The Community Foundation for South Central New York
Connecting Donors who Care with Causes that Matter
Looking inward and outward in 2020, the Community Foundation expanded its work to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), both in our practices and in the region we serve. Those efforts build on work we started more than two years ago, when we conducted a preliminary assessment of our Board and staff and updated language Read more
In 2020, women held 26 percent of the seats in the U.S. Senate and 23.2 percent of seats in the House. Across the nation, 29.3 percent of state legislators were women, according to the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. Those numbers are better than they used to be. (In 1981, just 12.1 percent Read more
The first message came at 1 in the morning: “Jen, it’s all gone.” Next thing Jennifer O’Brien knew, her phone was blowing up with texts. The news was heartbreaking. Our Space Park, a playground in Binghamton’s Recreation Park, designed as an accessible place of joy for people of all ages and abilities, had burned to Read more
While other nonprofits struggled to provide essential services during the pandemic, many arts organizations—theaters, museums, orchestras, dance schools, galleries, and more—simply had to close. That shutdown spurred a financial emergency. In Broome County, for example, arts organizations lost about $1 million in revenues and missed fundraising opportunities, said Nancy Barno Reynolds, executive director of the Read more
Six organizations received a total of $35,984 from the Women’s Fund in 2019 to support programs that help women and girls. Three of those awards went to programs focused on employment. For example, an $8,000 grant to Catholic Charities of Broome County funded emergency assistance to help women fuel their cars, buy work uniforms, reserve Read more
School districts invent new ways to serve their students and the broader community. The services that schools provide these days go way beyond the traditional “three Rs”. They also reach deep into our communities. One example is the Whitney Point Central School District’s Early Eagles initiative, a pre-literacy program for families of infants and toddlers. Read more
Mini-grants help agricultural businesses root out conditions that cause sickness and injury. A few years ago, experts at the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) identified a flaw in their efforts to keep people who work on farms healthy and safe. NYCAMH would send a specialist to walk through a farm and Read more
Several recent grants support programs based on a simple principle: no one should go hungry. Too many people lack reliable access to nutritious food. Luckily, many community groups are working hard to meet this essential need. Take the Unatego Central School District’s backpack program, which gives students in need healthy food to take home. The Read more
Grant helps rural ambulance service attract more first responders with advanced skills. With a staff of just 18, the Hancock Ambulance Service stands ready to save lives every day, around the clock, across 164 square miles of Delaware County plus a sliver of Pennsylvania. This extremely rural region is many miles from the nearest trauma Read more
Children with special needs often can’t get appropriate support when they enter preschool. That’s part of the reason why a child in preschool is three times more likely to be expelled than a child in a K-12 school, says Deborah Fitzgerald, a professional development specialist and coach for early childhood teachers. Even when a school Read more
Each year, the Women’s Fund’s Grants Subcommittee sits down to plan its next award cycle. The 12 women on the subcommittee talk about what they hope to accomplish, based on current needs in the communities we serve. Every year, of course, the overriding goal is to support projects and programs designed to improve the lives Read more
Librarians are champs at squeezing optimal value out of every dollar in a budget. Their ingenuity makes it a special pleasure to support local libraries through the Community Foundation Library Fund. The fund was born in 2008, on the dissolution of the Broome Library Foundation. That group’s board asked the Community Foundation to take over Read more
While working on a small scale, some organizations make a deep impact on individual lives. That’s the case with two nonprofits we funded in 2018, both with a focus on empowerment. The first, Move Along, Inc., gives people with physical limitations a chance to enjoy a variety of sports. One of its programs provides adaptive Read more
A small town can play a big role in a region’s cultural life. That’s surely true of Norwich, Oxford and Oneonta, each of which hosts a musical series or venue that draws fans from miles around. Recent grants from the Community Foundation have helped small, volunteer-powered organizations in these places enrich the local arts scene Read more
Otsego Rural Housing Assistance (ORHA) helps homeowners of modest means stay in their homes and keep those dwellings comfortable and safe. Although Otsego County is small—with only about 60,000 people—the need for housing assistance there seems almost limitless, says Timothy Peters, executive director of ORHA, in Cooperstown. Beyond Cooperstown and Oneonta, Otsego is largely an Read more
Many small organizations in our region are working to preserve the environment and teach the public about conservation. We supported those efforts with several grants in 2018. For instance, we awarded $3,259 to the Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve in Stamford. Named to honor Dr. Michael Kudish, who has been researching the natural history of Read more
Since its Greek yogurt first went on sale in 2007, Chobani has become a powerful force in the economy of Central New York. The company’s philanthropic arm, the Chobani Foundation, has grown along with the brand, supporting efforts to strengthen communities and improve wellness and childhood nutrition. One of the Chobani Foundation’s newest programs is Read more
The intent of the Park Committee was to establish a fund for the long term preservation of the park, and as we approach the 10th anniversary we have acted on this intent in partnership with the Community Foundation.
