$5,000 in Support Aids Celine G. Philibert Cultural Centre and Museum

     MASSENA — A recent Community Foundation grant will help the Town of Massena’s efforts to purchase a storage building for the Celine G. Philibert Memorial Cultural Centre and Museum.

     The Foundation’s Board has approved a $5,000 award for the Museum that will help properly protect its collection and artifacts. 

     In early May, Community Foundation staff learned that officials with the Town and Museum were raising money to purchase a container for artifact storage.

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Students Field 27 Funding Requests from Tri-County Nonprofits

     WATERTOWN — The Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation has awarded $20,000 in grants to seven North Country nonprofit organizations that will support a wide range of community programs and projects.

     Each year, the Council reviews requests from tri-county nonprofits to fund projects or initiatives that positively impact the quality of life in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties. In addition to researching and recommending grants, Council members visit several nonprofit organizations, learn about grantee stewardship, community investment and leadership, and nonprofit sustainability.

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Donor Partnerships Create Permanent Resource to Supplement Annual Fundraising Efforts

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce a partnership with the family of T. Urling and Mabel Walker and local developer Jake Johnson to create a permanent resource that will help support the annual Concert in the Park event. The fund will provide a gift toward annual fundraising efforts led by the Watertown Noon Rotary Club.

     Mr. Johnson, of Jake Johnson Properties, Watertown, the Walker Family Community Fund of the Community Foundation and the Community Foundation itself provided leadership gifts to establish a Concert in the Park endowment fund at the Community Foundation. Watertown Savings Bank and the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation have provided additional support to build the fund. Together, the donors have provided an initial $85,000 toward the $100,000 goal.

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Eight County-Based Nonprofits to Share nearly $420,000 in Funding; Applications for Second Funding Round Due in August

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce $419,465 in grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) COVID Recovery Program to aid to eight organizations that serve county residents.

     The program is made possible through $1 million in funding that county officials allocated to help nonprofits respond to and recover from the negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

     Jefferson County has partnered with the Community Foundation to administer the federal grant program and steward ARPA State and Local Recovery Funds in accordance with United States Treasury guidelines.

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Recent Immaculate Heart Graduates Honored as Top Athletes at Italian-American Civic Association Event

     WATERTOWN — Two members of the Immaculate Heart Central Class of 2023 were honored Wednesday evening as the top graduating athletes and recipients of the Clarence B. “Boots” Gaffney Award. Emily L. Bombard was selected as the women’s recipient and Robert T. O’Connor was named as the men’s honoree this year.

     The Italian-American Civic Association established the Gaffney Award in 1980 following his retirement as athletic director to honor his commitment to Immaculate Heart Academy and IHC students. That same year, the Gaffney Award was first presented to the top graduating male and female athletes at Immaculate Heart.

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