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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Lighthouse Fund Announces Support for St. Lawrence River Area Nonprofits

August 31, 2021 By admin

Nearly $2,000 Awarded to Aid Vulnerable Populations in Cape Vincent and Clayton Communities

     WATERTOWN — A pair of St. Lawrence River-area organizations that serve Clayton and Cape Vincent residents will share $1,750 in 2021 grant funding from the Lighthouse Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

     Established in 2014, the Lighthouse Fund is a geographic-specific charitable resource for local nonprofits that provide critical programs and services to underserved and vulnerable populations in the two St. Lawrence River communities. Nonprofit organizations that conduct programs, projects, or initiatives to assist all residents are eligible to apply for support through this fund annually. 

     “Through generous donor support, this fund continues to make a meaningful difference within specific geographic impact. We are grateful to all who contribute to this permanent fund that will endure,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director.

     The Cape Vincent Community Food Pantry will receive $1,000 to extend its assistance to the vulnerable population in Cape Vincent and several neighboring communities. In recent months, the pantry has worked to build relationships to serve targeted populations that include military veterans and Thousand Islands Central School students.

     Clayton’s Hawn Memorial Library will receive a $750 grant to add outdoor seating to accommodate patrons visiting the property who need to connect to the library’s wireless internet. Many patrons rely on the library to access the internet to complete research, submit job applications, schoolwork assignments, and access public benefits online. Outdoor seating will create a safe and comfortable place for patrons to access the internet during all hours of the day.

     Cape Vincent and Clayton-area nonprofits will have an opportunity to apply for 2022 funding in next April. Complete information and application instructions will be announced early next year.

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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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

4,987

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

The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that a group of donors have come together to make possible the free use of Watertown's two outdoor city pools for the season.

The Foundation, together Watertown Savings Bank Bank, local developer Jake Johnson, the Jane Deline Foundation, and dozens of individual donors, have generously provided support that will ensure free swimming throughout the summer.

Complete details: www.nnycf.org/city-pools-f#NNYCFN#ThoughtfulGivingi#collaborationa#grassrootsgivingiving
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Community Foundation collaborates with donors to ensure free swimming at city pools

www.nnycf.org

Community Foundation collaborates with donors to ensure free swimming at city pools June 18, 2026 By admin Grassroots effort matched by major gifts will allow city to cancel planned fee WATERTOWN — ...
3 days ago
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This is why we love this community! Thank you!!

Amazing 👏

Love this💕💕💕

This is awesome! So thankful for the community donors. My kids are forever grateful for your generosity.

Now this, is awesome!

The kids should always be grateful for people like that too

Thank you so much, to all the donors! 😊❤️

Thank You to a generous and supportive community!❤️🌟

Very nice !!! Thank you.

Fantastic. Kudos to all who donated. Thank you from all the families who need this free recreation this summer!!!

Wonderful news.

That is so amazing! What a beautiful community we have.

Amazing job

This is amazing news! Thank you to all who donated!

AWESOME!!!👏🏼

What a wonderful gesture! ❤️

Amazing!!!! Thank you to all the Donors!!!

AMAZING!

So happy to hear this news! Watertown is so fortunate to have the NNYCF 🙂

That is wonderful!

Such a thoughtful and caring gift to the community.

City is a bunch of crooks

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Together with the Italian-American Civic Association, we are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the William I. Graf Award. 

Watertown High School seniors Marra Dickinson was selected as the women’s recipient, and Maddox J. Corey was named as the men’s honoree this year.

We are honored to help the Graf family and the Italian-American Civic Association steward this highly cherished and storied legacy award. We look forward to seeing these three talented student athletes continue their journeys on and off the athletic field as they advance to undergraduate studies this fall.

Complete details: nnycf.org/2026-graf-award

Top photo, from left: Watertown High School seniors and 2026 William I. Graf Award recipients Marra Dickinson and Maddox J. Corey. 

Bottom left photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Marra Dickinson; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace. 

Bottom right photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Maddox J. Corey; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace. 

#NNYCF #ClassOf2026 #GrafAward #WHS #IACA #ThoughtfulLegacyImage attachmentImage attachment

Together with the Italian-American Civic Association, we are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the William I. Graf Award.

Watertown High School seniors Marra Dickinson was selected as the women’s recipient, and Maddox J. Corey was named as the men’s honoree this year.

We are honored to help the Graf family and the Italian-American Civic Association steward this highly cherished and storied legacy award. We look forward to seeing these three talented student athletes continue their journeys on and off the athletic field as they advance to undergraduate studies this fall.

Complete details: nnycf.org/2026-graf-award

Top photo, from left: Watertown High School seniors and 2026 William I. Graf Award recipients Marra Dickinson and Maddox J. Corey.

Bottom left photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Marra Dickinson; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace.

Bottom right photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Maddox J. Corey; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace.

#NNYCF #ClassOf2026 #GrafAward #WHS #IACA #ThoughtfulLegacy
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1 week ago
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Congrats to the both of them. Keep killing it Marra and Maddox

Congratulations 👏🎉

Congratulations to you both!

Do they honor IHC?

Congrats to Marra and Maddox! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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Thank you to Stewarts Shops for the generous gift. Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott recently invited us to her store for a grant presentation.

The gift is from the Stewart’s Holiday Match program, an annual initiative from Thanksgiving to Christmas when Stewart’s Shops matches customer donations, dollar-for-dollar, to support local children and youth nonprofit initiatives.

The program raised more than $1.8 million in 2025 to help fund nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches in their service areas. We are grateful to be a recipient of a Holiday Match grant. 

Pictured, from left: Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate Emily Pfeil; Youth Philanthropy Council member and Watertown High School junior Hudson Guldenpfennig; and Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott.

#NNYCF #StewartsShops #HolidayMatch #FriendsOfTheFoundation

Thank you to Stewart's Shops for the generous gift. Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott recently invited us to her store for a grant presentation.

The gift is from the Stewart’s Holiday Match program, an annual initiative from Thanksgiving to Christmas when Stewart’s Shops matches customer donations, dollar-for-dollar, to support local children and youth nonprofit initiatives.

The program raised more than $1.8 million in 2025 to help fund nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches in their service areas. We are grateful to be a recipient of a Holiday Match grant.

Pictured, from left: Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate Emily Pfeil; Youth Philanthropy Council member and Watertown High School junior Hudson Guldenpfennig; and Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott.

#NNYCF #StewartsShops #HolidayMatch #FriendsOfTheFoundation
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2 weeks ago
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