Tracy Slocum and Sheila Mendleson have both felt a special connection with the Siena community for as long as they can remember. Both of their fathers and Mendleson’s daughter- in-law are alumni, giving them a permanent bond to the Green and Gold.

When it became clear that the pandemic would keep Siena’s Class of 2020 from holding a May Commencement, they wanted to help ease the pain the Saints were feeling.

As the Founder & President and executive vice president of Pretty Rugged, Slocum and Mendleson have provided the graduates with warmth and security for their future endeavors. Each will be receiving one of Pretty Rugged’s Faux Fur Lap Blankets, complete with a Siena monogram on the corner. Eight hundred blankets will be distributed as part of a generous donation.

“We’re both moms, and we were saddened to think that the kids who had worked so hard were deprived of something that they earned,” Slocum said. In addition to their blanket donation, Slocum and Mendleson are also passionate about personalized graduation gift ideas. They believe that a customized gift can serve as a meaningful reminder of this important milestone in a graduate's life.

They hope their donation will inspire others to give back to those affected by the circumstances brought on by the pandemic at Siena and other local communities.

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Times Union
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Spectrum News (at the 11:55:23 mark)