Retired Bridge Authority Official Supports Employees, Retirees, and their Families
ALEXANDRIA — A Jefferson County student with family ties to the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority was recently named the Class of 2024 recipient of the Northern New York Community Foundation Russell I. Wilcox Thousand Islands Bridge Authority Scholarship.
Dawson J. Rastley, a 2024 General Brown High School graduate, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Dawson graduated in June with a New York State Regents diploma and completed a two-year criminal justice program at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES. He will attend Jefferson Community College this fall where he will study criminal justice. Dawson aspires to work as a New York State Trooper to help others in his community.
While at General Brown, he was a standout athlete, competing for five years as a varsity football player and earning numerous honors, including the Ronald Siver Outstanding Lineman Award in his senior year. Dawson also competed in varsity lacrosse for three years.
Off the field of play, he is a 10-year participant in 4-H, earning several awards for livestock and animal showing. Dawson is an active in his community, volunteering for the Children’s Miracle Network, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and various events at his church.
Dawson is the grandson of Carl Herman, who retired from the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority in 2009 after 16 years of service. He is the son of Paula and Tom Rastley, Watertown.
Russell I. Wilcox, Theresa, a longtime leader of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, established the permanent scholarship at the Northern New York Community Foundation in 2022 as an extension of his life’s work, service on behalf of the Bridge Authority, and in honor of his relationship with Bridge Authority board members and employees.
“Through this scholarship, Mr. Wilcox continues to have a positive impact on the families connected to the Bridge Authority, something that holds deep meaning to him,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “Its symbolism is powerful and inspirational, and reminds to us all of the human element of our work and the importance of supporting those who represent the promise and hope for the future.”
Full-time Thousand Islands Bridge Authority employees, retirees, and their children and grandchildren are eligible to apply for the scholarship, which is awarded annually through the Community Foundation.
About the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority
The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority is a New York State public benefit corporation. It owns and operates the Thousand Islands International Bridge System near Alexandria Bay, and Ivy Lea, Ontario, Canada, covering 8.5 miles and providing a direct connection to U.S. Interstate 81 and Canada’s Highway 401.
An international board of directors leads the Authority, which also owns and operates the regional tourist attraction Boldt Castle. Since 1977, more than $20 million in capital improvements have been made to the castle property through Authority revenues without state and federal funds. Annual visits to the Boldt Castle exceed 240,000.
The Authority employs 62 full-time staff, of which 43 are U.S. citizens and 19 are Canadian citizens. The Authority averages 60 additional temporary and seasonal staff annually to support seasonal operations and maintenance.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.