The Lyons Falls Free Library received $10,000 in total grant funding from the Northern New York Community Foundation to support capital improvements to the library’s building.

The Foundation approved a $5,000 outright grant to support the capital project, but also agreed to help leverage additional community support by awarding a $5,000 matching grant. The Foundation will match community donations to the library’s project, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000. Lyons Falls Library is located in the old carriage house of the historic Gould family mansion and is undergoing exterior renovations. The library functions as the village’s community center and is used by a multi-generational population. “Community Foundation donors represent all areas of Northern New York, and it is always especially meaningful when we can help support projects that have great meaning to specific communities,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation director.

“The Lyons Falls Library board and the village board are very appreciative of the grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation for our library restoration project,” said Donna Dolhof, Lyons Falls Library board president. “Our library provides numerous important services to our community. Our children’s programming contributes to early childhood literacy and helps instill a love for reading and learning. Computers are in high demand at the library from children and adults.  Our adult programs are also popular. All these services would be in jeopardy if we weren’t able to complete our restoration project.”

Other grants recently approved by the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation are:

• The Orchestra of Northern New York (ONNY) – $15,000 to support the organization’s 2018-19 concert series.
• Trinity Concert Series – $5,000 to support their 2018-19 season and assist in expanding the addition of educational components, such as workshops for students, to the program.
• Clayton Jazz Festival – $5,000 to support the expansion of the “Jazz in the Classroom” project to other area schools. The project brings the musicians from “Brighton Beat” into the classrooms, providing assemblies and holding master classes for the kids. This year, the program will expand to more communities, including Carthage, General Brown and Alexandria Central. This grant was made possible, in part, by the Grace L. Reinman Fund, and the River Fund at the Community Foundation.
• Carthage Area Hospital – $3,500 will help provide funding for seven adult and child manikins and the feedback systems to assist with a variety of hospital and community trainings.
• City of Watertown – $3,000 to complete a fall tree planting project in the city. This grant was made possible, in part, by the Carolyn Whitney Fund.
• Northern Choral Society – $1,000 to support the organization’s annual Christmas performance in Watertown.

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.

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The Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2017 held its second “Race Against Poverty” event on June 9 in Watertown. A combination of area contributors and proceeds from the competition resulted in $23,000 raised to support the “Race Against Poverty Fund” at the Northern New York Community Foundation. The “Race Against Poverty Fund” was established to assist in the implementation of “Bridges Out of Poverty” and “Getting Ahead” initiatives in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties. A number of “Bridges Out of Poverty” training sessions and “Getting Ahead” workshops have been conducted and completed to date to help area residents living in poverty.

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.

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A unique funding opportunity designed to augment economic development opportunities is now available through a grant application to the Jefferson Economic Development Fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation.

The charitable purpose of the Jefferson Economic Development Fund is to support programs, projects and efforts which promote economic development and general welfare within Jefferson County. The fund was established in 1958 as the Jefferson County Chambers of Commerce. A group of regional business leaders created the non-profit entity to help encourage economic development and growth. The Community Foundation administers the charitable fund.

Non-profit organizations with a 501(c)3 classification are eligible to apply. If other organizations or agencies do not have this classification, they are required to partner with an eligible non-profit, municipality, or local agency to serve as a fiscal sponsor.

This year, up to $8,500 is available to be awarded from the Jefferson Economic Development Fund. Potential grant requests may focus on economic development areas such as workforce development, job creation, community investment, and more. The deadline to submit a grant proposal for consideration is October 31, 2018.

Please contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, to obtain the grant application or learn more about this funding opportunity. He may be reached at (315) 782-7110 or 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.

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Slack Chemical Company, Inc. recently made a generous $20,000 gift to the charitable fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation supporting the Thompson Park splash pad project in Watertown. The project is being led by the Friends of Thompson Park, which is a local committee of community leaders interested in the park’s past and future. The Friends of Thompson Park have been conducting a community campaign to provide support for the splash pad project. The spray park is scheduled to be completed and open next month.

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 has approved a $20,000 matching grant to help establish and build an endowment fund for the Alexandria Bay Chapter of the Foundation for Community Betterment.

The Community Foundation has officially partnered with the Foundation for Community Betterment in Alexandria Bay to support the organization’s future with the creation of a permanent endowment fund. The Community Foundation will match, dollar-for-dollar, any money raised by the Foundation for Community Betterment up to $20,000. An endowment at the Community Foundation will allow the Foundation for Community Betterment to provide greater options for their supporters to ensure that their important work and mission will go on for generations and stay local. The Foundation for Community Betterment joins over 50 other organizations in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties that have partnered with the Community Foundation in this way.

“Our organization and events have been going on for almost 20 years. We have three generations of volunteers that make up our local chapter. This partnership with the Community Foundation represents the next step in our evolution and guarantees that we will have presence in our community, forever.” said Trevor Garlock, board member of the Foundation for Community Betterment, Alexandria Bay chapter.

The Foundation for Community Betterment in Alexandria Bay has been raising money and hosting fundraising events in the Thousand Islands region since 2000. These funds are generally used to help individuals or local organizations in need. Recipients of these funds must be recommended by someone in the Foundation’s network of supporters, possess philanthropic spirit, and the funds must make an immediate and specific difference to that individual or organization.

“This partnership is a natural linking of organizations of similar purpose, with a special geographic-specific emphasis. We think that as important as their work is now, it will be just as important in the future. This fund will help ensure that goal can be achieved and sustained on a local level,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation director.

Upcoming events for the Foundation for Community Betterment of Alexandria Bay are Alex Bay’s annual Paddle, golf, tennis, and bike on July 27th & 28th, and Chippewa Bay’s Paddle for a Purpose on August 18th. Details can be found on their website: www.communitybetterment.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.

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