{"id":9283,"date":"2026-04-03T14:13:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T14:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/?p=8216"},"modified":"2026-04-03T14:13:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T14:13:19","slug":"concert-park-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/concert-park-match\/","title":{"rendered":"New Match Offered to Help Ensure Success for this Summer\u2019s Concert in the Park"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 class=\\\"p3\\\"><span class=\\\"s1\\\"><i>Foundation Will Double All New Gifts to Support this Year\u2019s Event, up to $5,000<\/i><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><b>WATERTOWN \u2014<\/b> The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce a $10,000 grant package to support this year\u2019s <b>Concert in the Park<\/b> event. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Total funding includes an initial $5,000 grant and an up to $5,000 matching grant commitment to support first time contributions for this year\u2019s concert. That means the Community Foundation will double all new gifts made in support of this year\u2019s performance by those who have not previously participated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Gifts may be made securely online at <a href=\\\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2026-Park-Concert\\\"><b>bit.ly\/2026-Park-Concert<\/b><\/a>, or by mail to: <b>Northern New York Community Foundation, 131 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601<\/b>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cOur Rotary Club appreciates the Community Foundation\u2019s continued partnership and support for this event,\u201d Watertown Noon Rotary Club Committee Chair <b>Kevin Jordan<\/b> said. \u201cThe newly awarded matching funds will go a long way to help us leverage additional community donations to cover the cost of this highly anticipated early summer event.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<img class=\\\"wp-image-8215 size-large\\\" src=\\\"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/NNYCF_ConcertInThePark_1_040326-1024x677.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" width=\\\"1024\\\" height=\\\"677\\\" \/>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The annual Concert in the Park performance has been a summer staple in Thompson Park and the Watertown area for many years. It is an inclusive event with free admission, inviting all citizens to enjoy exceptional orchestral music and fireworks together. For many years, the Community Foundation has supported this community event with funding and resources. This year\u2019s concert is planned for <b>Wednesday, July 1<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThis is a treasured local tradition and without partnerships, it doesn\u2019t happen,\u201d said <b>Rande S. Richardson<\/b>, Community Foundation executive director. \u201cWe are hoping those who have never given before will consider joining in keeping it alive while having their gifts doubled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>In recent years, the Orchestra of Northern New York (ONNY) has been featured as the main act at the annual park concert. This summer\u2019s performance is particularly special as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The <b>Watertown Noon Rotary Club<\/b> leads fundraising efforts to raise support for ONNY\u2019s appearance and the concert. Organizers recently reached out to the Community Foundation to discuss fundraising challenges this year. Some sponsors are unable to renew their support for various reasons. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>At the same time, the estimated cost for the performance has increased this year due to higher fees for the stage, sound, lights, insurance and fireworks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>This arts and culture experience is one of the community\u2019s most inclusive events.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"s2\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Three years ago, the Community Foundation, the family of T. Urling Walker, and local developer Jake Johnson established an endowment fund to perpetuate the concert in the park. A successful community campaign was completed, and this charitable fund has become an attractive annual and planned giving option for prospective donors. As the endowment continues to grow, the fund provides key charitable support.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p7\\\"><b>About the Northern New York Community Foundation<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\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<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\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<p class=\\\"p5\\\"><span class=\\\"Apple-converted-space\\\">\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<img class=\\\"wp-image-8218 size-large\\\" src=\\\"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/NNYCF_ConcertInThePark_2_040326-1024x646.jpg\\\" alt=\\\"\\\" width=\\\"1024\\\" height=\\\"646\\\" \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foundation Will Double All New Gifts to Support this Year\u2019s Event, up to $5,000 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 WATERTOWN \u2014 The Northern New York Community Foundation is pleased to announce a $10,000 grant package to support this year\u2019s Concert in the Park event. \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Total funding includes an initial $5,000 grant and an up to $5,000 &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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\/9283","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=9283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9283\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}