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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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LEAD Council & Community Foundation Award $25,000
 To Expand Local Poverty Initiative Helping Area Residents

March 23, 2018 By admin

The Northern New York Community Foundation and its LEAD Council have stepped up to assist with a local poverty initiative designed to impact residents in need.

The Community Foundation’s board of directors and LEAD Council teamed up to award a $25,000 grant to the “Race Against Poverty Fund,” which is designed to support non-profit organizations conducting the “Bridges Out of Poverty and “Getting Ahead” initiatives in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. The “Race Against Poverty Fund” was established by the Jefferson Leadership Institute Class of 2017 – in partnership with the Greater Watertown North Country Chamber of Commerce – and is administered by the Community Foundation.

The LEAD Council is an advisory group of young professionals that complements the Community Foundation with strategic grantmaking efforts. The council was founded in 2014 as a way to empower and mobilize the next generation in proactive community philanthropy that enhances the quality of life in the North Country. More than 20 members are represented on the council from across Northern New York.

The “Bridges Out of Poverty” and “Getting Ahead” initiatives were introduced to the community last year by Community Action Planning Council and the Watertown Urban Mission, with additional support from the Volunteer Transportation Center. The 16-week workshop leads participants through self-exploration and discovery exercises to identify and resolve the root issues of their situation living in poverty. To date, two workshops have been completed. The Community Action Planning Council received additional grant support from New York State through the “Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative,” which is being administered by the United Way of Northern New York, to conduct “Getting Ahead” workshops to help residents in the city of Watertown.

The LEAD Council began exploring hyperlocal effects of poverty on the community in late 2016 and pursued a collaboration with chamber’s Jefferson Leadership Institute (JLI) class to expand the initiative across the tri-county area. In 2017, the JLI class raised $24,000 through its “Race Against Poverty” event in downtown Watertown to build the “Race Against Poverty Fund.” LEAD and the Community Foundation have added funding to the charitable resource to provide an opportunity for other area non-profit organizations to seek funding to conduct the “Bridges Out of Poverty” and “Getting Ahead” initiatives in their service area.

A committee consisting of members from the LEAD Council and the Jefferson Leadership Institute class has developed an application and review process and will recommend deployment of grant funding to non-profits. The committee will also assist with the examination of outcomes from the workshops to help determine impact.

“Getting Ahead’ is an innovative program that provides those who lack resources with the necessary tools to make positive changes toward a brighter tomorrow,” said Dawn Cole, Deputy Director of the Community Action Planning Council. “The future stories that come from ‘Getting Ahead’ not only impact participants on an individual level, but they strengthen the community as a whole. I am deeply grateful for the generous support of the LEAD Council and Northern New York Community Foundation and look forward to many more ‘Getting Ahead’ workshops. It will put us one step closer to a truly sustainable community where we can all live well.”

The LEAD Council program and its efforts are made possible through the generosity of the Hyde-Stone Charitable Foundation at the Northern New York Community Foundation, Carthage Savings and Loan, BCA Architects and Engineers and annual gifts made to the Friends of the Community Foundation Community Betterment Fund.

“We are so grateful for the broad range of Community Foundation donors who have supported the efforts of the LEAD program as it strives to empower young professionals to begin to find strategic and meaningful ways to make a difference in the place they live. The ‘Race Against Poverty’ initiative has demonstrated the great potential these committed young citizens have to make their mark for years to come,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation director.

If you wish to support this endeavor with a contribution to the “Race Against Poverty Fund, please consider making a gift to: Northern New York Community Foundation and write “Race Against Poverty Fund” in the memo line. You may mail your gift to 131 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601. You may also make a contribution online at www.nnycf.org.

The Northern New York Community Foundation makes grants to support the work of non-profit organizations and provides scholarships to individuals in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. The Foundation has been built and added to from gifts (both while living and through their legacy plans) by individuals and organizations committed to meeting the changing needs of Northern New York, as well as supporting specific charitable interests and passions.

