The year 2000 saw The Foundation set another precedent when it awarded four grants without being asked. The support, to Health Friends in Utica for an inner-city medical service, the Humane Society in Rome for pet therapy for the handicapped, Little Falls Hospital for a school health education project, and Thomas R. Proctor High School in Utica for a mentoring program, was prompted simply by The Foundation’s learning of the need. It would establish the practice of offering support proactively.

Grantmaking took another creative turn that year, into the arena of economic development, when The Foundation awarded grants to Leadership Mohawk Valley, to improve employee training in local businesses, and to Mohawk Valley EDGE, for a workforce recruitment and retention program.

It became increasingly common to award grants on a “challenge” basis, encouraging grantees to build their own base of support while being helped by The Community Foundation. An example was a $100,000 grant to the Old Forge Library’s renovation, expansion and endowment-building project, which was awarded with the provision that the library raise at least that much from other sources. The challenge was successfully met.

“Two” became a special number for The Community Foundation in 2000. Grants topped the $2 million mark for the first time, with 200 awards totaling over $2.2 million.

The first year of the 21st century also had The Foundation reaching out in new ways to tell its story. The annual report and newsletter continued to expand as they reached existing audiences, but for the first time newspaper advertisements were produced to better inform the general public of the organization’s work. Carrying the What’s Your Legacy? theme, the ads described the origins and focus of several funds.

In 2001, changes occurred in the top leadership positions at both the volunteer and staff levels. In May, Milton Bloch, CEO of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, was elected board president and in July, Gordon Hayes stepped down as executive director. Former board president William Schrauth, who had retired as president of the Savings Bank of Utica, was named interim executive director while a search for Hayes’ successor was conducted.

That year also marked the formation of the Summer Fellows in Philanthropy Program. It introduces outstanding college students to the field of philanthropy through summer internships at The Foundation, during which they help evaluate grants and conduct research.

On another academic front, in 2002, The Foundation awarded a record number of scholarships, 70, totaling over $78,000.

Although The Community Foundation officially turned 50 on December 17, 2002, the milestone was commemorated throughout much of 2003. An extensive marketing campaign, which added radio and television advertising to the communications mix, created a higher level yet of visibility across the two counties. The celebration culminated on November 14 with a 50th anniversary gala at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, featuring NBC Today Show personality Willard Scott as guest speaker.

Within weeks The Foundation was beginning its second half century of operations from a new home. Having outgrown the Genesee Street office, the operation was relocated to 1222 State Street in Utica. Providing more adequate accommodations for donors, volunteers and the larger staff, the facility continues to serve The Foundation well.

Other highlights of 2003 included the announcement, in March, of The Foundation’s largest grant to date, a $400,000 commitment to the stage modernization and expansion project at the Stanley Theatre. With it, The Community Foundation became one of the earliest major supporters of this initiative to enhance one of the region’s most treasured assets.

The year also realized over $4.9 million in contributions, a near doubling from 2002, as well as launching of The Foundation’s Web site, www.foundationhoc.org.

With the innovations in grantmaking and development having brought broad new dimensions to The Foundation’s operations, several developments remained to complete its evolution into the organization as it stands today.

In January 2005, Margaret Anne (Peggy) O’Shea was named to head The Foundation’s staff, a position that now carried the title of president & CEO. She succeeded Al Sassone, who had been appointed to the post in 2002.

Bringing extensive training and background in nonprofit management, O’Shea had joined The Foundation in 2000 as senior program officer and was promoted to director of programs and development in 2003. She has applied that experience in leading a staff that today has eight members, with professionals to address each discipline, including development and donor services, grantmaking, marketing and finance.

The staff supports not only The Foundation’s traditional areas of operation, but also its ever-expanding role as a convener and facilitator of programs to enhance the management of nonprofits across the two counties.

Under O’Shea’s leadership, the Legacy Society, a mechanism for honoring donors who have chosen to make a planned gift to The Foundation through a trust or bequest in their will, became firmly established.

Two changes in the board’s top leadership also took place during this period. Richard L. Hanna, president of Hanna Construction, Inc., served as board chair from 2003 until 2005. In 2005, Camille T. Kahler, Esq. was elected to the post, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

In 2006, acknowledging both its heritage and ongoing mission, The Foundation introduced annual awards to recognize outstanding achievements in philanthropy and community service. The Rosamond Childs Award for Community Philanthropy honors the memory of The Foundation’s first and largest benefactor and is presented to a donor who best exemplifies her philanthropic spirit. The Community Impact Award is given to an organization that has been notably effective in its work.

The first Rosamond Childs Award was presented posthumously to Richard W. Couper. Two organizations received the first Community Impact Award: CAP-21 and Compassion Coalition. The 2007 Childs and Community Impact award recipients were, respectively, Richard L. Hanna and Thea Bowman House.

The 366 grants made in 2006 brought to over 3,500 the total number of grants awarded by The Foundation in its first 55 years. That support, dispersed to more than 500 organizations across Herkimer and Oneida counties, has amounted to over $24.5 million. At the close of 2006, The Foundation’s total assets, which included 230 funds, stood at a remarkable $73.7 million.