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
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
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
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
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.
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 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.
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 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 Community Foundation Arts & Culture Fund supports and promotes the needs of various art and cultural entities within the Foundation’s five county region.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
The Katie Titus Early Literacy Fund was established in 2019 in loving memory of Katie Titus, to support early literacy projects, programs, and organizations in the Broome County New York community that provide early literacy services to families and children.
The Visions Investment Services Community Impact Fund was started in 2019 with the intention to serve the charitable interests of Visions Investment Services and its member/clients… all while supporting the overall giving efforts and philosophy of Visions FCU and Visions Cares.
The Women’s Fund was established as a special fund at the Community Foundation and is comprised of a group of women philanthropists, inspired to help women and girls in our communities to grow and achieve their dreams.
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 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 Art Sharpsteen Scholarship Award Fund distributes scholarship awards to students with financial need in the Binghamton, Chenango Valley and Waverly NY school districts who have participated in varsity basketball.
Started in 2019 by an initial gift of $1,500 and further funded by an investment of $15,000 from the board of the Community Foundation, the Young Professionals Advisory Committee Fund will award grants for projects, programs, and organizations that support, develop and/or expand the skill set of young professionals in our region and/or increase their involvement in the community.
This annual award will go to the outstanding graduating senior student in the Johnson City (N.Y.) school district planning a career in music, whose drive and talent are reflective of former Tri-Cities Opera Artistic Director Duane R. Skrabalak (1949-2014).
You may not know the name Marian Blakeslee Butler but she has made a difference in the lives of thousands. In an age when many causes compete for our attention, an individual who gives so prodigiously of themselves in the service of others is remarkable.
The Tina Fund was established in loving memory of Tina Turner, who lost her battle to breast cancer in 2013. The fund will provide grants to individuals and families in Broome and Chenango Counties who struggle with costs related to breast cancer diagnosis.
Established in loving memory of “Mrs. Stratton” (1954-2014), the Elaine S. Stratton Memorial Scholarship Fund will provide an annual educational scholarship to a graduating senior at Johnson City Central High School.
This fund was created in memory of Johny Stringfield to promote a drug-free lifestyle and encourage high school students to persevere through their circumstances and assist them in pursuing their dreams of continuing education.
Established in loving memory of Alexander Wetzel, this scholarship fund will support Binghamton High School students pursuing study in engineering or computer science at a two or four year college or university.
Established in loving memory of Constance Elwood Wilk (1931 – 2021), the Connie Wilk Scholarship Fund will provide an educational scholarship to a graduating senior from Binghamton High School pursuing studies in the field of healthcare.