The following is an active list of current members serving on the LEAD Council at the Northern New York Community Foundation:

Eli Anderson, Henderson (Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization)

Krysta Aten-Schell, Adams Center (BCA Architects and Engineers)

Hilary Avallone, Carthage (ACR Health)

Andrew Boulter, Watertown (Watertown Savings Bank)

Anthony Burgess, Watertown (Jefferson Community College)

Dennis Caughlin, Watertown (Watertown Savings Bank)

Victoria Collins, Croghan (Conboy, McKay, Bachman & Kendall LLP)

Bridget Fetterly, Carthage (Carthage Savings and Loan)

Trevor Garlock, Hammond (Northwestern Mutual Co.)

Kerry Kennett, Sackets Harbor (South Jefferson Central School)

Cari Knight, Great Bend (ACR Health)

Lindsay Knowlton, Adams Center (North Country Initiative)

Kristin LaClair, Watertown (Children’s Miracle Network at Samaritan Medical Center)

Diane Leonard, Clayton (DH Leonard Consulting and Grant Writing Services)

Joanna Loomis, Watertown (Watertown Urban Mission)

Steve Magovney, Watertown (Transitional Living Services)

Kylee Monroe, Philadelphia (General Brown Central School)

Aaron Naklick, Watertown (Samaritan Medical Center)

John Nuber, Clayton (RBC Wealth Management)

Melissa Schmitt, Watertown (Samaritan Medical Center)

Erin Simser, Watertown (WinnCompanies)

Robert Sligar, Carthage (Carthage Savings and Loan)

Jennifer Voss, Watertown (City of Watertown)

Matthew Walldroff, LaFargeville (Jade Stone Engineering)

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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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Working with donors to benefit the community through grants and scholarships since 1929.

Meet Finley Swartz, a Watertown High School junior and first-year member of the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation. Finley is the daughter of Tricia and Christopher Swartz, Watertown.

“YPC Wednesday” is a weekly feature on our Instagram channel that highlights Council members and what inspires them to serve and learn about community philanthropy.

Follow us on Instagram — @nnycommunityfoundation — to see new stories as they premiere each Wednesday. We’ll post them to this page after they appear on Instagram.

The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program is made possible by gifts from donors who make contributions to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund and generous support from Watertown Savings Bank, RBC Wealth Management Watertown, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, and the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund.

#ThisIsYPC #Leadership #YPCWednesday #YouthPhilanthropyCouncilImage attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment

Meet Finley Swartz, a Watertown High School junior and first-year member of the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation. Finley is the daughter of Tricia and Christopher Swartz, Watertown.

“YPC Wednesday” is a weekly feature on our Instagram channel that highlights Council members and what inspires them to serve and learn about community philanthropy.

Follow us on Instagram — @nnycommunityfoundation — to see new stories as they premiere each Wednesday. We’ll post them to this page after they appear on Instagram.

The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program is made possible by gifts from donors who make contributions to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund and generous support from Watertown Savings Bank, RBC Wealth Management Watertown, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, and the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund.

#ThisIsYPC #Leadership #YPCWednesday #YouthPhilanthropyCouncil
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3 days ago
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Awesome Finley!

Awesome Finley Swartz! 👏

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The Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation invites tri-county nonprofit organizations of all types to attend a student-led virtual Grant Information Session at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 11.

Attendees will learn from Youth Philanthropy Council members about the Council’s competitive grant program. Nonprofits may apply for a share of up to $20,000 in available grant funding for 2024 to fund programs, projects, or initiatives that strengthen the quality of life across the region.

Visit bit.ly/YPCinfosession23 to register today!

The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program is made possible by annual gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Fund and underwriting from Watertown Savings Bank, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation of the Northern New York Community Foundation, the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation, and RBC Wealth Management Watertown.

#YPC #NNYCF #Leadership #YouthPhilanthriopyCouncil #Nonprofits #NNY #TriCounty

The Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation invites tri-county nonprofit organizations of all types to attend a student-led virtual Grant Information Session at 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 11.

