Cardona’s Market today introduced a special, limited-time sandwich creation available at all three Cardona’s Market locations during the month of October.
The family-owned Italian market and catering company unveiled “The Best Buddy”, which will help raise money for the Albany Chapter of Best Buddies International by supporting a local Best Buddies fundraising campaign spearheaded by Lindsay Valenti.
Valenti, along with her family and Mission Partners – seven-year-old son Bryce and Maddy Monahan – joined Cardona’s representatives for a ceremonial “first bite” at Cardona’s Latham Market Tuesday evening. Kate Nitti Desmond, Director of Mission Advancement and host of the Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala, was also in attendance to celebrate the kickoff and highlight the importance of community partnerships in advancing inclusion.
The Best Buddy features house-roasted turkey accompanied by bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and chipotle ranch dressing served on a traditional sub roll.
All month long, $1 from the sale of each “Best Buddy” sandwich at Cardona’s Market will support Lindsay’s fundraising campaign as a candidate for the Best Buddies Albany 2025 Champion of the Year Gala benefitting Best Buddies local programs within the Capital Region.
“We are proud to support Lindsay and the tireless work that she does to further the important mission of Best Buddies within our local community,” said Cardona’s Co-Owner and Executive Chef Robert Cardona, Jr. “We hope our delicious limited-edition sandwich plays a part in generating support for this important cause.”
Valenti, whose son Bryce is a non-speaker with autism, is one of eight community and professional leaders nominated as Champion Candidate for Best Buddies Albany Champion of the Year Gala, where one Candidate and Mission Partner will be crowned the 2025 Grand Champion. Valenti assisted in the coordination of a Best Buddies Chapter at Chango Elementary School in Ballston Lake where her son currently attends and has raised money for Best Buddies. She recently ran the popular 15k Boilermaker Road Race in Utica with a Best Buddies Charity Bib and has continued to devote time and energy towards their mission of inclusion.
“I am honored that Cardona’s is supporting my campaign and ultimately helping to provide aid for the local intellectual and developmental disabilities IDD community that Best Buddies serves,” said Valenti. “Proceeds from The Best Buddy will be used to impact the lives of young individuals who will benefit greatly from the services provided by Best Buddies. I knew that reaching out to my cousin – Cardona’s Executive Chef Sebastian Marro – for a collaboration made sense, given that Cardona’s is a well-rooted family business that continues to give back to the community through worthy causes.”
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit dedicated to ending the isolation faced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. Through more than 50 local School and Adult Friendship Programs and our Leadership Development initiatives, students and adults with IDD gain the chance to build real friendships, grow in confidence, and discover their voice. The Champion of the Year Gala raises vital funds to sustain and expand these programs, ensuring more people in our community experience the belonging and opportunities they deserve.
The Best Buddies Champion of the Year Gala will be held on November 14 at Brown’s Revolution Hall, with tickets and tables now on sale at BestBuddiesChampion.org/Albany. Opportunities to sponsor, donate an auction item, or attend can be arranged by emailing Kate Nitti Desmond at [email protected]. Best Buddies programs are always free to open in local schools, and inquiries can be directed to Nitti Desmond.
If you would like to support Lindsay Valenti and her dedication to inclusion, you can do so by clicking here.
Cardona’s Market features three convenient locations at 340 Delaware Avenue in Albany; 9 Cobbee Road in Latham; and 222 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs. The Albany and Latham markets are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the Saratoga market is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All three locations are open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cardona’s Market was named 2024 Family Business of the Year by the Albany Business Review and was once again voted Best Caterer of the Capital Region for the fourth consecutive year by Times Union readers.
For more information about Cardona’s Market, call (518) 434-4838 or visit CardonasMarket.com.