Dutch Guard is proud to support current efforts by the Bonanza of Hartford Athletic and Agents of Hale of Hartford City FC to legalize the use of special effects pyrotechnics, better known as smoke bombs, in the State of Connecticut.

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