Trio of Seniors Honored as Top Graduating Athletes at WHS Awards Event

     WATERTOWN — Three Watertown High School seniors were honored Tuesday evening as the top graduating athletes and recipients of the William I. Graf Award. Kylie L. Cushman and Adelaide R. “Addie” Weir were selected as the women’s recipients, and Patrick Duah was named as the men’s honoree this year.

    The William I. Graf Award was created in 1954 by the Italian American Civic Association to honor Mr. Graf’s leadership and civic engagement in the community. The Northern New York Community Foundation was selected to help continue the Graf family legacy by administering the fund in perpetuity and raising awareness of the award for students who strive to earn the prestigious honor.

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Pair of  Sackets Harbor High School Class Leaders Embody Late Guidance Counselor’s Commitment to Community Engagement, Citizenship

     SACKETS HARBOR — Two leading members of the Sackets Harbor Class of 2023 have been named the first recipients of the Northern New York Community Foundation Laurie Renzi Gadsden Award.

     Adelyne Jareo, this year’s Sackets Harbor Central School class valedictorian, and Eric Gayne, an academic leader who ranks fourth in his class, were each awarded a $500 scholarship during Monday’s High School Awards night.

     Given by Gabriel Renzi and Dr. Eugene and Joyce Renzi and family, the Laurie Renzi Gadsden Award was established at the Community Foundation in 2022 in Laurie’s memory to honor her life and perpetuate her legacy of kindness and positivity. Laurie passed away in August 2021 at the age of 57.

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Up to $25,000 Available for Nonprofit Organizations Serving Greater Potsdam Area Residents

     POTSDAM — Nonprofit organizations that serve the greater Potsdam area may now apply for 2023 grant funding from the John and Dorotha VanNess Family Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

     The John and Dorotha VanNess Family Fund is a permanent grantmaking fund stewarded by the Northern New York Community Foundation that will forever support programs, activities, and initiatives to advance the quality of life in the Potsdam community. This year, up to $25,000 in grant funding is available to eligible nonprofits.

     Successful projects, programs or initiatives should articulate an explanation of meaningful impact and a clear plan for implementation. Areas of focus should include, but are not limited to: Health and wellness, arts and culture, economic  development, recreational programs, community revitalization and beautification, and more. To date, $26,500 in grant funding has been awarded to support nine different projects that benefit Potsdam residents.

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Applications Now Available; Four Community Projects Supported Last Year

     FINE — Nonprofit organizations serving residents of the Clifton-Fine region may now apply for 2023 grant support through the Clifton-Fine Community Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

     The Clifton-Fine Community Fund is a permanent grantmaking resource that supports projects, activities, and initiatives that enhance the quality of life in the communities of Cranberry Lake, Fine, Oswegatchie, Star Lake, Newton Falls, and Wanakena. The most successful projects and programs that garner support demonstrate clear and meaningful impact across the region.

     This year, the geographic-specific fund will award up to $6,000 in grants. Interested organizations are required to apply online through the Northern New York Community Foundation’s grant portal at bit.ly/grant-portal. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 21.

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Approximately $100,000 in Funding Available for St. Lawrence County Churches, Cemeteries, Places of Historical Significance, and Military Veterans Programs

     WATERTOWN — The Rock Charitable Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation is now accepting applications for 2023 grant support from qualified charitable organizations, houses of worship, cemeteries, or governmental entities that serve St. Lawrence County residents.

     Grant funding is available to organizations whose missions and efforts align with the fund’s charitable purposes, which are: for the maintenance and preservation of churches, houses of worship, and cemeteries in St. Lawrence County; for the preservation and maintenance of places of legitimate historical significance in the county; and to benefit or assist veterans of the United States military with their medical or recreational needs who live in St. Lawrence County.

     While projects that focus on each charitable purpose will be evaluated for funding, those that aid St. Lawrence County U.S. military veterans will receive priority consideration this year.

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