Pair of Seniors Honored at Homes Wednesday Evening as Top Graduating Athletes

    WATERTOWN — Two Watertown High School seniors were honored Wednesday evening as the top graduating athletes and recipients of the William I. Graf Award. Sarah R. Kilburn was selected as the women’s recipient, and Riley J. Connell was named as the men’s honoree this year.

    The William I. Graf Award was created in 1954 by the Italian-American Civic Association to honor Mr. Graf’s leadership and civic engagement in the community. The Northern New York Community Foundation was selected to help continue the Graf family legacy by administering the fund in perpetuity and raising awareness of the award for students who strive to earn the prestigious honor.

    Mr. Graf was a multi-sport coach and athletic director at Watertown High School. Graf Award honorees are expected to have participated in at least two or more varsity sports in their senior year and demonstrate exceptional character and sportsmanship, discipline, fair play, training, athletic ability, and academics.

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Applications for Several Other Unique Educational Opportunities Also Due June 1     

     WATERTOWN — Students from Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties who have had a break in post-secondary education and are returning to school should apply by next Tuesday, June 1, for the Northern New York Community Foundation’s Nontraditional Student Scholarship.

     Eligible students include all who are enrolling in academic study at a two- or four-year college or trade, vocational, or technical school, either full or part time. Applications may be made through the Foundation’s online scholarship portal accessed at nnycf.org. 

     Next Tuesday is also the deadline for a pair of unique scholarship opportunities at the Community Foundation for current Jefferson and St. Lawrence county students pursuing studies in a STEM field, including:

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Challenge Grant Will Help Village Plan for its 150th Anniversary

     CLAYTON — The Cary and Janet Brick Riverside Foundation, a Northern New York Community Foundation affiliate, has provided a challenge grant to the Village of Clayton to help plan its 150th anniversary celebration.

    A $1,000 grant was recently awarded to encourage additional contributions to support planning efforts that kicked off earlier this month. Incorporated on April 17, 1872, Clayton will commemorate its sesquicentennial in 2022 with a historic celebration featuring a symbolic theme relating to its rich history: “150 Years — Where the Tradition Continues.”

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St. Lawrence County Churches, Cemeteries, Places of Historical Significance, and Military Veterans Programs Encouraged to Apply

     WATERTOWN — The Rock Charitable Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation is now accepting applications for 2021 grant funding from qualified charitable organizations, churches, cemeteries, or governmental entities that serve St. Lawrence County residents.

     Grant support is available to organizations whose missions and efforts align with the fund’s charitable purposes, which are: for the maintenance and preservation of churches, houses of worship, and cemeteries in St. Lawrence County; for the preservation and maintenance of places of legitimate historical significance in the county; and to benefit or assist veterans of the United States military with their medical or recreational needs who live in St. Lawrence County. 

     All organizations applying for funding must do so through the Community Foundation’s online Grant Lifecycle Manager, which may be accessed at nnycf.org/grants. A grant information session is scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, June 3, via Zoom. Visit bit.ly/rockfund to register for the session today.

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61 North Country Nonprofit Organizations Benefit from Gifts and Community Foundation Matching Grant

     WATERTOWN — More than 300 individuals, families and businesses, and a Northern New York Community Foundation matching grant, helped the 2021 #giveNNY campaign reach a record $42,298 to support nonprofits in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

     A diverse group of 61 organizations joined a month-long campaign that encouraged nonprofits to work together in ways that transcend fundraising. The number of participants was more than twice the previous collaboration in 2019 and the most since the #giveNNY movement began five years ago. From arts and culture to the environment, health and wellness, recreation, history, animal welfare, youth leadership, human services, education, and essential needs, participating organizations dedicated to strengthening the quality of nearly every aspect of life in the region were represented. 

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