The Northern New York Community Foundation, in collaboration with Stage Notes, recently launched the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge. The initiative was created to engage middle school students in exploring the meaning of community and empowered them to recommend grants that would support their concepts of helping support and improve the quality of life in the region. Each student had to write an essay that expressed what the word “community” meant to them and explain what they love about their community and what they felt makes it a great place to live. They were then asked to identify a charitable organization that they believe makes their community a better place. Students attending schools in Jefferson and Lewis counties were eligible to participate. 62 students from 9 districts participated in the pilot program. Consistent themes of “community” that appeared most often in the applications were: neighbors, safe, love, beauty, happiness, betterment, togetherness, kindness, helping, caring, belonging, sharing, and respect.

“This program is a wonderful complement to our Youth Philanthropy and LEAD Programs. The earlier concepts of civic engagement and philanthropy can be introduced to our next generation the better chance we have of perpetuating good things in our communities,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “Stage Notes is proud to partner with the Community Foundation to empower the next generation of philanthropists to improve their communities. These students’ proposals best represented Stage Notes’ and the Foundation’s shared vision of community engagement and giving,” said Kyle Aumell, Stage Notes vice-president.

The Community Foundation and Stage Notes each provided $5,000 in funding, for a total of $10,000 in grants available. The Community Foundation portions was made possible by donors to its annual fund and Stage Notes allocated a portion of their proceeds from last year’s performances towards the endeavor. A committee judged and scored the applications and the results are as follows:

$1,000 Meals on Wheels of Greater Watertown, Adelyne Jareo, Sackets Harbor

$500 Croghan Free Library, Mya Zehr, Beaver River

$500 Lewis County Humane Society, Morgan Moser, Beaver River

$500 Credo Community Center, Shantel Massia, Case Middle School, Watertown

$500 (one grant) Jefferson County SPCA, Nathan McNulty, Case Middle School, Watertown

Yairis Matos, Case Middle School, Watertown

Isabelle McDonough, Thousand Islands

$500 Carthage YMCA, Reagan Alexander, Indian River

$500 Orchestra of Northern New York, Jasmine Berasategui, Indian River

$500 Thousand Islands Emergency Rescue Service (TIERS), Aubrey Stewart, Indian River

$500 (one grant) PIVOT, Wyatt Parliament, LaFargeville

Alison Swenson, Thousand Islands

$500 (one grant) Children’s Home of Jefferson County, Jenna Freeman, Lowville

Trinity Westerman, Thousand Islands

$500 Children’s Miracle Network, Anna Exford, Lowville

$500 Croghan Volunteer Fire Department, Keerie Lyndaker, Lowville

$500 Historical Association of South Jefferson, Emma MacIlvennie, South Jefferson

$500 Cape Vincent Community Library, Mary Connerton, Thousand Islands

$500 Clayton Figure Skating Club, Dallas Osier, Thousand Islands

$500 Clayton Youth Commission, Katelyn Solar, Thousand Islands

$500 Hawn Memorial Library, Allie Victorino, Thousand Islands

$500 Relay for Life of Jefferson County, Mackenzie Wagoner, Thousand Islands

$500 Thousands Islands Area Habitat for Humanity, Charritty Grant, Thousand Islands

Adelyne Jareo, who was awarded the largest grant said in her application, “To me, community means living through both good and bad times with people who love and support you. Community is about connection and brightening someone’s day and making it better even in the smallest way possible. Lending a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen, or even a friendly warm smile can make the world a better place. That is what community is all about.”

The Community Foundation and Stage Notes will work with the winning students to coordinate visits to their respective charitable organizations to present their grants and also learn more about the organization they are supporting. Planning will begin soon on next year’s Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge.

The Northern New York Community Foundation and its LEAD Council have stepped up to assist with a local poverty initiative designed to impact residents in need.

The Community Foundation’s board of directors and LEAD Council teamed up to award a $25,000 grant to the “Race Against Poverty Fund,” which is designed to support non-profit organizations conducting the “Bridges Out of Poverty and “Getting Ahead” initiatives in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. The “Race Against Poverty Fund” was established by the Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2017 – in partnership with the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce – and is administered by the Community Foundation.

