The Northern New York Community Foundation recently approved a $2,500 matching grant to support a “Coats for Kids” campaign to help provide winter clothing to students in need attending Carthage Central School. The grassroots effort was started in 2013 by Carthage Central School board member, Joseph A. Colangelo, in partnership with the school district. After a series of contributions, funding was allocated toward the purchase of winter coats, boots, hats and gloves for students. Last year, more than $4,000 was raised through local residents, businesses and organizations to supply winter attire to over 100 students.

“It’s hard enough being a kid with the necessities. It’s much harder being a kid without the necessities. That’s one of the reasons why I started this. There is no reason a kid should even be cold or hungry in our community,” Mr. Colangelo said.

“This is a great way to collaborate so that more students and their families can be helped. The type of commitment Mr. Colangelo has demonstrated is something worthy of supporting and holding up as model example of citizen philanthropy,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. [Read more…]

The committee for the Six Town Community Fund will present two information sessions for local residents and non-profit organizations interested in seeking grants from the community fund to support local projects. The public gatherings will be held on Tuesday, October 4 at Belleville Henderson Central School, and Thursday, October 6 at South Jefferson Central School. Each session will start at 6:30 p.m.

The Six Town Community Fund is designed specifically to advance projects, programs and initiatives in the towns and surrounding communities of Adams, Ellisburg, Henderson, Lorraine, Rodman and Worth. It is a component fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation. “Thanks to contributions from individuals, families, and business organizations—along with a matching grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation—we now have a permanent fund that pools our resources and allows us to accomplish more for the community together than we could individually,” said committee chair David J. Zembiec.

Last year, $5,000 in total grant awards from the Six Town Community Fund supported seven community projects across the region. Grant recipients were:
[Read more…]

The Northern New York Community Foundation’s board of directors recently approved a $10,000 grant in support of the Double Play Sports Community Center in Lowville.

The Community Foundation will award $5,000 to assist with the renovation of space at the organization’s fitness center location. The renovated space will allow the agency to offer additional programming at their Utica Boulevard site. The board also agreed to a $5,000 grant to establish an endowment fund for the organization to be administered by the Community Foundation. The Dyson Foundation has also agreed to match the Community Foundation’s commitment with another $5,000 for Double Play’s endowment, for a total of $10,000.

“We continue to be impressed with all that Double Play has been striving to do to impact Lowville and Lewis County. By providing both a grant for immediate needs and long-term needs, we hope to be able to continue our investment in their efforts,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director. “We are especially grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Dyson Foundation to maximize the overall support for Double Play,” Mr. Richardson said.             Other grants recently approved are:
[Read more…]

The Northern New York Community Foundation is extending the deadline for non-profit organizations to submit an application for consideration through The Lighthouse Fund. Agencies must be providing services to help underserved and vulnerable populations in the Clayton and Cape Vincent areas. The new deadline has been set for September 2.

The Lighthouse Fund is a geographic-specific fund that awards grants annually in perpetuity for projects, programs and initiatives that meet vital community needs in the Clayton and Cape Vincent areas. The component fund was established in 2014 at the Community Foundation and distributed its first grants last year. The Cape Vincent and Clayton Council of Churches food pantries each received a $1,000 matching grant to build year-end support for their agencies. A $1,000 grant was also awarded to the Cape Vincent Improvement League to construct a community garden to grow fruits and vegetables to benefit the local food pantry. [Read more…]

A regional business corporation created in 1958 by St. Lawrence River area business leaders has been reorganized as the Jefferson Economic Development Fund and has affiliated with the Northern New York Community Foundation.

Founded as a nonprofit corporation known as the Jefferson County Chambers of Commerce nearly six decades ago the Fund will focus its activities on awarding grants to support projects or programs which promote the general welfare of the region with emphasis on the St. Lawrence River area.

The 1968 corporation was formally dissolved this month with the approval of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, the Secretary of State and New York’s Attorney General. Under its reorganization, the Fund will be independently guided by the board of the former organization with its funds stewarded by the Community Foundation.

“Our affiliation with the Foundation is a logical fit,” said Fund President Cary R. Brick of Clayton, “the Foundation has a strong record in investing the funds of its affiliated organizations. Our Fund is now assured that its 1958 mission of supporting local benefit activities can continue into perpetuity.” [Read more…]