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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Community Foundation’s Class of 2024 Wilcox Family Scholarship Recipients Named

August 19, 2024 By admin

Indian River Students Presented Scholarships in Memory of Longtime Teacher, Coach, and Community Servant Allen T. Drake

     THERESA — Indian River High School graduates BreeLynn J. LaLonde and Connor D. McMahon are the Class of 2024 recipients of the Community Foundation’s Russell I. and Mary Wilcox Family Scholarship.

     This year’s scholarships were awarded in memory of longtime Indian River Central educator and coach Allen T. Drake, a dear friend of the Wilcox family who unexpectedly passed away in July.

     Mr. Drake was a devoted community servant and elected official who served as a Village of Theresa Trustee, Town of Theresa Councilman, and Theresa Town Supervisor before his election to the Jefferson County Board of Legislators. He represented District 4 for nearly 15 years. This spring, Mr. Drake was elected to serve on the Indian River Central School District Board of Education.

     Mr. Wilcox recalled his friend as a “tireless advocate for students and his community” who consistently worked to strengthen the Indian River area and Northern New York.

Indian River High School graduates Connor D. McMahon, left, and BreeLynn J. LaLonde are the Class of 2024 recipients of the Community Foundation’s Russell I. and Mary Wilcox Family Scholarship.

     Scholarship recipient BreeLynn J. LaLonde will attend D’Youville University, Buffalo, to study nursing this fall. She plans to continue her education in graduate school to become a neonatal nurse practitioner. She is the daughter of Allesha Tucker and Adam LaLonde, Theresa.

     BreeLynn was a standout athlete throughout high school, competing for four years as a member of the varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams. She four-year NYSPHSAA Section III Scholar Athlete and earned numerous honors for athletic achievement, including being named as a Frontier League All-Star in all three sports and earning the Heart of a Champion Award as a soccer and basketball player.

     In the classroom, BreeLynn excelled academically and is a top-ranked honor student, a two-year National Honor Society member, and a National Technical Honor Society member. She participated in the New Vision Health program at Jeff-Lewis BOCES.

     BreeLynn was extensively involved in extracurricular and volunteer activities, serving as class president her senior year, a youth soccer coach, and a member of the Booster Club, Prom Committee, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Sources of Strength, and the Whiz Quiz Team. Outside of school, BreeLynn has been employed full-time during her summer breaks since 2023.

     Scholarship recipient Connor D. McMahon will attend St. Lawrence University, Canton, this fall where he plans to study finance. He aspires to work in his community as a wealth management advisor after college. He is the son of Christine and Jess McMahon, Theresa.

     Connor was a standout athlete at Indian River, competing for three years on the varsity football and indoor track teams, and four years on the varsity lacrosse team. He is a four-year NYSPHSAA Section III Scholar Athlete and served as a football team captain in his junior and senior years. Connor earned numerous Frontier League awards and recognition as a varsity lacrosse player and was a team captain his senior year. He also played lacrosse for Unity Club for six years and has committed to play lacrosse at St. Lawrence.

     In the classroom, Connor excelled academically and is a top-ranked honor student and two-year National Honor Society member. He was extensively involved in extracurricular and volunteer activities, serving as a youth lacrosse coach, peer tutor, backpack program volunteer, and a member of the Ski and Booster clubs. Outside of school, Connor has worked as a snowboarding instructor at Dry Hill Ski Center and is employed part time.

     The Russell I. & Mary Wilcox Family Scholarship was established as a permanent scholarship of the Northern New York Community Foundation in 2019. Mr. Wilcox and his wife, Mary “Cookie” Wilcox, are graduates of Theresa High School, which is now Theresa Primary School, and the place they met. Mr. Wilcox had a successful career of 41 years with the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, retiring as its executive director in 2003 after leading the authority for 25 years.

About the Northern New York Community Foundation

     Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

     Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

     The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.

Filed Under: Recent News

Northern New York Community Foundation

131 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: 315-782-7110
Fax: 315-782-0047

info@nnycf.org

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ATTENTION CLASS OF 2025 students, parents, teachers, counselors, and class advisors: Now is the time for Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County students to apply for post-secondary educational support.

Apply today at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships

Questions? Contact Mary Perrine, Community Foundation coordinator of partnerships, maryp@nnycf.org, or Tara Hess, stewardship & donor services associate, tara@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110.

#NNYCF #ClassOf2025 #Scholarships

ATTENTION CLASS OF 2025 students, parents, teachers, counselors, and class advisors: Now is the time for Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County students to apply for post-secondary educational support.

Apply today at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships

Questions? Contact Mary Perrine, Community Foundation coordinator of partnerships, maryp@nnycf.org, or Tara Hess, stewardship & donor services associate, tara@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110.

#NNYCF #ClassOf2025 #Scholarships
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Thanks to donors like YOU, the LEAD Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation made the holiday season shine a little brighter for tri-county seniors!

Through LEAD's Holiday Giving Fund match, nearly $5,500 was raised to help make the holidays special for seniors in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

Meals on Wheels at Watertown Urban Mission, the Santa for Seniors program at Lowville Food Pantry, and Meals on Wheels at St. Lawrence County Office for the Aging each received $1,832 in support.

Complete details below.

We are grateful for all who support Community Foundation programs like the LEAD Council and initiatives that make a direct and meaningful impact across the regi#NNYCFN#lead##leadingthewayheWay
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LEAD Council Holiday Giving Fund Awards Nearly $5,500 to Brighten Season Across the Region

nnycf.org

LEAD Council Holiday Giving Fund Awards Nearly $5,500 to Brighten Season Across the Region December 26, 2024 By admin Young Professionals Aid Senior Programs in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Coun...
4 months ago
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The Watertown-based manufacturer behind Little Trees air fresheners recently established the CAR-FRESHNER Corporation Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation.

Grant applications will be reviewed and awarded quarterly throughout the calendar year. Eligible nonprofit organizations may submit one application per year, with grant awards ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $20,000 per application.

This year, applications must focus on educational initiatives, including but not limited to libraries, child care, and preschool programs, career training, vocational and technical education, and similar projects that enhance educational opportunities within Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

The deadline for first-quarter 2025 grant applications is Friday, January 24, 2025. Visit bit.ly/grant-portal to access the Community Foundation’s online grant portal.

Complete details below.

#NNYCF #ThoughtfulGiving #Partnerships #Grantmaking
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CAR-FRESHNER Corp. Establishes Charitable Partnership With the Community Foundation

nnycf.org

CAR-FRESHNER Corp. Establishes Charitable Partnership With the Community Foundation December 23, 2024 By admin New Charitable Fund Will Support Various Community Projects and Initiatives Through Quart...
4 months ago
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Thank you, Car Freshener!

Becky Taylor

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