Good News York Ep. 198 | Gracie Thorpe with The Crouse Health Foundation
In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with Gracie Thorpe, interim executive director of the Crouse Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Crouse Hospital. Gracie shares all the details on the upcoming Polo for Preemies event on Sunday, July 26th at the Skaneateles Polo Fields — a family-friendly polo match complete with food trucks, ice cream, adult beverages, and a full kid zone with bounce houses, games, and pony rides. All proceeds benefit the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Crouse Hospital.
Gracie dives into what her role as head of fundraising looks like day to day, how donations to Crouse Health Foundation are used, and what makes the Crouse NICU one of the best in the state — covering 14 counties, partnering with 17 affiliate hospitals, and caring for about 900 babies a year. She also recaps the foundation’s three signature annual events, including the record-breaking $320,000 raised at the Crouse Health Classic, and looks ahead to the Crouse Health Tribute Evening on October 2nd honoring Melanie Littlejohn of the Central New York Community Foundation.
Gracie closes out the conversation with a heartfelt reflection on why she loves her work and what makes Crouse Health feel like a family.
Learn more and get involved with Polo for Preemies at crouse.org/polo2026.
Chapters:
0:00 – Introduction to Gracie Thorpe and the Crouse Health Foundation
0:39 – Polo for Preemies: what to expect at the event
1:20 – The partnership behind the Skaneateles Polo Field event
1:54 – Gracie’s role leading fundraising at Crouse
2:39 – Where donations to Crouse Health go
3:53 – Inside Crouse’s NICU: coverage, scale, and impact
6:17 – Crouse Health’s three signature fundraising events
7:03 – How to get involved with Polo for Preemies
7:26 – Looking ahead to the Crouse Health Tribute Evening
8:03 – What Gracie loves about her work
9:14 – What people don’t know about giving to Crouse Health
10:17 – Closing thoughts
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