Ten St. Lawrence County high school students are the first recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Evergreen STEM Scholarship. Students received the scholarship due to their interest and intent to study the sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics while in college. Students applied while in their junior year of high school and were selected over the summer. Recipients will receive a one-year $3,000 scholarship toward their freshman year of college next fall.

The Evergreen STEM scholarship is made possible through the generosity of Gouverneur residents and Massena natives Charles and Higouhi (Hi) Owens. The scholarship, a new permanent component fund of the Community Foundation, will provide at least an annual total of $30,000 for high school students residing in St. Lawrence County.

“The thoughtful generosity of the Owens will have a profound impact on the lives of many. It is exciting to see the first of those who will be helped by this initiative and the potential they have to make a difference in our communities and the world,” said Rande S. Richardson, Northern New York Community Foundation executive director.

On Tuesday, October 11^th Clarkson University sponsored a reception and dinner presentation for students, along with their parents/guardians, school guidance counselors, principals, STEM coordinators and superintendents. Students had the opportunity to meet and thank Mr. & Mrs. Owens, and their daughter and son-in-law Sandra and Michael Hosier, Auburn, New York, for their generosity. This year’s students are interested in careers such as software and electrical engineering, wildlife biology, health care ~ physicians, surgeons and physician assistants, robotics and game design and development.

“Hi and I are very pleased with the students selected this year. I truly believe education in any STEM field will prepare these students for life-long success,” commented Charles Owens. “I spoke with the students regarding their future contributions and our hope that they return to the North Country to invest in our communities upon their college graduation.”

2016-2017 Evergreen STEM Scholarship recipients are:

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The Northern New York Community Foundation recently approved a $2,500 matching grant to support a “Coats for Kids” campaign to help provide winter clothing to students in need attending Carthage Central School. The grassroots effort was started in 2013 by Carthage Central School board member, Joseph A. Colangelo, in partnership with the school district. After a series of contributions, funding was allocated toward the purchase of winter coats, boots, hats and gloves for students. Last year, more than $4,000 was raised through local residents, businesses and organizations to supply winter attire to over 100 students.

“It’s hard enough being a kid with the necessities. It’s much harder being a kid without the necessities. That’s one of the reasons why I started this. There is no reason a kid should even be cold or hungry in our community,” Mr. Colangelo said.

“This is a great way to collaborate so that more students and their families can be helped. The type of commitment Mr. Colangelo has demonstrated is something worthy of supporting and holding up as model example of citizen philanthropy,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. [Read more…]

The committee for the Six Town Community Fund will present two information sessions for local residents and non-profit organizations interested in seeking grants from the community fund to support local projects. The public gatherings will be held on Tuesday, October 4 at Belleville Henderson Central School, and Thursday, October 6 at South Jefferson Central School. Each session will start at 6:30 p.m.

The Six Town Community Fund is designed specifically to advance projects, programs and initiatives in the towns and surrounding communities of Adams, Ellisburg, Henderson, Lorraine, Rodman and Worth. It is a component fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation. “Thanks to contributions from individuals, families, and business organizations—along with a matching grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation—we now have a permanent fund that pools our resources and allows us to accomplish more for the community together than we could individually,” said committee chair David J. Zembiec.

Last year, $5,000 in total grant awards from the Six Town Community Fund supported seven community projects across the region. Grant recipients were:
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The Northern New York Community Foundation’s board of directors recently approved a $10,000 grant in support of the Double Play Sports Community Center in Lowville.

The Community Foundation will award $5,000 to assist with the renovation of space at the organization’s fitness center location. The renovated space will allow the agency to offer additional programming at their Utica Boulevard site. The board also agreed to a $5,000 grant to establish an endowment fund for the organization to be administered by the Community Foundation. The Dyson Foundation has also agreed to match the Community Foundation’s commitment with another $5,000 for Double Play’s endowment, for a total of $10,000.

“We continue to be impressed with all that Double Play has been striving to do to impact Lowville and Lewis County. By providing both a grant for immediate needs and long-term needs, we hope to be able to continue our investment in their efforts,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director. “We are especially grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Dyson Foundation to maximize the overall support for Double Play,” Mr. Richardson said.             Other grants recently approved are:
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The Northern New York Community Foundation is extending the deadline for non-profit organizations to submit an application for consideration through The Lighthouse Fund. Agencies must be providing services to help underserved and vulnerable populations in the Clayton and Cape Vincent areas. The new deadline has been set for September 2.

The Lighthouse Fund is a geographic-specific fund that awards grants annually in perpetuity for projects, programs and initiatives that meet vital community needs in the Clayton and Cape Vincent areas. The component fund was established in 2014 at the Community Foundation and distributed its first grants last year. The Cape Vincent and Clayton Council of Churches food pantries each received a $1,000 matching grant to build year-end support for their agencies. A $1,000 grant was also awarded to the Cape Vincent Improvement League to construct a community garden to grow fruits and vegetables to benefit the local food pantry. [Read more…]