This year, Guiding Eyes for the Blind is one of the non-profit organizations benefiting from Foundation Sweet Success.  They are an internationally accredited, nonprofit guide dog school with over 50 years of providing the blind and visually impaired with Guiding Eyes dogs, training and support services.

Founded in 1956, Guiding Eyes for the Blind focuses on helping the blind and visually impaired to enjoy freedom of movement and independence.  They are one of the foremost guide dog schools in the world, with more than 7000 guide dog teams in place at this time.

Connie’s Bakery and General Store, with Connie Milstein, is proud to help Guiding Eyes for the Blind to fulfill its mission this year.

Connie Milstein recently became a member of the board of directors of BSF- a natural extension of Mrs. Milstein’s long-term commitment to and concern for military families. Connie Milstein’s support has extended to donating, on more than one occasion, special confections from her baked goods shop, Connie’s Bakery, adding a sweet touch to the special programing BSF organized on behalf of their families. Whether it is brownies, cookies or cakes, treats from Connie Milstein’s bakery says, “We love you and support you!” in the sweetest way possible.

“When I got to the part about how Connie’s wanted to thank the 10th Mountain families for their service and sought us out to distribute 400 tins of brownies for them, the audience actually gasped. We were swarmed after the service – everybody wanted to know about BSF and how we got the brownies. People were genuinely touched and impressed. It was a really special experience.”

When the tins of brownies were first opened, there was a fear that perhaps not all of them would be distributed due to the fact that many of the people they were offered to politely declined. That all changed, however, when one brave soldier finally took a brownie saying, “Sure I’ll try one.” With his remark that, “Those are GOOD brownies” the atmosphere changed now that the brownies has this soldiers enthusiastic seal of approval.  After that there were no more polite refusals of brownies, and they went like hotcakes.

Upon hearing the origin of the brownies, the families expressed warm gratitude to Connie Milstein, Connie’s Bakery and Blue Star Families. It was a sweet welcome home with a sweet thank you gift from Connie’s Bakery.

One of these organizations is called Career Closet.  This group provides free office clothes and other services through the Briarcliff Congregational Church in Briarcliff Manor.  Career Closet clients have the opportunity to select four outfits for the spring and summer season, and then to return for another four outfits for the fall and winter season.  Recipients are those who are recommended by a job-training or counseling program. They can shop by appointment on Saturday from 9:30 to noon.

Volunteers help the recipients select clothing at Career Closet.  At the same time, they offer job interviewing sessions at the participants homes or at transitional housing shelters.

The Breadwinners Foundation is one of these organizations that receive donations from Connie’s Bakery and General Store, owned by Connie Milstein.  This non-profit organization offers short term financial assistance and resource information to families who are dealing with economic hardship after the tragic loss of the primary breadwinner.  For nine years now, The Breadwinners Foundation has been offering financial support including medical expenses, mortgage payments, funeral costs and more.

The Breadwinners Foundation was started by Keith J. Ahlers when his brother died suddenly, leaving his family without sufficient resources.  The organization is funded entirely by contributions from community members and organizations, such as Connie’s Bakery and General Store.

Carmen Blackmore, the Fort Drum interim chapter director explained that the soldiers and their families “were impressed by Connie’s & Blue Star Families support and even more impressed how good the brownies were.”

In addition to the financial contributions that the store makes, it also offers a myriad of other benefits for local residence.  Certainly, it provides employment for people in the neighborhood.  In addition, Connie’s employees take part in a unique one-year, full-time baking apprenticeship program.  They are trained for the entire year by Simeon Manber, the Executive Pastry Chef and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.

At the end of their one-year apprenticeship, Connie’s Bakery & General Store helps them to move into permanent positions in the food service industry.  They then get ready to recruit and train another batch of apprentices!

Connie’s Bakery is an innovative idea whose time has come. Connie Milstein is the moving force behind this extraordinary endeavor whose mission is multi-faceted. To begin with, at Connie’s only the finest, most wholesome ingredients are used to make baked goods like Grandma used to make. Secondly, whenever possible, local businesses, craftsmen and farmers are supported through Connie’s insistence that these businesses get priority when purchasing decisions are made. Lastly, Connie Milstein believes in leading by example, and therefore employees are paid a living wage, including complete medical coverage and benefits for all full-time employees.

Stop by Connie’s bakery and get some guilt-free baked goods and gifts, too.