St. Lawrence County Churches, Cemeteries, Places of Historical Significance, and Military Veterans Programs Encouraged to Apply
WATERTOWN — The Rock Charitable Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation is now accepting applications for 2021 grant funding from qualified charitable organizations, churches, cemeteries, or governmental entities that serve St. Lawrence County residents.
Grant support is available to organizations whose missions and efforts align with the fund’s charitable purposes, which are: for the maintenance and preservation of churches, houses of worship, and cemeteries in St. Lawrence County; for the preservation and maintenance of places of legitimate historical significance in the county; and to benefit or assist veterans of the United States military with their medical or recreational needs who live in St. Lawrence County.
All organizations applying for funding must do so through the Community Foundation’s online Grant Lifecycle Manager, which may be accessed at nnycf.org/grants. A grant information session is scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, June 3, via Zoom. Visit bit.ly/rockfund to register for the session today.
Up to a total of $100,000 in grant funding is available, and successful applicants may receive full or partial funding of their requested amount. While one sole project could be funded, it has been the committee’s practice to accommodate several grants that are meaningful in nature with the total funding available.
In 2020, five projects were awarded grant funding totaling $85,215 that include: $35,000 to the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mary, Canton, to support the first phase in its campaign to restore and protect its historic structure and property; $23,775 to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Massena, to restore exterior brickwork and repair windows and landscaping; $17,475 to Gouverneur First United Methodist Church to restore stained-glass windows in the church; $8,315 to the Lisbon Cemetery Association for restoration and replacement of more than 100 damaged stones; and $650 to the Purmort Cemetery Corp., Depeyster, to remove a dying maple tree.
Organizations that have received a grant award from this charitable fund must wait three years before applying for new funding. Awards to support veterans can only be made to qualified organizations that serve veterans and cannot be made directly to individuals. Grants are not, however, restricted to Veterans Service Organizations but will only be made to help with programs or initiatives that directly support veterans.
The Rock Charitable Fund was established at the Community Foundation in 2019 through a bequest from St. Lawrence County resident and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Army Marjorie J. Rock, who passed away in February 2017 at the age of 96.
“The response last year was incredible, and we expect that to be the case again this year. The requests far exceeded the funding available. We are encouraging applicants to submit their initial inquiries early to allow plenty of time for proposal review and assistance,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “We hope organizations that can help support all of Marjorie’s focus areas will apply so the committee has the ability to impact St. Lawrence County in the broadest way possible to best honor her legacy.”
The Community Foundation administers this permanent charitable legacy fund in collaboration with a seven-member board of advisors that will review applications and make funding recommendations. Advisors include Ruth McWilliams, South Colton; Erik Backus, Potsdam; Fred Hanss, Hannawa Falls; Sarah Maneely, Canton; Chris Rediehs, Canton; Mark Thompson, Watertown; and Keith Zimmerman, Canton.
Requests for funding will not be considered for work that begins before Dec. 31, 2021. Successful applicants will have up to three years to complete their project or program. Applications and guidelines for the Rock Charitable Fund may be accessed through the Foundation’s Grant Lifecycle Manager portal. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Community Foundation to discuss requested amounts and project details before submitting grant proposals.
Complete grant proposals must be submitted online by 5 p.m. , Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Grant decisions will be made in early 2022. The Community Foundation will notify all grant applicants of the status of their grant by Friday, Jan. 14, 2022. Contact Kraig Everard, Community Foundation director of stewardship and programs, with any application or grant questions at kraig@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110.
About Marjorie J. Rock
Ms. Rock grew up in St. Lawrence County and graduated from Heuvelton High School in 1937. In 1941, she graduated from the three-year nursing program at Flower Fifth Avenue School in New York City. The following year, she joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps, serving in North Africa and Italy during World War II. After the war, she attended Teachers College at Columbia University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1948 and a Master of Arts in 1950.
She spent six years teaching in nursing programs, first as an instructor for Hartford Hospital in Connecticut and later at New York City’s Lennox Hill Hospital. She returned to active Army service in 1954 to assist with medical courses for enlisted personnel and helped to establish a medical education system, particularly in the United States, Japan and Germany. She served as a supervisor, chief nurse, instructor and director of an advance medical technician school. Her last overseas duty was in Vietnam.
In 1970, she retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and returned to St. Lawrence County, joining her mother in Ogdensburg to help with her care. She earned many honors during her Army service, including the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal. Her only sibling, a brother, was killed in 1944 while piloting a P-47 Thunderbolt plane over Normandy. For the rest of her life, Ms. Rock made St. Lawrence County her home while traveling with friends, caring for others, and assisting her church and other
organizations, including the Army Nurse Corps Association and other veterans’ groups. She maintained a keen interest in documenting local history and furthering the education of others in the county.
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.