VanNess Family Fund Assists Efforts Focused on Arts, Culture, and Youth

     POTSDAM — John and Dorotha VanNess cared deeply for the Potsdam area. A legacy fund honoring their commitment to the community lives on with a trio of new grant awards impacting the area this year.

    The John and Dorotha VanNess Family Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation recently approved $10,000 in grant support for three nonprofit organizations that deliver arts, culture, and youth-based programs. The family legacy fund is a permanent, grantmaking fund that will forever support programs, activities, and initiatives that support the general welfare of the Potsdam community. Mr. and Mrs. VanNess’s daughter, Susan J. Sewall, established the fund at the Community Foundation in 2018 as a lasting tribute to her parents’ civic mindedness.

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$10,000 Allocated for Efforts Led by WPBS-TV, Jeff-Lewis BOCES

     WATERTOWN — The Jefferson Economic Development Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation recently awarded $10,000 in grant support to two community projects.

     A $6,000 award to WPBS-TV will support its GPS For Success initiative, which is an online resource that provides educational information to encourage local career exploration by Northern New York students and adult learners. The website offers a wide range of research, data, and videos highlighting 16 professional careers relevant to the North Country. In collaboration with other local partners, WPBS is building a platform to feature soft skills such as résumé writing and entrepreneurship. This grant will support a module focused on critical interview fundamentals, while also helping to develop complementary materials for students and teachers.

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Monthlong Effort to Culminate With ‘315Day’ of Giving on Monday, March 15

WATERTOWN — A diverse group of 61 organizations have joined to participate in the 2021 #giveNNY campaign, a local effort that unites tri-county nonprofits in a day of giving on “315Day,” Monday, March 15.

From human services to health and wellness, arts and culture, conservation and environment, history,  education, children and families, animal welfare, youth development, elder services, and recreation, this year’s participating nonprofits represent a wide range of unique missions that collectively strengthen the region and make Northern New York a special place to live, work and play.

All nonprofits in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties were invited to participate as campaign partners. The following agencies are coming together to support their work in the North Country:

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Diverse Opportunities for Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County Students

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications from students in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties who plan to enroll in post-secondary programs this fall.

     A new online application streamlines the process for most scholarships. Students may access the application portal, create a user account, and begin an online application by clicking on “2021-2022 Scholarship Application” found at the top of nnycf.org/scholarships/scholarship-overview. With few exceptions, all Community Foundation scholarship applications are due Thursday, April 1, through the online portal. Scholarships with different deadlines — some before and some after April 1 — are noted on the same web page. The earliest deadline is Monday, March 15.

     High school seniors from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties who will enroll as full-time undergraduates this fall may apply for a one-year, freshman scholarship. Students pursuing technical, trade or vocational school may also apply and should complete the same application. Students should thoroughly read all application instructions and must include a complete, signed application, an essay, appraisal forms, references, and transcripts.

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Nearly $90,000 in Grants Awarded in First Competitive Round

     WATERTOWN — The Rock Charitable Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation recently awarded nearly $90,000 to five nonprofit organizations in St. Lawrence County to preserve and maintain churches and cemeteries in the region.

     The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mary, Canton, received a $35,000 grant to support the first phase in its campaign to restore and protect its historic structure and property. Funding will support repairs to the bell tower, statue, trim, and foundation.

     St. John’s Episcopal Church, Massena, received a $23,775 grant to restore exterior brickwork and repair windows and landscaping. Deteriorating brick in areas on the east side of the church will be replaced along with other repairs.

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