Staff members from the Harbor Hotel, Hart Management and the Child Advocacy Program pose for a picture, Monday, on the hotel’s island after a check for $25,000 to support CAP’s mission was presented by David Hart, executive director and chief executive officer for Hart Management. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

CELORON – Philanthropy is a value which the staff and leadership of Harbor Hotel takes very seriously.

David Hart, president and chief executive officer of Hart Management, the company that oversees, operates and runs The Harbor Hotel Collection of properties and various other hotel properties, presented a check for $25,000 to Beth Oakes, the executive director for Child Advocacy Project, on the Harbor Hotel’s Island deck overlooking Chautauqua Lake.

“This program is near and dear to my wife and I,” Hart said. “My wife used to be an assistant district attorney in a division that dealt with crimes against women and children -that’s why we chose CAP.”

Hart also spoke about how he and his staff are part of the community, and how his organization’s corporate culture, fundamentally, is steeped and embedded locally with community members, organizations and social services providers.

“We believe in being embedded locally within our communities, for all our properties,” he said. “Working with other business owners, community members, and of course, non-profits. Were part of the community”

Hart Management is in its third year fundraising cycle with CAP and has found a formula which has allowed the organization to donate locally.

“Our family of employees have worked hard during these events and have raised more than $115,000 for CAP in three years,” he said. “When you factor in our other three Harbor Hotel Collection properties we raised and donated $550,00 for local community non-profits like CAP.”

According to the leadership at CAP, this donation is not only welcomed, but much needed. The donation was raised with the hotel’s Fire and Ice celebration that brings more than 40,000 pounds of ice carved into sculptures, martini luges and bars and fire pits throughout the hotel’s exterior in addition to music, food and fireworks.

“Everyone is under the pinch,” said Oakes. “The granting agencies are giving less and less, but the demand is increasing. This donation is huge for us. We’re honored and proud to partner with the Harbor Hotel.”