|
NNY Community Foundation’s LEAD Council Awards
$20,000 in Impact Grants to Tri-County Organizations
Published: January 28, 2023
at 01:00 p.m.
By: Press Release from NNY Community Foundation’s
LEAD Council
Community Foundation’s LEAD Council Awards $20,000 in
Impact Grants to Tri-County Organizations
Eight Nonprofits Will Share Funding to Strengthen
Quality of Life Across Region
 WATERTOWN — A mobile meat
canning event, new adaptive recreation equipment, a community pavilion
project, STEM-related educational resources, and a pair of programs that
provide critical and essential needs for families will each receive a share
of $20,000 in grant funding from the LEAD Council of the Northern New York
Community Foundation.
A recent series
of LEAD Impact Grant Program awards will support eight tri-county nonprofit
organizations. After thoughtful evaluation of nearly two-dozen applications
for funding, Council members sought to address current community needs
while supporting a wide breadth of tri-county organizations whose work improves
the quality of life in Northern New York.
“Each year, LEAD
Council members look forward to the Impact Grant initiative. It is an
opportunity for organizations to fulfill an unmet need, sustain current
initiatives, or to think creatively about new ways to serve Northern New
York communities,” said Anna Platz, LEAD Council vice chair. “The Council
continues to be impressed by work being done to support our most vulnerable
community members during these especially uncertain times.”
A $6,000 LEAD
Impact Grant will help the Adirondack Mennonite Camping Association bring
a mobile meat canning service to the Lowville area. More than 16,000 pounds
of meat is slated for processing and canning with approximately 1,600
pounds set for distribution to the Lowville and New Bremen food pantries, which
provide critical and essential needs for local families. Local volunteers
are scheduled to participate in the event, including students from Beaver
River, Lowville, Lewis County BOCES, and the Boy Scouts, as well as members
of the Lions Club and military service members from Fort Drum.
A $5,000 LEAD
Impact Grant will help the recently established nonprofit Encompass
Recreation, Carthage, host an adaptive sporting event for exceptional
children and youths who face developmental challenges. Encompass aims to
offer high-quality local recreation events where every child feels
challenged, safe, encouraged, and included. The nonprofit provides more
inclusive and equitable recreational activities for local youth while
celebrating differences, accentuating strengths, and finding a place for
everyone on the team.
The Adirondack
Mennonite Heritage Association, Croghan, was awarded a $3,000 LEAD
Impact Grant to help the organization complete a community pavilion at its
farm property that will enhance current programs.
Cape Vincent Food
Pantry was awarded a $2,000 LEAD Impact Grant to strengthen its “Cape Aid” program,
which helps Cape Vincent-area residents with emergency needs.
The Canton Day
Care Center was awarded a $1,500 LEAD Impact Grant to establish a
science center for its school-aged program that serves students from age 5
through 12. Grant funding will help purchase a variety of STEM-related
equipment and supplies for the program. The Brookmar
Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation will also award a
$1,500 matching grant for the program, which will allow the center to
secure all materials needed for the program.
A $1,000 LEAD
Impact Grant will support the South Jefferson Backpack Program.
Funding will help purchase food to strengthen inventory for the program.
Last year, close to 70 families were supported through the program each
week, which helped ensure that approximately 225 school-aged children had access
to weekend meals.
GardenShare, Canton, was awarded a $1,000 LEAD
Impact Grant to strengthen resources and support additional consumers. The
organization promotes a local food system that ensures food security for
St. Lawrence County residents. Its “Bonus Bucks” program supports
vulnerable families across the county and provides them with access to
fresh and healthy local foods. Last year, the program supported close to
100 families, seniors, and youths. The Brookmar
Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation will also award a
$1,000 matching grant to GardenShare, which will
assist the effort.
United Service
Organizations (USO) Fort Drum will receive a $500 LEAD Impact Grant to
support programs for service members and their families while creating
stronger connections in the community. Fort Drum’s USO Center provides a
safe and welcoming space for families to enjoy a variety of activities while
their loved ones are deployed.
The LEAD Council
is an advisory committee of young professionals empowered to make
meaningful investments in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties
through community grants and volunteerism. The Council was pleased to
consider a diverse group of worthy community projects and ultimately award support
to nonprofits with a wide range of missions.
“LEAD Council
members are excited to provide funding for these eight dynamic
organizations. LEAD was lucky to have many well-written grant applications
this year and we couldn’t be more proud of the funding
decisions the group made,” said Andrew Boulter, LEAD Council chair.
“Each recipient has shown great care for their community, and we are
honored help fund their projects.”
The LEAD Council
and its grant program are supported through the thoughtful generosity of
the Hyde-Stone Charitable Foundation of the Northern New York Community
Foundation, Carthage Savings and Loan Association, Morgia Wealth Management, and donors to
the Community Foundation’s Friends of the Foundation Annual Community
Betterment Fund.
About the LEAD
Council
The LEAD Council
was chartered in 2014 as advisory committee of the Northern New York
Community Foundation empowered to identify and address strategic needs in
Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
The Council is
comprised of 18 young professionals who live and work in the tri-county
area with an interest in enhancing the quality of life for all in the North
Country. LEAD is an acronym that reflects four important guiding principles
of the Community Foundation’s work: Leadership, Engagement, Access, and
Direction.
The Council works
to gain a deeper understanding of community needs, issues, and the
nonprofit sector to augment the Community Foundation’s mission and work.
Since its inception, the LEAD Council has developed several creative
initiatives to benefit the community and region. Strategic efforts include
its “LEADing the Way” volunteer program,
enhancements to child care and early childhood development programs,
hyperlocal support for anti-poverty initiatives, community giving
challenges, and building philanthropic values in the region’s schools
through student-led projects.
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.
|
