• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Northern NY Community Foundation

Northern NY Community Foundation

  • Home
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Employment
    • Philanthropy Center
    • Recent News
    • News Archive
    • Publications
    • Partner & Grantee Resources
    • Milestones
    • Northern New York Community Podcast
    • Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge
    • Youth Philanthropy Council
  • Giving
    • Donate Online
    • Gift Information “At A Glance”
    • Making A Gift
    • Top 10 Things You Can Do To Leave A Legacy
    • NNYCF vs. A Private Foundation
    • FAQs
    • Investment Performance
  • Scholarships
    • Scholarship Overview
    • Applications
    • Scholarships Available
    • Requirements & Criteria
    • Financial Aid
  • Grants
    • Apply for a Grant
    • 2023 Grant Opportunities
    • Recent Grant Recipients
    • COVID-19 Community Support Fund
  • Contact

LEAD Council Holiday Giving Fund Awards $6,000 to Brighten Season

December 21, 2022 By admin

Young Professionals Aid Community Initiatives in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties

     WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation’s LEAD Council will award $6,000 to three programs that make the holidays special for Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County residents through its Holiday Giving Fund.

     The advisory committee of young professionals established the LEAD Holiday Giving Fund at the Community Foundation in 2020 to help brighten the season for tri-county residents in need. Between generous gifts to the fund and a matching commitment from the Community Foundation, three nonprofits that manage holiday programs will each receive $2,000 support to strengthen their efforts. They include:

The Community Foundation’s LEAD Council awarded $2,000 to the Christmas Crusade for Kids, an initiative of Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM Intrepid Broadcasting, Watertown. Pictured, from left: Mykel “Quince” Myrick, Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM; Erin Simser, LEAD Council member; Holly “King” Gaskin, Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM; and Tim Sweeney, Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM vice president.

     Christmas Crusade for Kids — Led by Tunes 92.5/104.5 FM Intrepid Broadcasting, Watertown, this initiative provides holiday gifts to children and families across Northern New York. The effort is a collaboration with the Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, Watertown Urban Mission, the Salvation Army Watertown Corps, Catholic Charities, and Toys for Tots.

     Christmas Sharing Holiday Assistance — This program of the Lowville Food Pantry distributes gifts, toys, food boxes, and more to children, families, and seniors in need across Lewis County.

     Potsdam Holiday Fund — This nonprofit provides annual support to St. Lawrence County individuals and families in need with gifts, food baskets, and winter clothing. Funding from this matching challenge will strengthen the organization’s voucher program this year.

     “The LEAD Council’s work helps support our region broadly and has been a powerful way to extend community engagement and stewardship across the generations,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “The members of the Council are deeply committed to the betterment of communities broadly across the North Country and each grant touches lives in meaningful ways in the true spirit of the season.”

     Tim Sweeney, TUNES 92.5 & 104.5 FM vice president, said support from the LEAD Holiday Giving Fund is the “cherry on top” for the Christmas Crusade for Kids and will extend its giving to dozens more local families.

     “North Country residents came through in a special way to support the 15th Annual ‘Christmas Crusade for Kids.’ The gracious generosity of so many will help bring joy to more than 1,000 local families,” Mr. Sweeney said. “We are grateful for the warm-hearted compassion of all who remembered their neighbors this time of year as well as the leadership of the Community Foundation and its LEAD Council. Together, we are NNY.”

     As pandemic-related challenges evolve, LEAD members continue to prioritize additional support to help vulnerable individuals, children, and families through these well-established initiatives.

     “The Holiday Giving Challenge has become a holiday staple for the LEAD Council. We were lucky to have another successful year of gifts from generous donors that allowed us to award a total of $6,000 to three very deserving organizations,” LEAD Council Chair Andrew Boulter said. “The holiday challenge is just one more way donors enable our support of vital community organizations during the season. Thank you to all who support LEAD and make these challenges a success.”

     The Community Foundation’s LEAD Council is comprised of 18 young professionals who live and work in Northern New York. LEAD was created to engage and empower the next generation of community leaders in meaningful and strategic work in collaboration with the Northern New York Community Foundation.

