Cayuga Community Fund Awards First Grants

Fifteen Cayuga-based nonprofit groups received grants totaling $12,500 in the first-ever distribution from the Cayuga Community Fund. The Fund, with endowment assets of approximately $500,000, was established in 2008.

Auburn Beautification Commission received $1,000 to implement community park improvements at Osborne Park. The improvements will provide recreational opportunities for community families and children with playground equipment, benches, lighting and trees.

Auburn Civic Band received $500 to purchase folding chairs for performers’ use at public band performances in Auburn and surrounding areas.

Booker T. Washington Community Center received $1,000 to support the BTW University summer program. The six-week summer program for youth ages 5-13 will offer insight into higher education and an opportunity to grow academically during the summer recess.

Cayuga Counseling Services received $1,000 to present a one-day Minimal Facts seminar to Cayuga County school personnel who are the first to respond to disclosures of child sexual and physical abuse. The seminar assists first-responders in gathering enough information about the allegation to make a report without creating undue stress to the child.

Cayuga County Community Health Network received $1,000 to provide educational programming to individuals with diabetes or prediabetes. The programming will teach individuals how to manage their diabetes through appropriate care and increase knowledge with at-risk individuals to engage in healthy behaviors that will prevent or delay diabetes occurrence.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art received $1,000 to purchase computers and digitizing equipment that will allow staff to use PowerPoint in new exhibits. The Museum, established in 1936, provides a forum for the public to interact with and appreciate Cayuga County’s past.

Chapel House received $400 to launch a garden project that will provide food to residents of the shelter. Chapel House provides homeless services to men, women and children on a 24-hour basis.

Child Care Solutions received $1,000 to purchase materials for child care providers that will encourage large motor activities for children during the winter months.

Good Shepherd Catholic Community received $500 to provide food for the BackPack Program that provides at-risk youth with food over the weekends. The program seeks to reduce a weekend meal gap and help children return to school on Monday better prepared to learn, increasing their likelihood for academic success.

Human Services Coalition of Cayuga County received $1,400 to conduct a community food security assessment. The assessment will identify the needs of Cayuga County residents for accessible, affordable, health-promoting food and formulate recommendations for effective, collaborative solutions.

Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County received $1,000 to provide classes on GED test preparation for adults seeking employment.

National Alliance on Mental Illness of Cayuga County received $1,000 toward the purchase of a photo-text exhibit, Nothing to Hide – Mental Illness in the Family, for display at various locations. The exhibit will bring visibility to individuals with mental illness and their families to dispel stereotypes, myths and misconceptions about mental illness.

Options of Independence received $500 to help support the creation of the Personal Bank Care program. The program will provide a pantry of personal care toiletry items such as shampoo and toothbrushes that can be distributed to the county’s needy families and individuals.

Peachtown Elementary School received $500 to support the community workshop, The 4A’s: Autism, Allergies, Asthma and ADHD: Your Child’s Diet and Diagnosis. The program will help parents understand how their diets directly affect the behavior of children and their readiness for learning.

Transportation Project for Cayuga County received $700 to transport Freedom Recreational clients to and from Freedom Camp 2010. The camp, held at Casey Park, provides recreational, educational and social activities to persons with disabilities.

About the Cayuga Community Fund
The Cayuga Community Fund is a geographically specific fund, administered by the Central New York Community Foundation. The Fund was created to benefit residents of Cayuga County by serving as a source of permanent charitable dollars for nonprofits serving residents of the County. Grants are awarded from the endowment fund annually to support programs in education, health, social services, the arts, civic and environmental concerns, as well as the preservation of historic resources in Cayuga County.

The Leadership Council of The Cayuga Community Fund is chaired by Robert Bergan. Other Council members are Jim Courtney, Dan Cuddy, Ken Entenmann, Jill Fandrich, Jack Hardy, Howard Hartnett, Alice Hoatland, Marianne O’Connor, William Ryan, Lisa Marsh Ryerson, David Stapleton, and Steve Zabriskie.

The Central New York Community Foundation has served Central New York for over 80 years, receiving, managing and distributing charitable funds for the benefit of nonprofit organizations. Grants are awarded for programs in the areas of human services, arts and culture, education, environment, health, economic development and civic affairs. The region’s largest endowed philanthropic foundation, the Central New York Community Foundation awards more than $5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations annually. The Community Foundation, with its office at 500 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202, can be reached at (315) 422-9538 or http://www.cnycf.org/.