A dozen local organizations serving the communities of Boonville, Constableville and Westernville are first-time recipients of grant awards from the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation.
The community fund will award grants totaling $30,000 to support programs and projects that broadly impact the quality of life for residents from the three communities. More than 20 organizations submitted grant requests for consideration in the inaugural year. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer established a community fund through the Community Foundation to provide a permanent philanthropic resource that would enhance the communities they cared about most in perpetuity.
“This community fund established through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer is one of the most meaningful and far-reaching ways to impact the communities they loved,” said Max DelSignore, Assistant Director, Northern New York Community Foundation. “These first grants are a testament to the value of this lasting charitable fund on these communities and to the non-profit organizations providing critical services and enrichment experiences to residents across the area.”
The following organizations received grant funding from the Sawyer Community Fund:
- Boonville Cemetery Association – $6,000 to assist with the digitization of official records for public use and historical research.
- Constableville Volunteer Fire Company – $4,400 for the purchase of two new sets of firefighter gear for volunteer members.
- Erwin Library and Institute – $3,025 to support six community events providing artistic, educational and entertainment experiences to the community.
- Constableville Library Association – $3,000 to create a “Literacy Station” that will enhance the organization’s summer reading program and help promote and encourage young readers.
- Boonville Youth Athletic Association – $2,500 to support the development of a children’s playground near community baseball and softball fields.
- Boonville Area Chamber of Commerce – $2,500 for the purchase of three cameras for the village’s community bandstand to stream live events and enhance security on site.
- Constableville for Tomorrow – $2,000 to assist in building a year-round, barn curtain system to protect the village pavilion.
- Boonville Black River Canal Museum – $1,925 to expand upon the organization’s youth volunteer program.
- Constable Hall Association – $1,600 to help upgrade the organization’s computer system and technological infrastructure to enhance efficiency.
- Boonville Search and Rescue, Inc. – $1,050 for the purchase of three GPS mapping guides to be utilized for searches and trail tours.
- North Country Proudly Honors, Inc. – $1,000 to assist with the organization’s efforts to recognize local military veterans, active military personnel, and historical wartime figures.
- Adirondack Community Chorus – $1,000 to help purchase music for three community concerts during the organization’s 2018-19 concert season.
Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer were passionate about the quality of life in their community. Mr. Sawyer was a Boonville native, served in the United States Army, and enjoyed a gratifying career at Layng Furniture Company and as a supervisor at Erwin Park in Boonville. Most notably, he was a talented musician. He played tenor saxophone in high school band and clarinet with the Boonville Village Band. He frequently played with three separate drum and bugle corps in Boonville and Rome. Mr. Sawyer passed away in 2008.
Mrs. Sawyer completed a successful career of over 45 years at Rome Savings Bank. She also served on the finance committee of the Boonville United Methodist Church. She also assisted organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dodge Pratt Northam Art and Community Center, the Erwin Library, and the Boonville Cemetery. Mrs. Sawyer passed away in 2015.
The Sawyer Community Fund at the Community Foundation will award grants each year in perpetuity. The application for the next grant cycle will be available in February 2019.
The Northern New York Community Foundation makes grants to support the work of non-profit organizations and provides scholarships to individuals in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. The Foundation has been built and added to from gifts (both while living and through their legacy plans) by individuals and organizations committed to meeting the changing needs of Northern New York, as well as supporting specific charitable interests and passions.
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