     The LEAD Council program and experience is made possible through the generosity of the Hyde-Stone Charitable Foundation of the Northern New York Community Foundation, Carthage Savings and Loan Association, Morgia Wealth Management, and donors to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund. Contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, 315-782-7110, or max@nnycf.org, to learn more about how LEAD and its work.

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

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

3,258

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

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING: Apply by this Friday, Feb. 10!

This is a great opportunity to join a terrific team and make a lasting difference in your community!

Complete details: www.nnycf.org/about/employment

#NNYCF #Team #Hiring #Community

DEADLINE FAST APPROACHING: Apply by this Friday, Feb. 10!

This is a great opportunity to join a terrific team and make a lasting difference in your community!

Complete details: www.nnycf.org/about/employment

#NNYCF #team #hiring #community
... See MoreSee Less

25 minutes ago
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

View more comments

Meet Cullen Miller, an eighth grader at Lowville Academy and Central School.

For Cullen, community is “a place where people motivate and support each other to make better decisions.”

“What I love about my community is all the people. Good people make a good community. It’s a great place to live because the community is grateful, respectful, and helpful to each other,” Cullen wrote in his winning essay. 

As a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner, Cullen had a chance to present a grant to the Lewis County Agricultural Society, an organization he chose for its work to build community. 

“The Agricultural Society brings people together to show their love for the community and animals,” Cullen wrote. 

Cullen met with Lewis County Fair Manager Rachel Lisk last fall and presented a $500 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the Agricultural Society 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, Fair Manager Rachel Lisk; Lowville Academy and Central Schools Middle School student and Youth Giving Challenge winner Cullen Miller; and Community Bank Lowville Branch Manager and Vice President Tammie Lambert.

Cullen is one of dozens of thoughtful youths who looked inside his community to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life in the region. The 2021-2022 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. Cullen’s essay is one of 20 chosen from 193 submissions.

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

#NNYCF #ThoughtfulGiving #YouthGivingChallenge #CommunitySpirit

Meet Cullen Miller, an eighth grader at Lowville Academy and Central School.

For Cullen, community is “a place where people motivate and support each other to make better decisions.”

“What I love about my community is all the people. Good people make a good community. It’s a great place to live because the community is grateful, respectful, and helpful to each other,” Cullen wrote in his winning essay.

As a Northern New York Community Foundation Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge winner, Cullen had a chance to present a grant to the Lewis County Agricultural Society, an organization he chose for its work to build community.

“The Agricultural Society brings people together to show their love for the community and animals,” Cullen wrote.

Cullen met with Lewis County Fair Manager Rachel Lisk last fall and presented a $500 Youth Giving Challenge grant that will help the Agricultural Society 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, Fair Manager Rachel Lisk; Lowville Academy and Central Schools Middle School student and Youth Giving Challenge winner Cullen Miller; and Community Bank Lowville Branch Manager and Vice President Tammie Lambert.

Cullen is one of dozens of thoughtful youths who looked inside his community to recognize an organization that works to improve quality of life in the region. The 2021-2022 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. Cullen’s essay is one of 20 chosen from 193 submissions.

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

#NNYCF #ThoughtfulGiving #YouthGivingChallenge #CommunitySpirit
... See MoreSee Less

3 days ago
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 4
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

View more comments

We are proud to partner with The Orchestra of Northern New York to present “Winter Serenade” this Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Marys Church in Canton and Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Watertown.

Dont miss this chance to see a wonderful live orchestral music event. The Community Foundation, with the support of its loyal donors, is a major underwriter of the entire ONNY season. Hope to see you there!

#Winterlude #WinterConcert #LiveMusic #ONNY #NNYCF

We are proud to partner with The Orchestra of Northern New York to present “Winter Serenade” this Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mary's Church in Canton and Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Watertown.

Don't miss this chance to see a wonderful live orchestral music event. The Community Foundation, with the support of its loyal donors, is a major underwriter of the entire ONNY season. Hope to see you there!

#Winterlude #WinterConcert #LiveMusic #ONNY #NNYCF
... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • Likes: 11
  • Shares: 3
  • Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

View more comments

Load more

Copyright © 2023 · Northern NY Community Foundation · Site Design: Riverside Media, LLC.