Community Foundation’s George R. Davis Fund for Lowville Awards $15,000 in Grant Funding

Legacy Fund Helps Four Lowville-Area Organizations with Community Projects

     LOWVILLE — Four Lowville-area organizations will share $15,000 in grant support from the George R. Davis Fund for Lowville of the Northern New York Community Foundation. This geographic-specific fund serves as a permanent resource for programs, projects, and initiatives that enhance quality of life in the village and town of Lowville.

     The Honorable George R. Davis lived almost his entire life in Lowville and served for 20 years as Lewis County Judge from 1962 to 1983, previously serving as District Attorney. He was active in civic affairs throughout his life with a keen interest in local history, including the history of Lowville Academy where his father was a supervising principal for more than 35 years. Judge Davis passed away in 2010 at the age of 91.

     Judge Davis’s devotion to Lowville was extraordinary and his legacy fund at the Community Foundation perpetuates his affinity for making a positive impact in the community. The fund has supported nearly 60 community organizations and projects in the Lowville area with $140,000 in funding since grantmaking began in 2012.

      “This year, the George R. Davis Fund is ensuring that four essential projects and needs are fulfilled to support the greater Lowville area,” said Max DelSignore, Northern New York Community Foundation assistant director. “We are grateful for Mr. Davis’s lasting gift that helps sustain and build a community that meant so much to him.”

     The four grants awarded this year from the George R. Davis Fund are:

• Lowville Food Pantry, $5,000 to help support the purchase and installation of a new walk-in freezer at the pantry’s Trinity Avenue facility. The food pantry served more than 53,000 individuals in 2022-23, and it helps close to 500 families each month. A new walk-in freezer will maximize energy efficiency while also reducing food spoilage and enable the pantry to increase its capacity to serve neighbors in need.
• Village of Lowville, $4,500 to augment improvements to Veterans Memorial Park. The next phase of park improvements includes an enhanced drainage system and walking trails. Grant support will allocate resources to secure benches for the planned walking trail and wheelchair accessible picnic tables.
• Lewis County Historical Society, $3,000 to support interns to lead a second year of historic walking tours in the village. Thanks to interns, the historical society completed proper research to launch walking tours last year. Grant funding will help interns expand the number of tours and feature local history in a creative, engaging manner.
• Volunteer Transportation Center (VTC) Foundation, $2,500 to support reimbursement for volunteer drivers who serve clients in the Village and Town of Lowville. The Volunteer Transportation Center provides essential rides to health, social and other destinations for Northern New York residents at no charge. More than 100,000 miles were logged in Lewis County in 2023.

     The application for the next grant cycle for funding from the George R, Davis Fund for Lowville will be available in early 2025.

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.