The Women's Business Council (WBC) of the Capital Region Chamber is pleased to announce its Adopted Nonprofit for 2016, Capital Roots.  The nonprofit was chosen from a large pool of worthy organizations.

Capital Roots started in 1975 as a community service project of Garden Way, the former manufacturer of Troy-Bilt Lawn and Garden Equipment.

Its vision for the future is a region where every person has access to fresh, affordable, healthy food. Today Capital Roots works to reduce the impact of poor nutrition on public health in the Capital Region by organizing community gardens, providing healthy food access, offering nutritional and horticultural education for all ages and coordinating urban greening programs in Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and southern Saratoga Counties.

Throughout 2016, the WBC will raise money for the organization at its programs and its signature event - the WBC Holiday Fundraiser in December. Capital Roots and the WBC will collaborate during the year on other opportunities to generate donations.

As is the WBC's tradition, we seek members to donate raffle items for each program. All proceeds will go to Capital Roots. January raffle items are still needed. If you are interested in donating a raffle item, please contact the 2016 Adopted Nonprofit Committee co-chairs, Gretchen Meyer, Gretchen@GretchenMeyerFinancial.com and Alicia Kelley, alicia_kelley@keybank.com.

The Adopted Nonprofit program began in 2002 as a means to educate and increase awareness of local nonprofit agencies, and to provide volunteer opportunities for WBC members. The Regional Food Bank was adopted in the first year. It proved to be a rewarding experience for both the WBC members and the Food Bank, and the program continued.

Since then, nominations have been accepted on an annual basis, and the following organizations have been adopted by the WBC: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in 2003; Clearview Center in 2004; The Women's Employment & Resource Center (WERC) in 2005; Unity House of Troy, Inc. in 2006; Girls Incorporated of the Greater Capital Region in 2007; Colonie Senior Service Centers Inc. in 2008; Dress for Success in 2009; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region in 2010; Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless in 2011; Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer (CRAAB!) in 2012; the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2013; The Bus Stop Club in 2014; and St. Paul's Center in 2015.

In an effort to maximize efficiency and ease our volunteer time commitment, nominations are now accepted every other year, and the selection committee will choose the beneficiaries for the following two years. Watch for the next call for nominations in the fall of 2016 as we look for nominations for the 2017 and 2018 adopted nonprofits!