The Six Town Community Fund will support nine community projects with up to $5,000 in grant funding for programs and projects benefiting residents in southern Jefferson County.
The Six Town Community Fund was created in 2013 to be a permanent philanthropic resource for the southern Jefferson County region. Many individuals, businesses and organizations helped establish the fund, combined with a matching grant from the Community Foundation. The community fund is focused on enhancing the quality of life in the towns of Adams, Ellisburg, Henderson, Lorraine, Rodman, and Worth by supporting a variety of programs, projects, and initiatives in the area. The community fund is a component fund administered by the Northern New York Community Foundation.
“It is fulfilling to see the gifts made by people who love the Six Town area being put to work to make a difference in a grassroots, hyperlocal way. This has proven to be a nice vehicle for donors to focus their giving in a flexible, yet enduring way, for the places that have great meaning for them,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director.
This year’s recipients are:
South Jefferson Rescue Squad, Inc. was awarded $1,000 that will help the organization purchase an APX radio to help the rescue squad transition to a new form of county-wide communication system. The county’s new radio system goes into effect this summer.
Henderson Harbor Performing Arts Association, Inc. received $800 to bring the Red House Arts Group from Syracuse to perform a Shakespeare play performance in July.
South Jefferson Central School received $750 which will be utilized to support the school’s technology club, which recently created project-based activities centered on STEAM initiatives. Students in grades 3-5 at Mannsville and Wilson Elementary schools are participating in learning activities such as programming robots, writing code, developing apps, and more. The grant will assist the club in purchasing appropriate materials for these activities.
The Historical Association of South Jefferson was awarded $500 to begin its campaign to restore seven stained glass windows at the Six Town House.
Adams Village Baptist Church received $500 to promote and raise awareness for a series of hyperlocal community workshops and guidance from a professional substance abuse counselor for people in need of education and family support. The church and its leadership is proposing three community workshops focusing on substance abuse disorder and support groups.
The Adams Revitalization Committee received $500 that will be utilized to assist with the costs of musicians and promoting the 2018 Adams Community Concert Series. The summer concert series are free, open to the public, cover a variety of musical genres, and generally attracts an average of 250 people per show. The 2018 concert series will mark its fourth year.
The Union Academy of Belleville was awarded $500 in support of the renovation to the historic Union Academy bell tower, a well-known landmark in the Six Town area.
The Mannsville Free Library received $250 to advance the “Life is Like a Box of Chocolates” program which encourages teamwork, kindness, and awareness of diversity. The program was held last year at Mannsville Free Library with approximately 40 adults and children in attendance. The grant funding will be used to purchase materials that are part of the program experience.
The Henderson Historical Society received $200 toward the purchase of maple trees that will beautify the society’s walking trail. The trees will be planted this spring.
The Northern New York Community Foundation makes grants to support the work of non-profit organizations and provides scholarships to individuals in Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties. The Foundation has been built and added to from gifts (both while living and through their legacy plans) by individuals and organizations committed to meeting the changing needs of Northern New York, as well as supporting specific charitable interests and passions.