The Community Foundation for South Central New York
Connecting Donors who Care with Causes that Matter
Stories which share the experience of some of our donors. Who they are, why they support funds, impact of their support, etc.
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
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
If you want to see the rising generation of community philanthropists, check out the S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Many of the partners and employees at this Binghamton-based business planning startup are under 35. In 2013, these young professionals made a major commitment to their neighbors, forming a donor-advised fund through the Community Foundation. S.E.E.D. (Stimulating. Exceptional. Read more
They came together to study the Bible and stayed to study world religion, philosophy, science and more. They have assisted one another, and they’ve joined hands to assist others in need. They say they’ve become a single being with a single heart. That’s why they call themselves the Organism. “We felt we had one purse, Read more