Attendees will learn from Youth Philanthropy Council members about the Council’s competitive grant program. Nonprofits may apply for a share of up to $20,000 in available grant funding for 2024 to fund programs, projects, or initiatives that strengthen the quality of life across the region.

Visit bit.ly/YPCinfosession23 to register today!

The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program is made possible by annual gifts to the Friends of the Foundation Community Betterment Fund and underwriting from Watertown Savings Bank, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation of the Northern New York Community Foundation, the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation, and RBC Wealth Management Watertown.

#YPC #NNYCF #Leadership #YouthPhilanthriopyCouncil #Nonprofits #NNY #TriCounty
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5 days ago
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Meet Kinley Lalonde, an eighth grader at Morristown Central School.

For Kinley, “community is St. Joseph’s Home. What I love is the feeling you get when you make someone there happy. I love to have someone know they are appreciated in this world.” 

As a 2022-2023 Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner, Kinley had a chance to present a grant to the St. Joseph’s Foundation in Ogdensburg, an organization she chose for its work to support St. Joseph’s Home and strengthen the quality of life in her community. 

“St. Joseph’s Home is such a great asset in our community. It is a rewarding feeling to make people happy and let the residents know that even if they don’t have family nearby, there is always someone there for them,” Kinley wrote in her winning essay. “I want them to know that someone cares about them and always supports them to have the best life for as long as they possibly can.”

Kinley recently met with St. Joseph’s Home Administrator Colleen Steele and her team to present a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the St. Joseph’s Foundation continue its work and mission. The grant is supported by donors to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund, a partnership with Community Bank, N.A., and a leadership gift from an anonymous donor. 

Pictured, from left, Colleen Steele, St. Joseph’s Home administrator; Donna Luckie St. Joseph’s Home business manager; Kinley Lalonde Morristown Central School student and Youth Giving Challenge winner; and Lisa O’Brien, Kinley’s mother.

Kinley is one of dozens of thoughtful youths who looked inside her community to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life locally. The 2022-2023 Youth Giving Challenge asked students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to explain in an essay what community means to them and to choose a nonprofit that embodies their definition of community. Kinley’s essay is one of 10 chosen from 124 submissions that came from 11 different tri-county schools.

Look for more photos and stories behind the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge in the coming weeks.

#NNYCF #ThoughtfulGiving #YouthGivingChallenge #CommunitySpirit

Meet Kinley Lalonde, an eighth grader at Morristown Central School.

For Kinley, “community is St. Joseph’s Home. What I love is the feeling you get when you make someone there happy. I love to have someone know they are appreciated in this world.”

As a 2022-2023 Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner, Kinley had a chance to present a grant to the St. Joseph’s Foundation in Ogdensburg, an organization she chose for its work to support St. Joseph’s Home and strengthen the quality of life in her community.

“St. Joseph’s Home is such a great asset in our community. It is a rewarding feeling to make people happy and let the residents know that even if they don’t have family nearby, there is always someone there for them,” Kinley wrote in her winning essay. “I want them to know that someone cares about them and always supports them to have the best life for as long as they possibly can.”

Kinley recently met with St. Joseph’s Home Administrator Colleen Steele and her team to present a $1,000 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the St. Joseph’s Foundation continue its work and mission. The grant is supported by donors to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund, a partnership with Community Bank, N.A., and a leadership gift from an anonymous donor.

Pictured, from left, Colleen Steele, St. Joseph’s Home administrator; Donna Luckie St. Joseph’s Home business manager; Kinley Lalonde Morristown Central School student and Youth Giving Challenge winner; and Lisa O’Brien, Kinley’s mother.

Kinley is one of dozens of thoughtful youths who looked inside her community to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life locally. The 2022-2023 Youth Giving Challenge asked students from Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to explain in an essay what community means to them and to choose a nonprofit that embodies their definition of community. Kinley’s essay is one of 10 chosen from 124 submissions that came from 11 different tri-county schools.

Look for more photos and stories behind the Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge in the coming weeks.

#NNYCF #ThoughtfulGiving #YouthGivingChallenge #CommunitySpirit
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