The Six Town Community Fund will support nine community projects with up to $5,000 in grant funding for programs and projects benefiting residents in southern Jefferson County.

The Six Town Community Fund was created in 2013 to be a permanent philanthropic resource for the southern Jefferson County region. Many individuals, businesses and organizations helped establish the fund, combined with a matching grant from the Community Foundation. The community fund is focused on enhancing the quality of life in the towns of Adams, Ellisburg, Henderson, Lorraine, Rodman, and Worth by supporting a variety of programs, projects, and initiatives in the area. The community fund is a component fund administered by the Northern New York Community Foundation.

“It is fulfilling to see the gifts made by people who love the Six Town area being put to work to make a difference in a grassroots, hyperlocal way. This has proven to be a nice vehicle for donors to focus their giving in a flexible, yet enduring way, for the places that have great meaning for them,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director.

This year’s recipients are:

South Jefferson Rescue Squad, Inc. was awarded $1,000 that will help the organization purchase an APX radio to help the rescue squad transition to a new form of county-wide communication system. The county’s new radio system goes into effect this summer.

Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Association, Inc. received $800 to bring the Red House Arts Group from Syracuse to perform a Shakespeare play performance in July.

South Jefferson Central School received $750 which will be utilized to support the school’s technology club, which recently created project-based activities centered on STEAM initiatives. Students in grades 3-5 at Mannsville and Wilson Elementary schools are participating in learning activities such as programming robots, writing code, developing apps, and more. The grant will assist the club in purchasing appropriate materials for these activities.

The Historical Association of South Jefferson was awarded $500 to begin its campaign to restore seven stained glass windows at the Six Town House.

Adams Village Baptist Church received $500 to promote and raise awareness for a series of hyperlocal community workshops and guidance from a professional substance abuse counselor for people in need of education and family support. The church and its leadership is proposing three community workshops focusing on substance abuse disorder and support groups.

The Adams Revitalization Committee received $500 that will be utilized to assist with the costs of musicians and promoting the 2018 Adams Community Concert Series. The summer concert series are free, open to the public, cover a variety of musical genres, and generally attracts an average of 250 people per show. The 2018 concert series will mark its fourth year.

The Union Academy of Belleville was awarded $500 in support of the renovation to the historic Union Academy bell tower, a well-known landmark in the Six Town area.

The Mannsville Free Library received $250 to advance the “Life is Like a Box of Chocolates” program which encourages teamwork, kindness, and awareness of diversity. The program was held last year at Mannsville Free Library with approximately 40 adults and children in attendance. The grant funding will be used to purchase materials that are part of the program experience.

The Henderson Historical Society received $200 toward the purchase of maple trees that will beautify the society’s walking trail. The trees will be planted this spring.

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 Board of Directors of the Northern New York Community Foundation has awarded up to $15,000 in grant funding to the Watertown Family YMCA for a needs assessment for a proposed full-service Downtown aquatics, racquet sports and full-service wellness center. The Northern New York Community Foundation has a long history of supporting the Watertown Family YMCA as a vital part of the community’s quality of life and allocated this funding to help the organization explore this possible next step in advancing their work and mission.

“Our donors have helped position us to be able to respond quickly when there is an opportunity to promote and encourage meaningful discussion about projects that have the potential to have a positive impact on our community. This grant will help provide proper due diligence in terms of need, scope and sustainability. It will also frame possible future conversations about more broad-based community support and planning for whatever the next chapter may be for the Watertown Family YMCA,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director.

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.

A meaningful legacy gift from Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer will leave a lasting impact on the quality of life for residents in Boonville, Constableville and Westernville forever.

The “Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund” was recently established to support programs, projects and initiatives making a positive difference in the communities of Boonville, Constableville and Westernville. This permanent, charitable fund will be administered by the Northern New York Community Foundation. Grant funding will be awarded annually from this community fund to non-profit organizations serving these respective communities. This year, up to $30,000 in grant funding is available through this legacy fund.

Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer participated in many community events and activities over the years and also served on local boards and committees. Mr. Sawyer was a Boonville native, served in the United States Army, and enjoyed a gratifying career at Layng Furniture Company and as a supervisor at Erwin Park in Boonville. Most notably, he was a talented musician. He played tenor saxophone in high school band and clarinet with the Boonville Village Band. He frequently played with three separate drum and bugle corps in Boonville and Rome. Mr. Sawyer passed away in 2008.

Mrs. Sawyer completed a successful career of over 45 years at Rome Savings Bank and was an avid follower of the stock market. She also served on the finance committee of the Boonville United Methodist Church. She also assisted organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dodge Pratt Northam Art and Community Center, the Erwin Library, and the Boonville Cemetery. Mrs. Sawyer passed away in 2015.

Last year, the Kenneth V. Sawyer and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Scholarship Fund was established through the Northern New York Community Foundation to benefit graduates from Adirondack Central School. This endowed fund will award two scholarships each year forever, supporting the business and music pursuits of high school graduates from the district.

Non-profit organizations serving residents in the communities of Boonville, Constableville and Westernville are encouraged to apply for grant funding through the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund. Guidelines on how to submit a proposal for consideration may be obtained through the Northern New York Community Foundation. Please contact Max DelSignore, Assistant Director, at (315) 782-7110 or via email at max@nnycf.org.

The deadline to submit a proposal for consideration is April 20, 2018. Grant awards will be announced following the Community Foundation’s board meeting in June.

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.

Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, grants totaling $2,000 will be awarded through the Northern New York Community Foundation to four area food pantries serving St. Lawrence River communities.

Each of the four food pantries will receive $500 to purchase items through the Food Bank of Central New York. The recipient organizations are: Alexandria Bay Food Pantry, Cape Vincent Food Pantry, the Clayton Council of Churches Food Pantry, and Depauville Food Pantry. The Community Foundation provides annual support to area food pantries and soup kitchens operating with an official partnership with the Food Bank of Central New York.

“Community Foundation donors are helping make a difference all across the North Country. This is a grant that makes a difference in communities large and small. It also continues to strengthen our partnerships with the individual food pantries and the Food Bank of Central New York that do so much to help our region,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director.

The Food Bank of Central New York is a not-for-profit organization working to eliminate hunger through nutritious food distribution, education, and advocacy. They partner with emergency food programs in many counties including Jefferson, and St. Lawrence. They partner with local agencies that distribute food to individuals and families in need. The Food Bank maintains a food cache that is comprised of food donations from food manufacturers, grocers, wholesalers, and businesses, food from the USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and wholesale foods purchased for their inventory.

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 awarded a $10,000 matching grant to establish and build a permanent endowment fund for the St. Lawrence County Historical Association (SLCHA) at the Community Foundation.

The Community Foundation will match contributions to the SLCHA’s endowment fund, dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000. The goal is to help build the SLCHA’s endowment and provide a permanent, self-sustaining source of long-term funding in support of its work and mission. The SLCHA recently entered into a formal partnership with the Community Foundation, joining 35 other St. Lawrence County organizations who have established funds within the Community Foundation. The partnership also provides expanded options for donors interested in a greater variety of planned giving options, diversification and stewardship.

“The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is immensely excited and pleased to partner with the Northern New York Community Foundation. This opportunity for people to exercise their long range giving goals to the SLCHA through the Community Foundation is outstanding. I look forward to a long and beneficial partnership,” said Lance W. Rudiger, president of the board of directors of the SLCHA.

“The Community Foundation feels strongly that it is important to address both short-term and long-term needs. Ensuring that there is support in the future for investments made today is critical. We are very excited about the new partnership with the St. Lawrence County Historical Association as we explore more ways we can collaborate,” said Rande S. Richardson, director of the Community Foundation.

The St. Lawrence County Historical Association, located in the Silas Wright House in Canton, is a not-for-profit organization and museum which serves as an educational resource for the use and benefit of the citizens of St. Lawrence County and others interested in the county’s history and traditions. They collect and preserve archival material and artifacts pertinent to the county’s history. In cooperation and collaboration with other local organizations, they promote an understanding of and appreciation for the County’s rich history through publications, exhibits, and programs.

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. Since 1929, 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.