Boris the Skeleton, the Endicott Holiday Decoration With a Cause

If you've driven around Endicott, you're probably familiar with Boris, the 12-foot-tall skeleton. But you might not know that Boris is always raising money for good causes.

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Scott Varcadipane and Samantha Dalla-verde, the people behind the charitable skeleton, have been putting Boris up since September of 2020, along with another 12-foot skeleton friend, Gladys. Every year since, local residents have stopped by the home to marvel at the massive decorations and take pictures in front of their cauldron.

They're part of a Facebook group for the massive 12-foot skeletons that has over 50,000 members. But it isn't solely about their love of giant skeletons. People in the group use their decorations throughout the year to raise money for various charities. According to Scott, the group raised over $100,000 for charity last year.

For Halloween this year, Boris and Gladys are looking for donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. If you stop by to see Boris and Gladys, you'll also see a QR code in front of them with a link to donate to the organization.

And Boris' popularity doesn't stop with the Binghamton area. He's been added to Roadside America Attractions. Scott says they've had people from as far as Long Island stop by just to see Boris. According to Samantha, even state troopers have stopped by in the early hours of the morning to get their pictures with Boris and Gladys.

"People stop by all hours of the day," said Samantha. "At one point we had state troopers out there around 4 am taking pictures, posing around them. It's constantly people stopping, little kids, this week a lot we had little kids dressed up in their costumes taking pictures. Different set ups, we've had graduation outfits so people come in their caps and gowns to take pictures next to him in his cap and gown. So there's constantly people driving by and stopping to take pictures."

Boris isn't simply a Halloween decoration, of course. Scott and Samantha leave him out in the yard for other major holidays like Christmas, looking to raise even more money for worthy causes. In the past, they've raised money to feed families for Thanksgiving and for foster care and adoption organizations.

And as an added bonus, Scott and Samantha will be challenging Boris the Skeleton fans to make grocery or cash donations at Food-A-Bago 2022. Anybody who wants to help out the Binghamton community can visit the parking lot of Weis Markets, Upper Front Street in Binghamton to benefit CHOW and try to match Boris' donations from October 31st to November 7th.

So if you're looking for something to do in Binghamton this weekend to get into the Halloween spirit, head down to Endicott to take some pictures with Boris and Gladys and use their QR code to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.