The LEAD Council is an advisory group of young professionals that complements the Community Foundation with strategic grantmaking efforts. The council was founded in 2014 as a way to empower and mobilize the next generation in proactive community philanthropy that enhances the quality of life in the North Country. More than 20 members are represented on the council from across Northern New York.

The “Bridges Out of Poverty” and “Getting Ahead” initiatives were introduced to the community last year by Community Action Planning Council and the Watertown Urban Mission, with additional support from the Volunteer Transportation Center. The 16-week workshop leads participants through self-exploration and discovery exercises to identify and resolve the root issues of their situation living in poverty. To date, two workshops have been completed. The Community Action Planning Council received additional grant support from New York State through the “Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative,” which is being administered by the United Way of Northern New York, to conduct “Getting Ahead” workshops to help residents in the city of Watertown.

The LEAD Council began exploring hyperlocal effects of poverty on the community in late 2016 and pursued a collaboration with chamber’s Jefferson Leadership Institute (JLI) class to expand the initiative across the tri-county area. In 2017, the JLI class raised $24,000 through its “Race Against Poverty” event in downtown Watertown to build the “Race Against Poverty Fund.” LEAD and the Community Foundation have added funding to the charitable resource to provide an opportunity for other area non-profit organizations to seek funding to conduct the “Bridges Out of Poverty” and “Getting Ahead” initiatives in their service area.

A committee consisting of members from the LEAD Council and the Jefferson Leadership Institute class has developed an application and review process and will recommend deployment of grant funding to non-profits. The committee will also assist with the examination of outcomes from the workshops to help determine impact.

“Getting Ahead’ is an innovative program that provides those who lack resources with the necessary tools to make positive changes toward a brighter tomorrow,” said Dawn Cole, Deputy Director of the Community Action Planning Council. “The future stories that come from ‘Getting Ahead’ not only impact participants on an individual level, but they strengthen the community as a whole. I am deeply grateful for the generous support of the LEAD Council and Northern New York Community Foundation and look forward to many more ‘Getting Ahead’ workshops. It will put us one step closer to a truly sustainable community where we can all live well.”

The LEAD Council program and its efforts are made possible through the generosity of the Hyde-Stone Charitable Foundation at the Northern New York Community Foundation, Carthage Savings and Loan, BCA Architects and Engineers and annual gifts made to the Friends of the Community Foundation Community Betterment Fund.

“We are so grateful for the broad range of Community Foundation donors who have supported the efforts of the LEAD program as it strives to empower young professionals to begin to find strategic and meaningful ways to make a difference in the place they live. The ‘Race Against Poverty’ initiative has demonstrated the great potential these committed young citizens have to make their mark for years to come,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation director.

If you wish to support this endeavor with a contribution to the “Race Against Poverty Fund, please consider making a gift to: Northern New York Community Foundation and write “Race Against Poverty Fund” in the memo line. You may mail your gift to 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601. You may also make a contribution online at www.nnycf.org.

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.

The following is an active list of current members serving on the LEAD Council at the Northern New York Community Foundation:

Eli Anderson, Henderson (Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization)

Krysta Aten-Schell, Adams Center (BCA Architects and Engineers)

Hilary Avallone, Carthage (ACR Health)

Andrew Boulter, Watertown (Watertown Savings Bank)

Anthony Burgess, Watertown (Jefferson Community College)

Dennis Caughlin, Watertown (Watertown Savings Bank)

Victoria Collins, Croghan (Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall LLP)

Bridget Fetterly, Carthage (Carthage Savings and Loan)

Trevor Garlock, Hammond (Northwestern Mutual Co.)

Kerry Kennett, Sackets Harbor (South Jefferson Central School)

Cari Knight, Great Bend (ACR Health)

Lindsay Knowlton, Adams Center (North Country Initiative)

Kristin LaClair, Watertown (Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center)

Diane Leonard, Clayton (DH Leonard Consulting and Grant Writing Services)

Joanna Loomis, Watertown (Watertown Urban Mission)

Steve Magovney, Watertown (Transitional Living Services)

Kylee Monroe, Philadelphia (General Brown Central School)

Aaron Naklick, Watertown (Samaritan Medical Center)

John Nuber, Clayton (RBC Wealth Management)

Melissa Schmitt, Watertown (Samaritan Medical Center)

Erin Simser, Watertown (WinnCompanies)

Robert Sligar, Carthage (Carthage Savings and Loan)

Jennifer Voss, Watertown (City of Watertown)

Matthew Walldroff, LaFargeville (Jade Stone Engineering)

The Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) announces a new initiative, Safe Schools Endeavor.  Given a point in time where school safety is being discussed across the nation, this local fund was created with a mission to empower and support students, parents, and faculty in creating the safest school possible with a vision that every child is safe at school. The Safe Schools Endeavor, in partnership with NNYCF, embodies awareness, empowerment, and action and will provide funding to support that objective.

