\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Safe Schools Endeavor Steering Committee evaluated more than a dozen grant applications for programs that empower students, parents, and faculty to create the safest schools possible in Jefferson and Lewis counties. This is the fourth year the fund has made grant awards. Since its inception, the Safe Schools Endeavor has awarded nearly $87,000 for three-dozen school projects in Jefferson and Lewis counties.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cEach of these very worthy projects are only possible because of the businesses, groups, and individuals who continue to give generously to the Safe Schools Endeavor. Many of our donors have given annually since our inception in 2018, which demonstrates their belief in our mission and commitment to the safety of our youth,\u201d said Erika Flint<\/b>, steering committee chairwoman. \u201cSeeing projects that expand across a variety of safety measures, with youth input and leadership, at all grade levels is particularly satisfying and truly embodies the mission of the Safe Schools Endeavor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Copenhagen Central School District Superintendent Scott N. Connell<\/b> expressed his gratitude for grant awards that will help strengthen building safety and student culture.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cSchool safety remains of utmost concern, which to us embodies multiple forms of well-being; physical, emotional, social, developmental, and economic,\u201d Mr. Connell said. \u201cWith the grant award, our district plans to implement vape detectors in our middle and high school wings, along with reinforcing anti-bullying at the elementary level. These efforts will support all students district-wide and strengthen the values our school and community continue to instill in our youth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Community Foundation Board of Directors unanimously approved the following Safe Schools Endeavor grants:<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Grants are made possible thanks to the generous gifts of many individuals and businesses in Jefferson and Lewis counties who support the Safe Schools Endeavor and its mission to help keep all children safe while they are at school.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Safe Schools Endeavor stresses awareness, empowerment, and action within school communities. All grant proposals are evaluated based upon the degree to which they embody these desired outcomes. To stay informed about the Safe Schools Endeavor and its progress in Jefferson and Lewis county schools, like it on Facebook at Facebook.com\/SafeSchoolsEndeavor<\/b><\/a> and follow it in Instagram at Instagram.com\/safeschoolsendeavor<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n About the Safe Schools Endeavor\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>In the days that followed the Feb. 14, 2018, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., that left 14 students and three staff members dead, and 17 others wounded, a group of North Country residents were called to act in their own communities in Jefferson and Lewis counties.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>While school safety leads many discussions across the country, the Safe Schools Endeavor was created to encourage change at a very local level. Its founding members believe our children are our most precious resource and should never worry for their safety at school.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>With generous support from the Northern New York Community Foundation, a $20,000 matching grant for all gifts made in support of the initiative was announced and a focused effort to seek donations soon began. The movement struck a chord with many Northern New Yorkers who quickly gave to the effort, confirming a guiding philosophy that together \u201cA Few Can Make a Difference.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>An 18-member Steering Committee manages the Safe Schools Endeavor. Committee members are parents, school officials, nonprofit executives, retirees, and student representatives. They include Erika Flint<\/b>, executive director, Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, and Safe Schools Endeavor Steering Committee chairwoman; Jessica Bowline<\/b>, president, Indigo Inkwell, Inc.; Andrianna Crawford<\/b>, counselor, Indian River Central; Brigitte Gillette<\/b>, counselor, Copenhagen Central; Jennifer Hodge<\/b>, development director\/corporate compliance officer, Volunteer Transportation Center; Marjorie LaVere<\/b>, administrative assistant, Jefferson County Public Defender\u2019s Office; Todd Lighthall<\/b>, executive director, Camp Oswegatchie, and Beaver River Central School Board of Education member; Michelle Monnat<\/b>, chief financial officer, CHJC (Children\u2019s Home of Jefferson County); Morgan Pratt Neaves<\/b>, assistant principal, Indian River Central; <\/span>Rebecca Pat\u00e9-Johnson<\/b>, Head Start family advocate, Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County; Kylie Simpson<\/b>, probation officer, Lewis County Probation Department; Stephen Todd<\/b>, superintendent,<\/span> Jeff-Lewis BOCES. Student representatives: Anmolika Bolla<\/b>, Watertown High School Class of 2022; Hailyn Buker<\/b>, South Jefferson Class of 2022; Claire Jones<\/b>, junior, Copenhagen Central; Philip Marra<\/b>, Watertown High School Class of 2021; Samantha Stokely<\/b>, junior, Copenhagen Central; and Peyton Taylor<\/b>, junior, Copenhagen Central.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n About the Northern New York Community Foundation<\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>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.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>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.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Twelve Schools Will Receive Funding to Support Student and Building Safety \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 WATERTOWN \u2014 The Safe Schools Endeavor, in partnership with the Northern New York Community Foundation, will award nearly $25,000 in grant support to 12 Jefferson and Lewis County schools for the 2022-2023 school year.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 The Safe Schools Endeavor Steering Committee …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["type-post","category-recent-news","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5258"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5258\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5260,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5258\/revisions\/5260"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5258"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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