The Northern New York Community Foundation is currently accepting application packets from students residing in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties for a variety of scholarships. Since 1980, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $14.5 million in scholarship awards to students living in the tri-county region.

“Investment in education has always been a core component of the Foundation’s history and heritage and many new scholarships have been established by donors in all three counties. We hope to have as many applicants as possible this year,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director.

Scholarship application packets can be downloaded and printed from the Community Foundation’s website: www.nnycf.org. Completed application packets must be returned to the Foundation, or postmarked, by April 1, 2017. The packets are required to include a student’s application, essay, appraisal forms, references and transcript(s).

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The legacy of George R. Davis will be recognized again this year through the geographical fund benefiting the community that he loved. The grant application for the George R. Davis Fund for Lowville at the Northern New York Community Foundation is now available.

Mr. Davis spent most of his life as a Lowville resident and served as Lewis County judge for more than 20 years. Upon his death in 2010, Mr. Davis created a community fund that would benefit the citizens in the village and town of Lowville in perpetuity. Several non-profit organizations and community projects have garnered support through this permanent philanthropic resource.

“The legacy of George Davis continues to make a meaningful difference in Lowville. It is wonderful he had the generous foresight to find a way to forever impact the quality of life there and we are honored to be part of fulfilling that promise,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director.

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Non-profit organizations providing critical programs and services to citizens in the Clayton and Cape Vincent communities are encouraged to review and apply for grant support through two funds at the Northern New York Community Foundation.

The grant guidelines for the Dale Kenyon Community Fund and the Lighthouse Fund at the Community Foundation are now available. The deadline to submit a proposal for either fund is April 21, 2017.

“These two funds provide unique sources of support for nonprofit organizations within a specific geographic area. We are grateful to the donors who have chosen to make a difference in this directed way,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “We encourage eligible organizations to apply so we can continue to broaden the how the two funds help impact the quality of life in these communities,” he said.

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The Northern New York Community Foundation recently awarded a total grant of $30,000 to assist the Watertown Family YMCA’s efforts in launching the agency’s new branch in Sackets Harbor.

The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors agreed to provide $15,000 this year as the YMCA opens in its Madison Barracks location in Sackets Harbor. One of the YMCA’s recent goals has been to expand the non-profit’s services to other communities. Following approved evaluations of the organization’s progress in the village over the first two years, the Foundation will subsequently award a $10,000 grant in 2018 and $5,000 in 2019.

“One of the ways Community Foundations can play an important role is to provide funding to help get new programs off the ground and prepare them for success. We saw this as a way to help increase the accessibility of some of the YMCA’s important programs to residents of the Sackets Harbor area and surrounding communities,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director.

“The YMCA is excited to offer health and wellness family programming in a welcoming community like Sackets Harbor,” said Denise Young, CEO, Watertown Family YMCA. “We are grateful to the Northern New York Community Foundation for their support to help us establish the Sackets YMCA in the beautiful, historic health club at Madison Barracks.”  [Read more…]

The Northern New York Community Foundation’s Board of Directors recently approved grants totaling $175,000 to support projects for the betterment of Thompson Park in Watertown.

The board agreed to a $100,000 grant to help assist with the organizational planning efforts at the Thompson Park Zoo. The Community Foundation will provide a $50,000 grant in 2017 to assist with the zoo’s organizational restructuring. Following an evaluation and approval of the zoo’s progress in the first year of its plan, the Foundation will grant another $50,000 to be utilized in 2018.

“The citizens of this area, and the Community Foundation have made significant investments in Thompson Park over the years. It is a regional asset that is worthy of protecting and enhancing,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director.             For more than 20 years, the Community Foundation has supported a variety of projects dedicated to enhancing the mission of Thompson Park Conservancy, Inc., and also includes the administration of an endowment fund which provides the Conservancy with ongoing support. The zoo offers a unique collection of animal and wildlife exhibits. Approximately 60,000 visitors enter the zoo each year, and more than 5,000 individuals, youth and families participate in the organization’s educational programs.

 “The Zoo has been an integral and beloved part of our community for nearly a century and this investment from the Community Foundation provides tremendous support as we work hard to bring value to our community in an exciting and sustainable way,” said Mark Irwin, board chair for Thompson Park Zoo.

The Community Foundation also approved two matching grants totaling $75,000 in support of the Friends of Thompson Park. The board awarded a $50,000 matching grant to leverage community support for the committee’s splash pad project. Charitable gifts for the splash pad project will be administered by the Foundation. [Read more…]