This fund is established for Jefferson and Lewis County school districts.  Students, faculty and parents will be eligible to apply for funding for projects approved and supported by the respective school districts.  Concepts may be anything that the applicant can demonstrate will foster a safer school environment.  Examples of projects include costs associated with guest speakers or materials for movements out of national school safety initiatives, changes to the building/facility, advocating for county, state and/or federal sensible policy change, or raising public awareness.

This endeavor is led by a steering committee with representatives from both Jefferson and Lewis Counties, including perspectives of parents, faculty, and students. Erika Flint, will be leading the committee, currently consisting of nine individuals, with potential growth to approximately 12 members.  In addition to Ms. Flint, members include; Ms. Beverly Brown, NNYCF Board Member, Mr. Stephen Todd, NNYCF Board Member, Ms. Jennifer Hodge, Ms. Marjorie LaVere, Ms. Brigitte Gillette, Mr. Todd Green, Ms. Kylie Simpson, and Ms. Jessica Bowline. There will also be participation from the Community Foundation and its Youth Philanthropy Council, comprised of students from local high schools.

Ms. Flint brought the concept of this endeavor forward to NNYCF and has led the formation of the steering committee.  “The purpose of this program is beyond the funding, it is to create a very clear message that the Safe School Endeavor values children as our greatest gift, our future.  Safety is not the school system’s burden to bear alone, it is our responsibility as a community to support and empower students, faculty and parents in a nonpartisan effort.  It is very apparent to me that the NNYCF embodies community and is the perfect partner in this endeavor.  We are beyond grateful for their partnership and support,” said Ms. Flint.

The steering committee has begun work with a focus on fundraising and awareness.  Applications for school districts will be created over the summer with the intention of two open request periods per school year beginning the 2018-2019 school year. The Community Foundation provided some additional momentum for the endeavor by designating a $20,000 dollar for dollar matching opportunity for all gifts made to support the initiative.

“We are glad to be able to help in any way we can as this caring, dedicated group sets out to do what they can to take proactive steps to help keep our community and its students safe. When there is a desire by citizens to encourage empowerment to move something positive forward, we want to be there with resources to make it a reality,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation director.

Gifts (that will be matched) can be made to the Northern New York Community Foundation,131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601 with Safe Schools Endeavor in the memo line and also online at www.nnycf.org.

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.

The Northern New York Community Foundation encourages non-profit organizations or government entities to apply for up to $3,000 in grant funding for tree planting initiatives in the City of Watertown.

Grant support is made possible through a fund established through the estate of Carolyn Whitney and a gift from T. Urling and Mabel B. Walker. Last year, funding was awarded to the city of Watertown to plant approximately 40 trees. Thompson Park Conservancy received funding to plant native trees to enhance its American Elk exhibit. Since 2010, the Carolyn Whitney Fund at the Community Foundation has awarded more than $25,000 in grant support for nine tree planting projects.

The deadline to submit a grant application for consideration is no later than April 20, 2018. For more information, please contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, at (315) 782-7110 or via email at max@nnycf.org.

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.

The Northern New York Community Foundation invites non-profit organizations or government entities to apply for up to $20,000 in grant funding for any live orchestral music performances to be held in the Watertown area. The concerts must take place after September 1, 2018, but before July 31, 2019. The fund is made possible through the Community Foundation’s orchestral music endowment for Watertown area performances.

Eligible organizations for this funding opportunity must have at least 20 performers and are required to have an instrumental component. Past recipients include the Orchestra of Northern New York, Trinity Concert Series, and Northern Choral Society among others for their respective concert seasons or local performances in Watertown.

The deadline to submit a grant application for consideration is no later than April 20, 2018. For more information, please contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, at (315) 782-7110 or via email at max@nnycf.org.

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.