COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS A RECORD YEAR IN 2007
The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2007. The occasion was highlighted by awarding 377 grants totaling over $2.4 million to organizations serving residents of Herkimer and Oneida counties.
“Looking back over our first 55 years, it’s amazing how far this foundation has come and the foresight our founders had in 1952 when they saw the need for an organization such as ours in this community. They would be proud of what we have accomplished,” said Peggy O’Shea, foundation president and CEO.
The Foundation marked its anniversary year by receiving a record of over $6 million in donations including the opening of its largest corporate donor-advised fund, The M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund with $4.1 million. In addition, The Foundation earned $5.6 million in investment income, which expanded its pool of funds to over $80 million.
Grants awarded in 2007 include:
- $100,000 for the Arts Guild of Old Forge to assist with fund raising for their new facility;
- $17,000 for Hospice and Palliative Care’s “What About Me” program to help school children deal with grief;
- $75,000 each to Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center, Presbyterian Home for CNY and Rome Memorial Hospital to assist with their capital campaigns;
- $15,000 to Little Falls Hospital for the purchase of heart equipment;
- $50,000 to the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired to help fund start-up costs for a new production line for green cleaning products;
- $55,790 to Insight House for their HVAC project;
- $23,320 to JCTOD for a van to transport their clients;
- $25,000 to the City of Rome for renovations to Kennedy Arena;
- $20,000 to New Hartford Library for computer equipment;
- $36,000 to the United Way of the Valley and the Greater Utica Area for their recent merger
In addition, 181 grants totaling over $515,600 were awarded from donor-advised funds and 96 local students benefited from scholarships totaling over $87,900.
Since its inception, The Foundation has awarded more than 3,800 grants totaling over $26.8 million in support of causes ranging from education to health care, the arts to the environment. Grants are generated by the more than 240 funds that comprise The Foundation’s endowment, established and advanced by area individuals and families.
