News
October 14, 2020Hodgson Russ Law Firm Employees Volunteer to Help Upkeep Buildings and Grounds at Yaddo in Saratoga Springs
Hodgson Russ, a business-focused law practice with local offices in Albany and Saratoga Springs, today coordinated a volunteer effort of more than 20 local employees to help clean and revitalize the buildings and grounds at Yaddo.
Attorneys, legal assistants and paralegals spent the afternoon weeding flower beds, painting windows and trim, catching and transporting Koi from their outdoor pond to their indoor winter location, and assisting with other seasonal tasks that would normally be taken care of by Yaddo staff.
Yaddo, located on a sprawling 400-acre estate adjacent to the thoroughbred racetrack in Saratoga, is a retreat that offers residencies to artists from all nations and backgrounds working in a range of disciplines. Roughly 50 percent of artists invited to work on the storied grounds come from New York City—Yaddo keeps an office in midtown. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, it had to close its doors this past spring, furlough more than half of its employees, and will remain closed through the end of the year.
“Yaddo has been a long-standing client of Hodgson Russ and when they were hit by the economic effects of COVID, we saw an opportunity to step in,” said Christian Soller, managing partner of Hodgson Russ’ Albany and Saratoga offices. “We are grateful to be able to help our friends, support the arts and spend time giving back to the Saratoga community.”
“One of the things that the pandemic has done is intensify my belief that Yaddo is not just a collection of wonderful buildings and beautiful grounds, it’s a community,” said Elaina Richardson, President of Yaddo. “As we’re trying to give back through the free virtual programs and events we’re offering, it’s wonderful to have the community give back to us and have this group from Hodgson Russ volunteer their time and energy to making sure we reopen as beautifully and with as much vitality as can be. It is a great gift.”
Maintaining the Yaddo estate is a monumental task under the best of circumstances. With a reduced buildings and grounds staff, Richardson was worried that she was going to run out of outdoor weather and daylight before she was able to complete everything. “We had to cut a million dollars from our annual budget. It’s a relief to get some help,” she added.
In an effort to maintain social distancing and keep everyone safe, the group was divided into four teams, wore masks, and spread around the grounds. About 90% of the work took place outdoors. The day’s activities align with Hodgson Russ’ company policy of giving every employee a certain number of hours to volunteer and contribute to the community.
“For more than 200 years, Hodgson Russ has been committed to giving back to the communities in which it does business,” said Soller. “To be able to help out a worthy organization like Yaddo while spending time with colleagues in such a beautiful location has been an incredible experience.”