The Edward L. Rose Conservancy was founded in 1986 to protect land, preserve natural habitat and increase public awareness through education, research and outreach programs. Your donations support priority land conservation projects as well as environmental programs for youth and families in the Southern Tier.
The Edward L. Rose Conservancy was founded in 1986 to protect land, preserve natural habitat and increase public awareness through education, research and outreach programs. Your donations support priority land conservation projects as well as environmental programs for youth and families in the Southern Tier.
Established in loving memory of (Edward) Decker Ayers III, this scholarship will enable Cooperstown High School students an opportunity to pursue a college degree in history.
David Emerson, Tom Emerson and Neil Bartle grew up together in Oxford, where their families have lived for generations. “All three of us love our little community,” says David. Two years ago they put some formal philanthropic power behind that love, working with the Community Foundation to form the Greater Oxford Community Fund. David and Read more
The mission of the David P. Beere Family Fund is to provide scholarship support for one Owego Free Academy graduating senior entering the armed services or a service academy. This fund is one of a number of sub-funds within the Selrahc Ah-Wa-Ga Legacy Fund. For more details about this family of funds please visit the Selrahc Ah-Wa_Ga Read more
The George and Sally Akel Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
Created in 2009, to enhance the educational experience of students in the Windsor Central School District Community, the Black Knight Funds allow donors to make a lasting impact on the Windsor Central School educational experience.
The Charles Hibberd Bassett Senior Citizen Fund was established in 2014 by James Thomas (Tom) Bassett and his wife Silvia de la Garza. Their intent was to recognize the special interest of Charles Hibberd Bassett in the welfare of senior citizens of the Village of Owego and surrounding Tioga County communities.
The Binghamton Police K-9 Fund allows donors to direct gifts for the support and operation of the current canine unit (as well as retired dogs) for purchase of food, medication, veterinary bills, training, equipment, and new service dogs.
The Black Knight Legacy Fund is an endowed fund; ensuring that the donations will continue to grow and meet the needs of our school community well into the future.
The Black Knight Legacy Fund is dedicated to providing as many scholarships as possible to graduating seniors of Windsor Central High School, and to to help with their pursuit of college or trade-school education.
This fund, established in loving memory of Sally Brooks, will assist a junior or senior high school student with financial need obtain a bachelor’s degree in an English related major from a public or private university in New York state.
The Lisanne P. Bobby Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Glenda Blake and Leo Cotnoir Fund for Art Empowerment is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
This fund was established in memory of Wanda Gallup Busharis (1924-2014), Oneonta High School Class of 1941 and is intended for a student from Oneonta High School who intends to pursue higher education in a health-related field.
Established in 2005, the Phelps Mansion Preservation Fund allows donors to direct gifts that will support preservation of the Phelps Mansion and its historic contents.
The Edward L. Rose Conservancy was founded in 1986 to protect land, preserve natural habitat and increase public awareness through education, research and outreach programs. Your donations support priority land conservation projects as well as environmental programs for youth and families in the Southern Tier.
The Lillian Briggs Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Barbara H. Chaffee, MD, MPH Educational Fund was created in 2010 to honor and recognize over two decades of Dr. Chaffee’s service to people with HIV/AIDS and the health care professionals who care for them. It allows donors to make a lasting impact on the delivery of health care for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Binghamton area and honors the work and life of Dr. Chaffee.
The Catholic Schools of Broome County Scholarship Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Edwin A. and Marion Clayton Link Scholarship Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Broome Public Library Development Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Chobani Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Chobani, the number 1-selling Greek Yogurt brand in America. As an expansion of its community wellness efforts, the Foundation has established a Community Impact Fund with the strategic goal of strengthening the region where Chobani employees live and work.
The Joseph D. and Julia V. Coughlin Scholarship Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Community Foundation Arts & Culture Fund supports and promotes the needs of various art and cultural entities within the Foundation’s five county region.
The James A. and Loretta J. Carrigg Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Community Foundation Library Fund allows donors to direct gifts that will support public libraries for library services, programming, exhibits and historical exhibitions in conjunction with public libraries in the region served by the Community Foundation for South Central New York.
