Thirteen Organizations Will Share Support for a Wide Range of Community Projects and Programs to Strengthen Quality of Life for Local Residents
BOONVILLE — Thirteen community projects and organizations that benefit Boonville, Constableville, and Westernville residents will share $60,000 in funding from the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer were passionate about enhancing the quality of life in these three communities. They participated in many community activities and volunteered with several meaningful organizations. As part of their enduring gift to the region, they created a community fund that would benefit citizens of all ages in these communities in perpetuity.
Because of the family’s thoughtful legacy gift, the Sawyer Community Fund has awarded nearly $387,000 in grants to 105 projects and organizations since 2018. Grants awarded this year will help fund projects and build programs that broadly impact the quality of life in the places Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer loved most.
“We are thankful for the exemplary stewardship by present and past grant recipients, said Max DelSignore, Northern New York Community Foundation vice president. “These organizations and community groups understand how meaningful Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer’s gift is to the community and how it is making a true difference. This part of their legacy is a perfect example of how you can leave a lasting gift to your community.”
The following organizations will receive 2025 grant funding from the Sawyer Community Fund:
- Boonville Black River Canal Museum, $12,000 to help a larger effort to complete a roof cover from the Mule Barn to the Blacksmith Shop. Funding will help reduce the overall cost toward the project and bring it closer to fruition.
- Constable Hall Association, $8,000 to purchase an outdoor event tent that would hold up to 150 people and stand adjacent to the main garden on the grounds. This grant bridges the funding gap needed to acquire the tent.
- Erwin Library and Institute, $8,000 to replace current bluestone steps with granite steps and install a new railing at the historic entrance of the library. Completion of this project over the summer will create a safe entrance for all patrons.
- Village of Constableville, $7,500 — The village experienced success last summer with two community events — a community color run and a bandstand concert series. This grant will support two years of concert performers and this year’s color run event.
- Constableville Volunteer Fire Company, $5,000 to renovate a community room that is utilized for an assortment of activities. Improvements include a video surveillance system, adaptable seating, tables and chairs, and other aesthetic enhancements. The multi-purpose space is used for fire trainings, educational classes, blood drives, community events and more.
- Dodge Pratt Northam Art and Community Center, $4,000 to ensure the success of summer youth and children’s musical theater productions for ages 5 to 18. Funding will also help restore on-site Victorian gardens.
- Village of Boonville, $2,800 to help acquire two Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to enhance emergency response capabilities within the Village and Town of Boonville.
- Adirondack Community Chorus, $2,700 to cover costs such as sheet music, musician fees, and related event promotion for a program of theater musical pieces at Boonville Presbyterian Church in spring 2026.
- Western Town Library, $2,500 to complete technology upgrades, including a color printer for its
computer lab, new laptop for the library’s director and a new desktop computer for the circulation desk. - Boonville Concert Band, $2,000 to conduct a four-performance summer series in Boonville. Funding will help with musician, narrator/emcee, and sound technician costs.
- Boonville Search and Rescue Association, $2,000 to help with immediate repairs of a broken sewer pipe at their building, which is used as a warming hut for trail-goers and seasonal activities.
- Boonville Youth Athletic Association, $2,000 to support the installation of two barn doors on its batting cages, as well as safety bases for all fields. The organization and its facilities are utilized by youth and families in Boonville and surrounding communities.
- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), $1,500 to acquire proper supplies to keep this program going to serve village/area residents. On average, 250 tax returns are completed through this effort annually.
About Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer
Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer participated in many community events and activities through the years and served on local boards and committees. Mr. Sawyer was a Boonville native, served in the United States Army, and enjoyed a career at Layng Furniture Company and as a supervisor at Boonville’s Erwin Park. Most notably, he was a talented musician. He played tenor saxophone in his high school band and clarinet with the Boonville Village Band. He frequently played with three separate drum and bugle corps in Boonville and Rome. Mr. Sawyer passed away in 2008.
Mrs. Sawyer completed a successful career of more than 45 years at Rome Savings Bank and was an avid follower of the stock market. She also served on the finance committee of Boonville United Methodist Church. She assisted organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, Dodge Pratt Northam Art and Community Center, the Erwin Library, and the Boonville Cemetery. Mrs. Sawyer passed away in 2015.
In 2017, the Kenneth V. Sawyer and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Scholarship Fund was established through the Northern New York Community Foundation to benefit Adirondack Central School graduates. The endowed fund will award two scholarships each year forever, supporting the business and music pursuits of high school graduates from the district.
The application for the next grant cycle for funding from the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund will be available in early 2026.
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.