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Community Foundation Funding Supports Eight
Tri-County Youth Organizations
Published: December 24, 2024
at 06:30 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NNY Community Foundation
Community Foundation Funding Supports Eight
Tri-County Youth Organizations
$15,500 Will Help Strengthen Work for Nonprofits
Across Three Counties
WATERTOWN — Eight nonprofit
organizations serving youth in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties
will share grant funding totaling more than $15,000 to support their work.
The Community
Foundation’s Board of Directors approved $15,500 in funding during its
December board meeting to support local programs that serve children and
youth.
“The Community
Foundation has been blessed with donors, past and present, for whom
children and youth have been at the heart of their giving,” said Rande S.
Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “This allows us to
provide important help such as this to local organizations and make a real
difference in the lives of those they serve.”
The following
tri-county organizations will receive grant funding to broadly support
their missions:
Jefferson County
Watertown Family
YMCA, $2,500 — For close to 50 years, the YMCA has served the
greater Watertown community through programs that strengthen families. The
YMCA also offers scholarship support to children and families with
financial need who wish to participate in programs. This helps accomplish
their vision statement of being an organization that is family-centered and
accessible to all.
SoZo Teen Center, $2,500 — As a component of
the Children’s Home of Jefferson County, the SoZo
Teen Center provides a year-round safe space and programming for youth in
grades seven through 12. The teen center has operated for 13 years and
helps to empower local teens, guiding them toward a future of productivity
and good citizenship. More than 350 local youth are registered at the
drop-in center, which offers a range of activities to promote health and
wellness, career readiness, civic engagement and more.
Hearts for Youth,
$1,000 — This organization focuses on local youth in Alexandria Bay and
neighboring St. Lawrence River communities from infants to age 21. Based at
the Macsherry Library, the organization offers activities and programs to
keep participants engaged, learning and entertained. For many families, Hearts
for Youth is a perfect organization for kids from rural communities to gain
additional experiences beyond the classroom.
Carthage YMCA,
$1,000 — A branch of the Watertown Family YMCA, it
operates with the same mission and purpose. Given the hyperlocal needs of
residents in the greater Carthage community, the YMCA is an important venue
for health and wellness activity and social engagement for children and
families.
Lewis County
Double Play
Community Center, $2,500 — Double Play provides programming to
residents of all ages and focus on accessibility
for those who wish to participate. Its community center operates with a
childcare service, features youth sports and enrichment programs,
after-school programs and summer recreation opportunities. An estimated 5
percent of Lewis County residents participate in quality-of-life programs
at Double Play, and it is one of the region’s most important regional
assets.
Youth of Lewis
County, $1,000 — This upstart nonprofit was established in 2024 to
help youth ages 14 to 21 who face challenges
related to disabilities, mental health, substance use, juvenile justice and
more. The grassroots organization is motivated to provide a youth peer
advocate model to help address service gaps in Lewis County. The first
round of activities began this fall at Maple Ridge Center, and the
organization is working to build charitable resources to further assist
this population.
St. Lawrence
County
Ogdensburg Boys
& Girls Club, $2,500 — The club is
celebrating 60 years serving the greater Ogdensburg community. It is
recognized for its youth programming and accessibility, allowing children
between ages 6 and 19 to participate. On a typical
afternoon during the school year, more than 100 youth visit the club to
play sports, join in targeted programs, engage in STEM-related activities,
or just visit with friends. A common thread through the club’s programs is
teaching character and leadership. This is one of the strongest youth and
family development organizations in St. Lawrence County.
Police Activities
League of Massena, $2,500 — The league’s establishment created an
opportunity for youth in Massena and surrounding communities to participate
in structured programming and activities. Initially chartered under the
Boys & Girls Club model, it pivoted to its present operation to support
at-risk and unsupervised youth. More than 100 children attend after-school
programs and approximately 83 percent of attendees come from low-income
households. Funding will help the organization strengthen programming and maintain
its focus of providing meaningful and lasting opportunities for local
youth.
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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