Students Field 18 Requests for Funding Support from Diverse Slate of Tri-County Nonprofit Organizations
WATERTOWN — Five nonprofit organizations serving tri-county residents will share $25,000 in grant funding to support a wide range of community programs and projects, thanks to the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation.
The student-led Council annually reviews requests, not limited to youth programs, from tri-county nonprofit organizations to fund projects or initiatives that positively impact the quality of life in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties. In addition to researching and recommending grants, Council members visit several nonprofit organizations and learn about community investment and leadership, nonprofit sustainability, and grantee stewardship.
The Council received 18 funding proposals during the 2024-2025 program year with six invited to present requests to the full Council. Members delivered grant recommendations to the Community Foundation Board of Directors during its recent quarterly meeting, and the Board unanimously approved the full slate of grants.
“The students who participate in this program continue to impress us with their ability to be thoughtful, responsible grantmakers for our region” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “We have watched these young people grow in their leadership journey while they have greatly increased their awareness of the importance of investing in their community. Through their experience, they are uniquely positioned to make a difference for years to come.”
Council Chair Hannah Eldridge, a second-year member and 2025 Watertown High School graduate, said the Council had many meaningful applications this year.
“I am impressed and proud of the work that has been done on the Youth Philanthropy Council this year. Each application we received was extremely impactful,” Ms. Eldridge said. “Our Council has chosen through deep conversation and careful consideration to grant organizations that will make an exceptional impact on our community.”
The following Youth Philanthropy Council grants were approved:
- Compassionate Care Foundation, Dexter, $10,000 to provide therapies for up to 10 patients during or after treatment. The Compassionate Care Foundation facilitates integrative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, yoga, and reiki for cancer patients, working alongside traditional medicine to support mind, body, and spirit. Services are provided in partnership with Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center’s Richard E Winter Cancer Center, Samaritan Medical Center’s Walker Center for Cancer Care, Cancer Connects, and Hospice of Jefferson County.
- Hospice Foundation of Jefferson County, Watertown, $5,000 to support its new Wave Riders of Hope initiative, an adolescent grief support program slated to launch this fall at Watertown High School. The six-week, evidence-based curriculum combines group and individual sessions focused on coping skills, emotional expression, and building resilience. The program also includes outreach and education for caregivers and school staff. Grant funding will support the pilot program and help develop outreach materials for other local schools.
- ACT Children’s Theatre, Ogdensburg, $4,000 to support licensing fees and script rights, costumes, props, and set materials for upcoming shows. Founded in 2014 as St. Lawrence County’s only nonprofit children’s theatre, ACT offers year-round theater experiences for students through camps and stage productions. Stage productions are held in the fall with grades kindergarten through six and in the spring with grades seven through 12. Its most recent production involved 33 students from six school districts, including a homeschooled student.
- Children’s Home of Jefferson County (CHJC), Watertown, $3,000 to help purchase local produce, workshop materials, and educational resources to deepen the understanding of healthy, sustainable living though its Seed to Supper initiative. CHJC operates the SoZo Teen Center as a safe and supportive drop-in center for youth in grades seven through 12. Serving about 300 youth from 15 townships, the center offers programs in nutrition, wellness, college and career readiness, creative arts, and community service.
- Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County, Watertown, $3,000 to support its Off the Floor Fund, which helps survivors purchase new beds and bed frames, addressing a critical need for comfort, dignity, and healing. Grant funding will help to secure safe, stable sleeping arrangements for individuals and families beginning new chapters in their lives. Many clients who are transitioning to safe housing struggle to afford basic necessities as they begin new chapters in their lives.
In addition, Council members this year awarded grant support to five regional nonprofits to strengthen their respective work and missions. The Maple Ridge Center, Lowville, New Beginnings Clothing and Food Outreach, Madrid, the Thousand Islands Arts Center, Clayton, the Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund, Clayton, and the South Jefferson Rescue Squad, Adams, each received $1,000.
Council Vice Chair Ella Smith, a third-year member and recent Watertown High School graduate, said she and her peers “selected five organizations with the utmost confidence that each of their projects will create a lasting impact and reach the unique needs in the communities they serve.”
“Every Council member contributed valuable insight during many meaningful discussions. I am incredibly proud of the diligent work our Council completed this year, and the impact philanthropy continues to make across Northern New York,” Ms. Smith said.
The Youth Philanthropy Council was chartered in 2010 to promote positive youth development and engage young people in meaningful activities that build their skills while educating them about community philanthropy and its impact on Northern New York. Council members grow to become problem solvers as they engage in lessons that may never be taught in a classroom.
A team of volunteers and Community Foundation staff manage the program, including Senior Advisor Emily Sprague, a retired Watertown City School District teacher who also serves as Vice Chair of the Community Foundation Board of Directors. Mrs. Sprague has volunteered to lead the program since its inception. Advisor Leslie Renzi is a volunteer who has helped mentor Council students for the past four years. Mrs. Renzi’s son, Jude, is a Council alumnus. Kraig Everard, Community Foundation Director of Philanthropy, serves as senior staff advisor for the program. He joined the Foundation team in 2020. Emily Pfeil, Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate, also serves as a staff advisor. She joined the Foundation team earlier this year.
The Council’s grant program is made possible through support from gifts made to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund, Watertown Savings Bank, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, RBC Wealth Management, and the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund.
Since its inception, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 155 grants totaling $285,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve tri-county residents, and nearly 170 students from eight different tri-county high schools have served as Council members.
This year’s Council includes 18 representatives from General Brown High School, Immaculate Heart Central, Lyme High School, South Jefferson High School, and Watertown High School. Each Council member is in his or her sophomore, junior, or senior class. Representatives from each school district are: General Brown High School: Kiera Covey, junior, and Colden Marks, senior; Immaculate Hear Central: Julia Tontarski and Alexandra Zajac, sophomores; Lyme High School: Rosamond Hunt, senior; South Jefferson High School: Mia Mouaikel, senior, and William Steward, junior; Watertown High School: Hannah Eldridge, senior, and 2024-25 Council Chair; Mia Kelly, senior; Vincent Knapp, senior; Lillian Jareo, senior; Bennett Pistner, senior; Ella Smith, senior and 2024-25 Council Vice Chair; Anastaja Smith, senior; Finley Swartz, senior; Trey Urf, sophomore; Sienna Virga, senior and 2024-25 Council Secretary; and April Wang, junior.
The Council reconvenes at the start of the new school year in September. It will accept 2025-2026 funding proposals in the fall. Information about how nonprofits may apply will be announced at that time.
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.
