Strategic challenges met with dynamic solutions

Astor Services, Rhinebeck, NY
Preschool and school-age programs for low-income families

Large annual events dwindling in attendance and donations, and a community that was uninformed about the organization’s services and, swayed by the “Astor” name, misperceived its funding needs

“Susan Ragusa’s innovative thinking helped us recognize that by scaling back our large events, we could use smaller events in more targeted ways to meet our financial and public relations goals. We have moved in the direction of multi-channel events that provide more outreach to the community, enable donors to have a better understanding of our organization and produce impact that can be quantified. Her strategy is working to help us reach our goals. Susan also has an extensive people network and those connections have been invaluable!”

- Sonia Barnes-Moorhead, EVP, The Children’s Foundation of Astor (pictured left with Susan Ragusa)

100 Year Association, New York, NY
Member group of local businesses and organizations operating for a century or more

How to revitalize membership, targeting second- and third-generation family firms, and engage new members

“As a development strategist, Susan Ragusa is categorically without peer. She exhibits an extraordinary energy and clarity of vision. For the 100 Year Association, she conceived and organized a Casino Night/Silent Auction and Raffle that was a total success in revenue generation, new member enrollment and networking experiences. Casino Night was highly novel for an organization that never did anything remotely ‘racy’ in the past. Susan’s solution provided a party atmosphere for members to mix and offered sponsorship opportunities that raised the profile of younger generation members.”

- David P. Drimer, Former Board Member, 100 Year Association

Paws for Patients at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY
Therapy-dog program at the hospital

Expand program visibility and donor base beyond the hospital and recruit more dogs and owners for therapy training

“Susan Ragusa was instrumental in developing a private ‘shopping for a cause’ event as our first official fundraiser. Susan used her contacts to secure the Hammacher Schlemmer venue in Manhattan as our partner. She designed a lively evening at the store that brought together therapy dogs and dog lovers from around the city. It was a successful and fun event that got the word out about our program, including our need for more ‘paws’ — therapy dog teams — to visit patients at the hospital.”

- Lana Wechsler, Volunteer Coordinator, Paws for Patients
at NY Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center

Some of the groups Cause & Event has worked with

100 Year Association, New York
9/11 Turn It Around Project, Woodstock
Astor Services for Children and Families, Rhinebeck
Baptist House of Prayer, New York
Bell Park Manor Terrace Scholarship Fund, New York
Grace Smith House, Poughkeepsie
Heart Gallery NYC, New York

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, New York
Mediation Center of Dutchess County, Poughkeepsie
Paws for Patients, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York
Sinterklaas Festival, Rhinebeck
Temple Emanuel Speaker Series, Kingston
Women in Transition Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie