Funding Will Help Organizations with Wide Range of Quality-of-Life Initiatives
ADAMS — Seven nonprofit organizations serving residents of six southern Jefferson County communities will share $9,000 in grant funding to support projects and initiatives that strengthen the quality of life across the region.
The following grants were awarded:
- Kripalu Yoga Fellowship of Northern New York, $2,000 to help renovate its 100-year-old building and improve safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency. The project involves replacing windows, constructing new front steps with handrails, adding an accessibility ramp, and updating storm doors. The project will enhance the center’s ability to provide yoga, meditation, and wellness programs to the community in a safe space.
- Henderson Harbor Water Sports Programs, $1,500 to support summer water safety and education classes with a focus on disadvantaged youth and providing them access, education, and experiences on the water. The program offers swimming classes, boating safety courses, and summer recreational activities for individuals aged 3 to adult, addressing the critical need for water safety knowledge.
- Historical Association of South Jefferson, $1,500 to upgrade electrical wiring in the Ripley House Museum to protect its historical documents and artifacts. The project will replace outdated knob and tube wiring to improve fire safety and security.
- South Jefferson Rescue Squad, $1,500 to restart a youth program for ages 8 to 14 that teaches lifesaving skills. The program will run three evening classes (one per month) to maximize attendance. Funding will provide CPR kits to participants and other relevant materials for the course.
- South Jeff Back Pack Program, $1,000 to help strengthen food inventory for South Jefferson Central School students and families in need. To date, roughly 75 families are provided backpacks of food each weekend, impacting approximately 175 children.
- South Jefferson Central School District, $1,000 to purchase new cooking utensils so the Spanish and French clubs at the school district can introduce immersive cooking experiences to more than 400 students. The district no longer has a Family and Consumer Science teacher where these courses were provided.
- Henderson Free Library, $500 to support a summer reading program that aims to prevent “Summer Slide” by helping children maintain reading and language skills. The program attracted 278 attendees across 19 summer activities last year. Grant funding will help enhance this summer’s initiative.
“We are pleased to support seven different organizations that work hard to improve the quality of life for Six Town residents,” said Karen Denny, Six Town Community Fund committee chair. “It is inspiring to see gifts made by people who love the Six Town region make such a meaningful impact. We appreciate all that our donors continue to do to strengthen a permanent endowment that will forever support the enrichment of our communities.”
Grant awards are made possible thanks to many generous donors who continue to support the Six Town Community Fund and its efforts to strengthen communities in southern Jefferson County region.
The Six Town Community Fund was established in 2013 through the generosity of many donors, matched by the Community Foundation, as a permanent, charitable resource to support organizations that serve southern Jefferson County residents in the towns of Adams, Ellisburg, Henderson, Lorraine, Rodman, and Worth.
Since its inception, the community fund has awarded $62,630 in grant funding to 27 nonprofit organizations to assist with 58 different community projects and programs. These have included community improvement
projects, youth programs, arts and cultural events, equipment purchases, and facility upgrades. Projects are evaluated based on their overall community benefit, effective use of grant money, and the ability of the applicant to successfully implement the project.
The next grant application period will be made available this week with proposals due Friday, April 24. Contact Max DelSignore, Community Foundation vice president, 315-782-7110, or max@nnycf.org, to learn
more about the Six Town Community Fund.
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.