The Northern New York Community Foundation’s Board of Directors recently approved a series of grant recommendations from the Six Town Community Fund committee to support six local projects in the region. It is the second series of grants awarded from the geographic-specific fund that will benefit the towns of Adams, Ellisburg, Henderson, Lorraine, Rodman and Worth in perpetuity. $5,000 in total grant funding will be directed toward these projects.

“Each of the funded projects had a well-developed budget and were clear on their benefits to the community”, stated David J. Zembiec, Six Town Community Fund chair. “The committee was pleased to help get them off the ground.”

The Six Town Community Fund was established at the Community Foundation to be a permanent philanthropic resource to enhance the quality of life in the region forever. The fund’s growth can be attributed to several charitable contributions, as well as a matching grant from the Community Foundation in 2013.

The approved grants from the Six Town Community Fund are:

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The Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation is accepting grant requests from non-profit organizations for programs, projects or initiatives positively impacting the quality of life in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Agencies providing services in the tri-county area are encouraged to apply. The council will evaluate all proposals and have up to $20,000 to award in grant funding.

This year, the Youth Philanthropy Council consists of 14 representatives from three local school districts: Watertown High School, Immaculate Heart Central School, and Sackets Harbor Central School. Council members will assess all grant proposals from non-profits and notify finalists to present their grant requests to the council this spring. The council will determine grant recommendations, and the Community Foundation’s board of directors will review the council’s recommendations at their quarterly meeting in June 2017. [Read more…]

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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