Geddes, N.Y. — One of Central New York’s most well known non-for-profits won’t host a booth at the New York State Fair this year, citing unspecified frustration with changes being made by fair leaders.
The Baldwin Fund, a non-profit founded by Carol M. Baldwin and dedicated to cancer research, announced on Facebook it won’t be at this year’s fair, which opens Aug. 23. It’s the first time in 33 years the non-profit won’t attend.
“After a meeting this past week I can no longer stand for the changes being made by the leaders at the State Fair,” Elizabeth Baldwin, the fund’s executive director, posted on Facebook. “We the vendors and organizations are the heart of the NYS Fair and our voices are not being heard.”
Baldwin added that the decision was not made lightly, and thanked people who have come to share their stories at the fair over the years.
Last year, Carol Baldwin’s famous son, actor Alec Baldwin, visited the Baldwin Fund booth at the Science & Industry building at the fair.
The state fair is under relatively new leadership this year, and some vendors have expressed frustration with rising costs and new policies.
Sean Hennessey was named interim fair director in May 2022. This is his first full year in charge of the event.
Hennessey came from the Department of Transportation. He took over after a rocky few years at the fair, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fair was operating at a deficit of as much as $7 million in recent years. Last year, Hennessey’s efforts cut that deficit to roughly $3 million.
Read Baldwin’s full statement about not tabling at the fair this year:
For The past 33 years the Baldwin Fund has been proud to be a part of The New York State Fair. Thousands of volunteers have partnered with us, the community has come to learn about our mission, celebrate survivors and honor the warriors who have and will battle breast cancer.
Our mission is always to serve our community and that will not change.
Changes happen,…
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