My husband and I had the pleasure of attending a benefit for the Cohoes Connect Center For Youth at Michael's Banquet House last week. The event was well attended by many involved with and many who want to support the center. We participated in a silent auction of a wide variety of items to suit all tastes and a live auction of some rare pieces that sold at very reasonable prices! Those involved are so dedicated to this cause and tirelessly devote many hours of their time to help children and to fulfill the vision of a center for kids to go to!

The vision of the Cohoes Connect Center For Youth is taken directly from their website, "an urban youth center that is both a community resource center, and a safe and secure environment for the children, youth and families of the City of Cohoes and the Greater Capital Region.

We are committed to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. We believe in making a positive impact in the lives of children, youth and families through:

Mentoring
Tutoring and educational resources
Vocational & life skill development
After-school programs
Nutrition, exercise and healthy food choice education

As a “Destination Center” and a community outreach organization, we desire to remember the youth and give them hope for their future by focusing on education, community enrichment & cultural empowerment. The responsibility to reach out and provide guidance, support and direction to the youth and families of our community falls on us particularly during this time of social and economic need.

About Us

Wendell and Dona Williams have always had a passion for working with young people. From time spent as volunteers at Vanderheyden Hall to being dorm parents at a private boarding school in Massachusetts, Wendell & Dona can best be described as "kid magnets." Their most current undertakings have included Harvest Parties at Halloween and an after-school program for local youth in 6th-12th grade. They have also recently hosted a breakfast to honor the Cohoes High School Football team.

Wendell was born in Las Vegas, Nevada & attended college at Sothern Utah State College. He lived on the west coast until he joined the Navy. Wendell was stationed in Boston during the Vietnam Conflict and it was there that he met Dona, a Boston area native. Dona holds a B.S. in Theater from Skidmore College and has worked with students in the secondary and post secondary settings. She has also been working with women's groups for over 15 years, and along with her husband, Wendell, has co-hosted the popular "Breaking Ground" radio program broadcast on area stations.

Wendell and Dona have been married since Christmas Day 1975 and have 3 adult children.

They both strongly believe in the future of Cohoes and the surrounding communities and feel that youth need a sense of purpose and their basic needs must be met. Helping the youth in these local communities is a social responsibility to which Wendell & Dona are committed.

All staff and volunteers at The Connect Center for Youth are screened and fully adherent to the philosophy of building, strengthening and inspiring youth with a hope for their future.

Getting Involved

If you have a heart for young people and want to make a difference in their lives, opportunities abound for you to get involved.

If you are a skilled tradesperson with a working knowledge in building, plumbing, HVAC, electrical or carpentry then we invite you to come on Saturday mornings and lend a hand. The workers scheduled for that day meet at 8 a.m. and work until about 2 p.m. Any time you can give is welcomed and appreciated.
If you own a business that specializes in building materials – drywall, concrete, paint, carpeting, flooring, sound and video equipment or anything else, donations of materials are ALWAYS welcomed and appreciated.
If you'd like to help through monetary support, either a one-time donation or a planned giving opportunity, we invite you to either click the link on our website, http://connectcenterforyouth.org/ or mail in your donation to The Connect Center for Youth, PO Box 35, Cohoes, NY 12047. We also have naming opportunities available for any individual desiring to make a significant financial donation. Please call The Connect Center at 518-687-1999 to set up an appointment to meet with us to discuss your naming selection."