A new scholarship fund has been established at the Northern New York Community Foundation to honor the legacy of the late Harry L. Minnich Jr., affectionately known as “Mr. Fix-It.”
Mr. Minnich, Calcium, died in September. He owned and operated the Copper Tree Gift Shop in Watertown from 1978 to 2003 and later worked in the IT department of Marra’s Homecare until 2010.Mr. Minnich was well-known for his skills in repairing everything from watches and clocks to wheelchairs.
A Watertown Daily Times article by Jim Higgins recognized Mr. Minnich, albeit unnamed, as Watertown’s venerable Mr. Fix-It. He is described as “somebody who can look at a machine or a gadget, and can understand how it works, and then fix it.” The article was headlined “A Salute to My Man, The Generous Mr. Fix-it.”
The annual scholarship will be awarded to students from Jefferson County who pursue vocational education or education in a trade. Students may be traditional or nontraditional and may attend any technical school or college, including Jeff-Lewis BOCES.
Contact the Northern New York Community Foundation, 315-782-7110, to learn more about the scholarship and how to apply, or visit www.nnycf.org.
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 strategic partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the community. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving 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.