Sen. Farley’s Woman of Distinction pick from Niskayuna
A lifelong Schenectady County resident, Bonnie Daggett, was honored by State Sen. Hugh Farley as a Woman of Distinction for her years of activism for people with disabilities.
The awards ceremony for women, sponsored by the Senate, was held Tuesday, May 24, at the Legislative Office building in Albany. The even seeks to honor distinguished women who have done commendable work to better their community. Daggett, a Schenectady native and Niskayuna resident, has volunteered for many organizations throughout her life, but her biggest drive has been advocating on behalf of Wildwood Programs.
Ms. Daggett has worked tirelessly for more than 30 years on behalf of people with disabilities, said Farley, R-Glenville. `I admire her dedication and selflessness. I was truly honored and proud to bestow the award of Woman of Distinction to Ms. Daggett.`
Her involvement at Wildwood began when her daughter, Audrey, entered kindergarten at the organization, which led her to volunteering in her daughter’s classroom. Wildwood serves a range of individuals, from children with complex learning disabilities struggling in school to an adult with developmental disability, and has support services for families.
`I just felt I needed to learn as much as I could to help my daughter,` said Daggett. `I just did a variety of volunteer activities over the year and that was a huge part of our life.`
Daggett said that Wildwood has been her `passion,` and over the last 10 years she has served on the Wildwood Foundation Board, which raises funds for the organization. She also served on the cabinet for the Capital Campaign and on the Legislative and Advocacy Committee.
If Wildwood didn’t exist, she said her daughter and family would not have the quality of life they enjoy.
`My daughter is a very complicated person, like almost every child and adult that Wildwood services is multi-disabled and complex individuals,` she said. `We just feel the need to give back to Wildwood and do as much as we can to make sure Wildwood is strong and will be there when we are not around any longer.`
The organization was created in 1967 by a group of parents noticing their children did not fit into existing programs, she noted, which led to the expansive amount of services offered today.
`A small group of parents banded together and started a huge organization that benefits hundreds of individuals with disabilities in the Capital Region,` she said.
She also said she holds the unique position as the only parent on the Foundation Board that has had a child with developmental disabilities.
`I feel I have to be involved, because my daughter, the other volunteers don’t necessarily have to be there, so they are the ones that I am inspired by,` she said.
Daggett understands that many families can’t put forth the amount of time she does in the organization, but she and her husband, Bill, are happy to do what they can.
She said she doesn’t like to ask for money, but she thinks of fundraising more as `friendraising` and explains to people what Wildwood offers and invites them to visit it.
`Once they learn about it and see the good work that it does, they want to contribute. I don’t ever directly ask people to contribute,` she said.
Sometimes when raising money she tells the story of her family’s journey through Wildwood and how they have benefited from it.
`I get emotional just reflecting on it all,` she said. `There have been some very difficult times that we couldn’t have gotten through without the support of Wildwood.`
Daggett graduated from Linton High School, now known as Schenectady High School, and continued her education at the State University of Albany to receive her bachelor’s degree in business administration. Then she continued on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received a master’s degree in technical communication.
Some of her other volunteer activities currently include The League of the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra and the Proctors Guild.
The main reason she’ll stay in the Capital District, though, is for what Wildwood has offered her family.
`We could move anywhere, but I will stay here forever because of Wildwood, because of the support my daughter gets from Wildwood,` she said.“