The Couper Family Scholarship Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Joyce and David Barber Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Cibo Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Endowment for Visual Arts in the Communities is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Peter Cronk Scholarship fund will provide a $1,000 scholarship to a Binghamton High School student attending a two or four year college in Fine Arts or English.
Established in 2020, donations to this fund will support the general operating expenses of Camp Shankitunk, a 4-H Camp of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, facility maintenance, and capital improvements.
An artist’s grant from the Community Foundation changed Glenda Blake’s life. Now Glenda and her husband are giving back, establishing the Glenda Blake and Leo Cotnoir Fund to support artists and community arts activities. A graduate of SUNY Oswego, Glenda was born in the North Country of New York but raised mostly in the Southern Read more
As young professionals raising a family, Gene and Judy Peckham couldn’t devote much money to community causes. But that didn’t stop them from devoting themselves. The Peckhams discovered the pleasure of public service as Peace Corps volunteers in Peru in the 1960s. “We learned more there than we ever taught anybody,” Judy says. Back in Read more
The Harriet Ford Dickenson Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Esther Couper Family Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Gerald Di Giusto Scholarship Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Emergency Animal Care Response Fund was created by concerned animal welfare organizations in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis. It was clear at the time that animal companions would be affected by the disruption caused by the pandemic, and emergency funding would be needed to support the shelters and foster families that would be caring for them immediately and under similar emergency circumstances in the future.
The Healthy Gardens Norwich Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Jonas Kilmer Mansion Restoration and Preservation Fund was established in 2019 to support the preservation and restoration of the historic Jonas Kilmer Mansion in Binghamton NY.
The Selrahc Ah-Wa-Ga Legacy Fund was established in 2012 and focuses on support of Tioga county communities through a number of sub-funds.
The Friends of Kirkwood Parks committee is asking for the community’s support to build Kirkwood Inspiration Playground, an all-inclusive playground project, by the summer of 2019, a fun, safe, and inclusive play space where children of all abilities can grow and learn through physical, emotional, sensory and social experiences.
The Goodall-Komar Family Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The John Eisch Scholarship Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Lukensmith Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Janicki Family Animal Welfare Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Mary Frances Farrell Renaissance Memorial Endowment Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Mighty Max “Just Because” Fund is established in celebration of the life of Max Gabriel Edell Kranbuhl, known to many of his family and friends as “Mighty Max”. Although challenged by a developmental disability and moderate autism, Max was enthusiastically involved in areas that held his interest. His humor, honesty and grit attracted many to him especially during the last years of his young life spent in treatment for a rare cancer. This Fund is dedicated to bringing simple joys and opportunities to children dealing with challenges, and to assisting parents who need support and guidance during heart-wrenching times.
Gifted violinist Ida Anne Lipshultz (1916-2010) was a graduate of Binghamton schools, where she was concert-mistress of her school orchestras. The Ida Anne Lipshultz Madrigal Choir Endowment Fund honors Ida’s love of music.
The Stephen J. and Betty E. Purtell Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Greene Community Scholarship Fund was established to provide scholarships to graduating seniors of Greene Central High School, assist in their pursuit of college or trade-school education, and to offer non-traditional scholarship opportunities to adults seeking continuing education.
The Racial Justice and Equity Fund was established in August of 2020 with a $100,000 grant made to the fund by the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation.
The David and Linda Barton Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Riversong Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
The Paul G. and Miriam B. Mattern Fund supports projects that enrich the cultural life and/or the social well-being in its broadest sense, of the residents of the village and township of Walton, New York and welcomes proposals from non-profit organizations.
The Leonard Family Scholarship Fund is a component fund of the Community Foundation. For more information on all our funds please refer to our full funds list.
Established in 2019 by the generosity of Katherine Matola, this scholarship is available to graduating seniors in Broome County NY who demonstrate documented community service to less fortunate individuals, e.g. the sick, poor, homeless, disadvantaged youths, at-risk youths, the elderly or the infirm.
The Selrahc Ah-Wa-Ga Legacy Fund was established in 2012 and focuses on support of Tioga county communities through a number of sub-funds.
The Our Space Fund, opened in 2014 to support OurSpace at RecPark, is a collaborative project of Life is Washable, the City of Binghamton Parks and Recreation Department and the Binghamton University School of Management PricewaterhouseCooper Scholars Program.
Established in 2018 to honor the history of the Mello-Dears All-Girls Drum and Bugle Corps and its founder Fred Ford, the fund offers scholarships for female graduating seniors in Tioga, Broome, Chenango, Chemung and Tompkins counties.
Established in loving memory of Sister Joanna Monticello. This memorial scholarship in her memory is an extension of her ministry to help those give back to the community in the spirit of social work.