As president of Northland Communications, Jerry McCarthy was committed to helping and promoting local organizations. That’s why the first “Good Neighbor Day” was scheduled for what would have been Jerry’s 89th birthday. Although the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the original event, the Good Neighbor program was formed, and local nonprofit organizations started meeting monthly to collaborate and support one another.

The inaugural “Good Neighbor Day” finally took place in June 2023 and featured a Syracuse Mets baseball game, raising over $240,000 for the nonprofits. Participating non-profits showcased how they work to improve and support the community at a showcase before the game. More than two dozen groups were on hand, ranging from The Salvation Army and Meals for Wheels to Friends of the Zoo and Syracuse Stage. You can view a full list of participants here.

Northland also gave cash prizes in various competitions, including for instance an award for selling the most tickets. As a grand finale, the non-profit that raised the most money got to throw out the first pitch. Overall, the event brought in a crowd of nearly 6,000.

“I’m passionate about finding these groups, and letting people know they’re here,” said Northland Vice President of Community + Connections, Maureen McCarthy Tracy. “Our father and Northland Communications pioneer, Jerry McCarthy, strongly believed in being a ‘good neighbor’ and that is the spirit that Northland Communications was built upon. We strive every day to create quality connections for our customers and our communities, including local nonprofits who trust us with their mission-critical telecommunication needs to stay connected to their patrons. We are thrilled with the awareness we were able to help raise for their amazing missions throughout our Central New York community that we call home.”