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Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund
Announces $57,446 in New Grant Awards
Published: July 18, 2024 at
08:45 a.m.
By: Press Release from NNY Community Foundation
Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund
Announces $57,446 in New Grant Awards
Thirteen Organizations Will Share Support for a Wide
Range of Programs and Community Projects to Strengthen Quality of Life for
Local Residents
BOONVILLE — Thirteen
community projects and organizations that benefit Boonville,
Constableville, and Westernville residents will
share $57,446 in funding from the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community
Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation this year.
Support will help
build programs and fund projects that broadly impact the quality of life
for residents in the three communities. Eighteen organizations applied for
funding in the seventh year of the grant program.
In 2023, the
Sawyer Community Fund awarded $58,050 to 14 community-based organizations.
Thanks to the enduring generosity of the Sawyers, the fund has provided
more than $350,000 in support to 102 projects and organizations since
grantmaking efforts began in 2018.
The Kenneth V.
and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund was established in 2018 as a geographic-specific
fund to enhance
and strengthen the communities of Boonville, Constableville and Westernville.
The Sawyers were
passionate about the quality of life in their community, participating in
many activities and volunteering with several meaningful organizations.
Through the community fund, the Sawyer family established a lasting
charitable resource that impact these communities
in perpetuity.
“The breadth of
programs and projects supported this year is a true testament to the impact
of a community fund,” said Max DelSignore, Northern New York Community
Foundation assistant director. “Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer shared the belief of
demonstrating generosity where you live. Their community fund continues to lift
these three communities in the most meaningful way.”
The following
organizations will receive 2024 grant funding from the Sawyer Community
Fund:
Boonville
Cemetery Association, $10,000 to repair fascia on the chapel at the
cemetery entrance and replace two lead windows.
Constableville
for Tomorrow, $8,000 to upgrade pavilion lighting, which will
have year-round impact, in partnership the Tug
Hill Yeti Hockey & Figure Skating Club. Funding will also support anew rink liner and purchasing more figure skates for
all ages. Improvements will increase access for community participants in
the skating program and other activities.
Boonville Black
River Canal Museum, $6,650 to redirect water that is infiltrating the
museum’s crawl space. Rainwater and snow melt are
slowly causing an adverse impact, and the organization wishes to strengthen
protection of the building. Funding will cover supplies and associated
repairs.
Dodge Pratt
Northam Art and Community Center, $5,500 to support materials and artist
fees for summer and winter musical theater programs and materials for a
summer art program. A portion of the funding will also help update the
security system.
Adirondack
Community Chorus, $4,500 to bring a recital series to Constable Hall
to boost its visibility and feature the site as a regional tourist
attraction. Funding will help cover costs of
professionally trained musicians and related expenses.
Erwin Library and
Institute, $4,370 to bring in performers for its summer reading program and
upgrade its security system.
Boonville Concert
Band, $4,000 to conduct a four-performance summer series in Boonville in
July and August. Funding will cover costs for musicians and related
expenses.
Village of
Boonville, $3,800 to install two ADA-accessible water stations in Erwin Park.
Grant funding will cover the costs of the freestanding fountains and other
needed equipment.
Constable Hall
Association, $3,500 to help purchase a golf cart that would enhance access to
the 17-acre property for visitors with limited mobility. Several community
events held at the hall cover many acres of the campus. The association
will match grant funding in order secure the recommended golf cart for
acquisition.
Western Town
Library, $2,226 to acquire an AED machine, giving the library a critical
safety device on site in case of emergencies during operating hours or
community events. The library serves approximately 3,000 patrons annually.
Boonville Search
and Rescue Association, $2,200 to coordinate two community training days
for participants ages 13 and older to learn introductory skills for CPR and
first aid. Map and compass training will also be provided. Funding will
cover training costs and required materials.
Volunteer
Transportation Center, $1,500 to support reimbursement for volunteer
drivers who serve clients in the Boonville, Westernville,
and Constableville areas. The Volunteer Transportation Center provides
essential rides to health, social and other destinations for Northern New
York residents at no charge. More than 100,000 miles were logged in Lewis
County alone in 2023.
Volunteer Income
Tax Assistance (VITA), $1,200 to acquire proper supplies to keep this
program going to serve village/area residents. On average, 250 tax returns
are completed through this effort each year. Volunteers hope to complete
275 returns next year.
About Kenneth V.
and Jeannette Remp Sawyer
 Mr. and Mrs. 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 2024.
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.
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