The Northern New York Community Foundation has made a grant of $25,000 to assist the Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity with the start-up costs for a new permanent home for the organization and to open a ReStore at that location. Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity has helped provide decent, affordable housing to families in Jefferson and Lewis counties for almost 25 years. Habitat affiliates across the country have opened ReStores that accept donations of new and gently used home improvement materials, appliances, furniture, and other items and resell them to the public at discount prices. Revenue from these sales is used to assist in the various operations, programs, and most importantly, building project costs. Thousand Island Area Habitat for Humanity expects its ReStore to open this spring.

Additionally, a $10,000 matching grant was awarded to establish a permanent endowment fund for the organization at the Community Foundation. The endowment fund will provide an extra source of sustainable income for the agency in perpetuity.

“Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity is honored to receive this funding from Northern New York Community Foundation. It is critical to our starting up a new program, which will be an asset to serve more families in Jefferson and Lewis counties. The primary goal is to raise a funding source to make homeownership opportunity affordable for low income families. The ReStore will also re-purpose items for the community, reduce landfill waste and be an opportunity to employ new personnel,” said Brian Drappo, Executive Director of Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity.

“We are pleased to be able to be on the early stages of helping Habitat for Humanity advance the work they do to make our community a better place and make home ownership a more affordable reality for our friends and neighbors. With both ReStore and the new endowment fund, I believe they will be better positioned to continue their good work for a long time to come.” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation Executive Director.

Those wishing to contribute to the endowment fund and have their gift doubled, may make a gift to: Northern New York Community Foundation and write “TI Area Habitat for Humanity Endowment Fund” in the memo line. Contributions may be mailed to the Foundation at 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601, or 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.

Non-profit organizations serving residents in the village and town of Lowville are encouraged to apply through the George R. Davis Fund for Lowville at the Northern New York Community Foundation.

Mr. Davis was a longtime Lowville resident and served as Lewis County judge for more than 20 years. He established this permanent charitable fund for the community following his death in 2010. This year, up to $10,000 is available in grant funding through this community fund to support programs, projects and initiatives benefiting the quality of life in Lowville.

In 2017, seven projects were awarded grant funding totaling $10,000. The recipients were:

• Lowville Food Pantry – $3,400 to assist with a feasibility study and explore a capital project as a potential future location for the pantry.
  
• Lewis County Search & Rescue – $1,545 for the purchase of new radio equipment to enhance communication during daily calls.
  
• Mountain View Prevention Services, Inc. – $1,250 to assist with the promotion of a community event centered on raising awareness and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths and addiction.
  
• Boys Scouts of America, Inc. (Lowville Troop #162) – $1,250 to increase access and opportunities for disadvantaged youth to participate in troop activities during the 2018 summer camp experience.
  
• U.S. Bowling Congress, Inc. (Lowville Youth Bowling League – $1,055 to provide more opportunities for youth and individuals with disabilities to participate in local bowling events and tournaments.
• Future Farmers of America (Lowville chapter) – $1,000 in support of a community “Meals for Hope” initiative to assist area families in need.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County – $500 to support gardening workshops for youth.

To learn more about the George R. Davis Fund, or receive an application, please contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation 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.

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 Community Foundation is located at the Northern New York Philanthropy Center in Watertown.

The Lighthouse Fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation has up to $2,000 available in grant funding to support non-profit organizations serving citizens in the Clayton and Cape Vincent communities.

This charitable fund was established in 2014 as a resource to area non-profits providing critical programs and services to underserved and vulnerable populations in the two St. Lawrence River communities. Last year, a $2,000 matching grant was awarded to the Cape Vincent Food Pantry to help bolster its community support for the organization and increase available resources to purchase additional food items for consumers.

Non-profit organizations that are conducting programs, projects or initiatives that are assisting residents in need are encouraged to apply through the Lighthouse Fund grant opportunity at the Community Foundation. The deadline to submit a proposal for consideration is April 20, 2018.

Please contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, to learn more about the Lighthouse Fund and obtain the grant guidelines. You may reach him 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 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 Community Foundation is located at the Northern New York Philanthropy Center in Watertown.

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.