Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund Seeks 2020 Grant Proposals
WATERTOWN — Nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Boonville, Constableville and Westernville are encouraged to apply for 2020 grant funding through the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund at the Northern New York Community Foundation.
The fund was established in 2018 to support programs, projects and initiatives that broadly impact the quality of life in Boonville, Constableville and Westernville. The Northern New York Community Foundation administers this permanent, charitable legacy fund that makes grant awards annually. This year, up to $30,000 in funding is available.
In 2019, 11 projects were awarded grant funding totaling $32,500. The recipients were:
- Erwin Library and Institute — $5,400 to help complete building repairs and launch new multi-generational programs for residents.
- Boonville Cemetery Association — $5,000 to help expand the cemetery and identify additional sources of funding for the expansion.
- Dodge Pratt Northam Art and Community Center — $4,150 to help improve equipment for music and theater programs.
- Constable Hall Association — $4,000 matching grant to help complete major repairs to the hall and protect the association’s assets and artifacts.
- Village of Boonville — $4,000 to help the village purchase playground equipment at Erwin Park and install a wheelchair swing and interactive play station for all residents.
- Boonville Black River Canal Museum — $2,750 to help purchase equipment and materials to preserve artifacts and displays in future years.
- Friends of Erwin Park — $2,000 to aid in support for the first phase of a “master renewal project” at the park, which includes installation of a splash pad.
- Constableville Fire Company Inc. — $1,500 to acquire an industrial washing machine for turnout gear.
- Village of Constableville — $1,500 to help landscape a playground.
- Adirondack Community Chorus — $1,200 to purchase music for performances in the 2019-2020 season.
- North Country Proudly Honors Inc. — $1,000 to fund the placement of flag banners along community streets to honor local military veterans and service members.
The deadline to submit a proposal for consideration is Friday. April 24, 2020. Grant awards will be announced following the Community Foundation’s quarterly board meeting in June. Contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation assistant director, 315-782-7110, or max@nnycf.org for grant guidelines or to learn more about the Kenneth V. and Jeannette Remp Sawyer Community Fund.
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 died 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 died 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.
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.