Students Field 18 Requests for Funding Support from Diverse Slate of Tri-County Nonprofits
WATERTOWN — Six nonprofit organizations serving tri-county residents will share $25,000 in grant funding to support a diverse 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 2025-2026 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 involved in this program continue to inspire us with their insight and wisdom as they bring a valuable perspective to our grantmaking,” Community Foundation President and CEO Rande S. Richardson said. “At its heart, this program develops leaders, and we are confident that because of their experiences here, Council members are better equipped to lead in all areas of their lives in the communities they live.”
Council Chair April Wang, a second-year member and 2026 Watertown High School graduate, said the Council had many worthy requests for grant funding this year.
“Guided by a commitment to thoughtful stewardship and community impact, the Youth Philanthropy Council has carefully selected grant recipients whose work addresses critical needs and fosters meaningful progress,” Ms. Wang said. “I am beyond proud of the diligence and purpose reflected in the Council’s work this year.”
The following Youth Philanthropy Council grants were approved:
- HarmoNNY Performing Arts Community, $5,000 to expand its Instrument Lending Library, increasing access to musical instruments for residents across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties through its partnership with the North Country Library System.
- Samaritan Medical Center, $5,000 to purchase essential medical supplies for its Closet of Hope initiative, helping Home Health patients recover safely at home with items such as blood pressure monitors, wound care supplies, and other medical necessities.
- Save The River, $5,000 to support its Floating Classroom program, providing hands-on environmental education and on-the-water experiences for hundreds of North Country students each year, many of whom are stepping aboard a boat for the first time.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, $4,000 to upgrade waterfront safety equipment at 4-H Camp Wabasso, helping ensure a safe environment for youth participating in outdoor and water-based educational activities.
- Thousand Islands Land Trust, $4,000 to support its Conservation Connections School Program, offering free, hands-on environmental education and field experiences for elementary students throughout the Thousand Islands region.
- United Helpers Foundation, $2,000 to purchase a Living Scenery Projector Bundle for a serenity room at its rehabilitation and senior care campus in Canton, creating a calming environment for residents living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.
In addition, Council members this year awarded $5,000 in grant support to four regional nonprofits to strengthen their respective work and missions. The Church and Community Program (Churches of Canton), Grindstone Island Research & Heritage Center, Lyme Free Library, and Meals on Wheels of Greater Watertown each received $1,250.
Council Vice Chair Trey Urf, a second-year member and Watertown High School junior, said he and his peers “brought thoughtful ideas and unique perspectives to our discussions throughout the year.”
“I’m immensely proud of everything we accomplished together and grateful for the dedication demonstrated,” Mr. Urf said. “Seeing the positive impact our philanthropic efforts continue to make across Northern New York is inspiring and rewarding.”
About the Youth Philanthropy Council
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 educator who also serves as Vice Chair of the Community Foundation Board of Directors. Mrs. Sprague has volunteered to lead the program since it began. Advisor Leslie Renzi is a volunteer who has helped mentor Council students for the past five 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 in 2025.
The Council’s grant program is made possible through support from gifts made to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund and major sponsors: Watertown Savings Bank, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, RBC Wealth Management, and the Mart Liinve Fund.
Since its inception, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 166 grants totaling $315,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve tri-county residents, and nearly 180 students from nine different tri-county high schools have served as Council members.
This year’s Council includes 14 representatives from Carthage and General Brown high schools, Immaculate Heart Central, and Lyme, South Jefferson, and Watertown high schools. Each Council member is in his or her junior or senior class. Representatives from each school district are: Carthage High School: Valerie Akins, junior; General Brown High School: Isabel Mendez, junior; Immaculate Heart Central: Julia Tontarski, junior and 2025-26 Council Secretary; Lyme High School: Maxwell Hunt, junior; South Jefferson High School: Annabelle Renzi, junior; William Steward, senior; and Lydia Tremont; junior; Watertown High School: Caitlin Daugherty, junior; Gaige Doroha, junior; Hudson Guldenpfennig, junior; Lucy Swartz, junior; Trey Urf, junior and 2025-26 Council Vice Chair; April Wang, senior and 2025-26 Council Chair; and Frances Weir, junior.
The Council reconvenes at the start of the new school year in September. It will accept 2026-2027 funding proposals in the fall. Information about how nonprofit organizations 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.