Project Aims to Restock Food Pantries, Backpack Programs, Combat Food Insecurity Across the Region

     WATERTOWN — The LEAD Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation invites local students at tri-county schools and organized student groups in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to participate in a creative and impactful project to help reduce food insecurity across the North Country.

     The “Canstruction for Northern New York” initiative is back for a third year as a team activity to encourage local students to team up and construct a fun, themed structure made of donated canned food and other nonperishable food items or hygiene products. Collected items are donated to a local food pantry or backpack program of their choice at the end of the competition.

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Sixteen Projects Receive Funding to Strengthen Student Culture, Building Security

     WATERTOWN — The Safe Schools Endeavor, in partnership with the Northern New York Community Foundation, will award $28,290 in grant support to fund 16 projects in 14 Jefferson and Lewis County school districts for the 2024-2025 school year.

     The Safe Schools Endeavor Steering Committee reviewed nearly 20 applications for funding to support programs that empower students, parents, and faculty to create the safest schools possible in Jefferson and Lewis counties. This is the sixth year the fund has awarded grant support. Since its inception, the Safe Schools Endeavor has awarded $129,116 to support 71 school projects in Jefferson and Lewis counties.

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Schools That Increase Student Participation Eligible to Win a Share of $5,000 in Foundation Grant Support

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce an exciting challenge to inspire greater participation in its scholarship program from the Class of 2025 and give schools a chance to win a share of up to $5,000 in grant support.

     The Community Foundation’s scholarship program supports graduating seniors pursuing further education — whether at an accredited college, university, technical, or trade school.

     The scholarship challenge is open to all schools in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

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Nearly 120 Northern New York Middle School Students Across Three Counties Participate in Eighth Annual Challenge

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce $10,000 in Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge grants to 10 nonprofit organizations that serve Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

     Now in its eighth year, the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge was open to all tri-county middle school students. This year’s program committee reviewed 119 entries from seventh and eighth graders in nine different school districts who recommended grants to nearly 65 different organizations that serve residents across the three counties.

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Young Professionals Aid Senior Programs in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation’s LEAD Council will award $5,470 through its Holiday Giving Fund to three programs that make the holidays special for seniors in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County.

     The advisory committee of young professionals established the LEAD Holiday Giving Fund at the Community Foundation in 2020 to help brighten the season for tri-county residents in need. Between generous gifts to the fund and a matching commitment from the Community Foundation, three nonprofits that manage holiday programs for senior citizens will each receive $1,832 in support to strengthen their efforts. They include:

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