First Grant Awards Aid North Country Children’s Museum, Potsdam Holiday Fund

    POTSDAM — The John and Dorotha VanNess Family Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation recently made its first grant awards to two nonprofit organizations that support the quality of life and vibrancy of the Potsdam area.

    The North Country Children’s Museum, Potsdam, received a $2,500 award to purchase kits for its STEAM learning opportunities. A group of educators with a collective vision to create a cultural and educational center for North Country families formed the museum in 2012.

    The Potsdam Holiday Fund received $500 to support its “Santa’s Workshop” program. Each year, the Potsdam Holiday Fund helps to make the holidays happier for hundreds of local families.

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Hundreds of Opportunities for Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence County Students

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications from students in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties who plan to enroll as freshmen this fall.

     An online portal streamlines the application process for the Community Foundation’s Freshman Scholarship. Students may access the application portal, create a user account, and begin an online application by clicking on 2020-2021 Freshman Scholarship Application. All Community Foundation freshman scholarship applications are due Wednesday, April 15, through the online portal.

     High school seniors from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties who will be enrolled as full-time undergraduates this fall may apply for a one-year, freshman scholarship. Students pursuing technical, trade or vocational school may also apply and should complete the same application.

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27 North Country Nonprofit Organizations Benefit from Gifts and Matching Grant

     WATERTOWN — Generous gifts from more than 115 individuals, families and businesses, and a Northern New York Community Foundation matching grant, lifted the 2019 #giveNNY campaign to a new record of $24,375 to support nonprofits in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

     Twenty-seven nonprofit organizations participated in the recent campaign, the most since the #giveNNY movement began three years ago. The local effort united tri-county nonprofits on the Dec. 3, 2019, #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnessed the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generous acts.

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‘Operation Snowstorm’ Helps Nearly 200 Students in Two School Districts    

WATERTOWN — A Northern New York Community Foundation partnership has helped provide winter clothing for nearly 165 children at two Lewis County schools.

    The collaboration with the Dyson Foundation called “Operation Snowstorm” supplies students at Lowville Academy and Central School and Beaver River Central School with coats, hats, scarves, mittens, boots and other necessary winter garments.

    This winter, a $11,500 grant was split evenly between the two schools, which helped to warm 99 Lowville Academy students and 64 Beaver River students.

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Eligible Organizations Encouraged to Apply by Friday, Feb. 28

    WATERTOWN — Nonprofit organizations within Jefferson County are encouraged to review current programs and initiatives and consider applying for grant funding from the Jefferson Economic Development Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

    The Jefferson Economic Development Fund was established to support programs, projects and efforts that help create economic development and promote general welfare in Jefferson County. The Community Foundation is asking nonprofit leaders to think creatively and broadly about their current programs or new initiatives and identify a link between their work and how it positively impacts economic development in Jefferson County.

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