By Jason Klaiber

Staff Writer

In the sun-drenched Pompey countryside, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services held their Harvest of Hope benefit on May 19, raising proceeds for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The springtime fundraiser served as the Pittsburgh-based real estate company’s debut in Central New York for their Children’s Free Care Fund campaign, an effort since 1988 to assure children optimum medical care and cover health insurance payments.

“The future of our country is all based upon children who are being born today and how they thrive and how they grow up,” Hoddy Hanna, the chairman of Hanna Holdings Inc., said.

Having toured more than 20 children’s hospitals over the years, Hoddy Hanna settled on Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital as the beneficiary this year after being impressed by its classroom space, wherein patients can take their regents exams.

“If you go over to Golisano and you spend time there, you’ll see that miracles happen every day because of the great physicians, great nurses, great researchers and financial support that has to keep everything going.”

Heritage Hill Brewhouse & Kitchen, which overlooks Palladino Farms, opened up its property at 3149 Sweet Road to the public for the Sunday afternoon fundraiser.

“It was a tremendous turnout,” site owner Dan Palladino said. “The sun came out. Everything went very smoothly.”

The site sits at around 2,000 feet above sea level, offering a vantage point from which one can see eight counties, the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and sections of Onondaga, Oneida and Ontario lakes.

“You get this panoramic view of eight counties,” Palladino said. “People can come up and feel that they’re out in the country and out in fresh air on the farm.”

Representatives from Howard Hanna Real Estate reached out to Palladino early last year, even before the brewhouse had been built. The firm singled out the farm on the basis of both being adaptable family businesses passed down over three generations.

Palladino started by using his land solely as a farm before turning it into a farm-to-table restaurant and a space conducive for events like the Harvest of Hope fundraiser. By the same token, the Howard Hanna company started with a strict focus on real estate before branching out over time to insurance and mortgage assistance.

In the midst of logistics being figured out, Palladino donated the venue free of charge.

“That’s huge from a non-for-profit standpoint,” Shauna Teelin, a licensed associate real estate broker with Howard Hanna, said. “When you do a fundraiser, typically the largest cost is the venue.”

Local artisans and vendors put their work—such as necklaces and beauty products—on display inside the recently redone barn.

Outdoors a couple of local food trucks, a barbecue area, a Gannon’s Ice Cream stand and vendors of maple syrup and honey were set up.

Area acoustic act The Cadleys performed folk and bluegrass songs on a stage between the barn and the brewery.

The family-oriented event also allowed for interaction with farm animals such as donkeys, chickens, goats, cows and horses. Lowe’s offered children’s crafts projects for the occasion, while Nascentia Health gave money toward materials for face painting.

In the farm store, items sold represented over 40 local producers and farmers.

“The whole thing’s local,” Palladino said. “That’s the spirit of everything.”

Over 75 people participated in the 5K trail run through the rural environment that commenced the fundraiser.

For each of the past three years, Howard Hanna Real Estate has raised $1 million through their annual fundraising efforts.