Love in the air at SUNY Adirondack fundraiser

Culinary alumni are engaged at annual Vintner's Night with Joseph Carr event

GLENS FALLS, New York (March 16, 2022) — SUNY Adirondack’s Vintner’s Night last week raised more than $10,000 and drew some happy tears. 

Amid the wine and fine dining, love was also on the menu, as SUNY Adirondack alum Ben Pelton proposed to fellow alumna Amber Rojcewicz, where the two met in the college’s Culinary program. 

Joseph Carr, founder of Joseph Carr Wines, was charming audiences with stories of chasing the American dream, love and memorable events in his life. To wrap up the evening, he talked about how when he was a sommelier at The Sagamore, a young man arrived with his girlfriend. The young gentleman borrowed a suit jacket and nervously ordered wine, and Carr figured out he was about to witness a marriage proposal. 

As Carr finished the story, Pelton got down on one knee and proposed to Rojcewicz, with their families there to share the special moment. 

When Pelton was a student at SUNY Adirondack, he worked a Vintner’s Night event, was inspired by Carr’s stories and knew that was how he wanted to ask for Rojcewicz’s hand. Carr, Chef Matt Bolton and Chef Meg Diehl helped make that dream come to life.  

The event raised $10,500 for SUNY Adirondack’s Culinary Arts program and students. In its third year, the reach of Vintner’s Night with Joseph Carr at Seasoned continues to grow. 

“It was a wonderful night with Mr. Carr, who acknowledged our talented students as future members of the culinary workforce, as well as the next generation of entrepreneurs with their sights on the American dream,” said Rachael Hunsinger Patten, SUNY Adirondack’s chief advancement officer and director of SUNY Adirondack Foundation. “We are grateful for his time, as well as for the generous sponsors and attendees who invest in our program that supports such a key economic driver, and quality of life, in our region.” 

This year’s lead sponsors were Jim and Tenee Casaccio, with additional support from The Sagamore resort, The Inn at Erlowest, Nemer Motor Group, Lake George Wine Outlet, Queensbury Hotel and McGregor Village Development Corp.