Local Women Awarded Grant Funding for Entrepreneurial Pursuits, Professional Development
WATERTOWN — A pair of entrepreneurs, a public television host, two nonprofit executives, and three health practitioners are among the fifth group of women to receive grant support from the Maxine M. Quigg Women in Business Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.
Nine women were recently awarded funding totaling nearly $8,000 to support a wide range of entrepreneurial and professional development pursuits during a reception at The Strand in downtown Watertown. They are:
- Christine Darrow, Antwerp, is the host and executive producer of the WPBS-TV show “Christine the History Queen.” She was awarded funding for public speaking and branding coaching.
- Lacey Everard, Lyons Falls, is a licensed massage therapist and the owner of Under Pressure Massage Therapy. She was awarded funding to complete Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques (MAT) training.
- Jennifer Girard, Canton, is a licensed massage therapist at JAG Massage Therapy. Grant funding will help her earn an associate degree in massage therapy.
- Arika Colello McCargar, Watertown, is an owner and president of Colello Air Technologies. She was awarded funding to attend an industry conference and complete a professional development exam.
- Destiny Walker Myrick, Watertown, is the founder and owner of WildRoots Wellness & Revival where she is a and certified practitioner of sound and vibrational therapies. Grant funding will support her certification in somatic healing.
- Tammy Price, Carthage, is a holistic health practitioner and owner of Triskele of Healing, Guidance & Light, Watertown. Funding will help her complete digital marketing courses at Jefferson Community College.
- Suzanne C. Renzi-Falge, Watertown, is the executive director of the Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library. Grant support will help her attend the American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans, La., next year.
- Sarah Shoemaker, Mannsville, is the senior director of buildings and grounds for the Watertown Family YMCA. Grant support will help her complete Facility Management Professional (FMP) certification through the International Facility Management Association.
- Leela Wasilenko, Lorraine, is a barista at North Country Grounds, Watertown. She was awarded funding to help her attend the yearlong Jefferson Leadership Institute, a professional development program of the Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce.
Kimberley Horrill, Maxine’s sister-in-law, established the fund at the Community Foundation in July 2021 with a goal to increase local mentorship, volunteerism, civic and community engagement, and investment. Its mission is to perpetuate the life and legacy of Maxine Quigg by supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties to succeed in their pursuits and realize their full potential.
“I am so impressed by our applicants each year and this year was no exception. To witness the sincerity and earnestness that the awardees have toward their current and future endeavors is remarkable,” Ms. Horrill said. “I see a bit of Maxine in all of you. Congratulations.”
Maxine was a successful real estate broker and a community and business leader in Jefferson County who passed away unexpectedly in April 2021. At the time of her passing she was serving on the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors.
“It is always a pleasure and an honor to reward seasoned and aspiring businesswomen in the North Country. Every year, I walk away inspired by each recipient’s dedication and passion for what they do — it is people like these who make Northern New York a better place to live,” Maxine’s daughter, Kennedy Quigg said. “Congratulations to our 2026 award recipients; you embody the qualities my Mom sought to embellish, and we are excited to see you carry our mission forward in your life and business endeavors.”
Through access to grants for education, training, and entrepreneurship, the fund supports the advancement, development, and betterment of women who are beginning or growing a business in Northern New York. In doing so, women may be better positioned and equipped to realize their full potential for themselves, their families, and their community.
Since it began awarding grant funding in 2022, twenty-five tri-county women have received support totaling nearly $25,000 from the fund.
Five women serve on the Maxine Quigg Women in Business Fund Committee, including: Maxine’s sister-in-law, Kimberley Horrill; Maxine’s daughter, Kennedy Quigg; and Maxine’s close friends, Joanne Lavarnway, Lara Abreu, and KI LaClair. Committee members review funding applications and make recommendations for grant awards to the Community Foundation.
Applications for 2027 funding through the Maxine Quigg Women in Business Fund of the Community Foundation will open in the spring with awards made in the summer. Contact Emily Pfeil, Community Foundation philanthropy associate, emily@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110, to obtain an application for this opportunity and learn more.
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.