NEW FUND TO BENEFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE TOWN OF WEBB

The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc. is pleased to announce the creation of a new concept for directing community contributions to the Town of Webb.

The newly formed “Town of Webb Fund” will direct its assets exclusively to organizations serving the Town of Webb. The Fund will build its assets by appealing to the charitable interests of the part-time (seasonal) residents who represent nearly 75 percent of the Town’s homeowners. The Fund is designed to fill a gap, recognized in most resort communities, where year-round and seasonal residents require more services than the year-round community alone is able to provide.

“I have observed that generous-minded people frequently are less aware of the needs of their second home towns. And, those needs for services directly affect the quality of life for year-round and seasonal residents alike. Imagine a town without a health center, ambulance, library or art center and you see a much diminished community,” said Linda Cohen, who with her sister Sarah, is promoting this effort. Founding donors include Ted Gaylord, Houston, TX; Jim Greenfield, Baltimore, MD; Dave Griffith, Albert Mazloom and Gene Romano, Utica, NY.

Peggy O’Shea, president and CEO of The Community Foundation, added, “We are pleased to have the Town of Webb Fund be part of The Community Foundation. In its almost 55 years of serving residents of both Herkimer and Oneida Counties, The Community Foundation has awarded grants totaling over $3 million in Herkimer County and almost $700,000 in grants to Old Forge organizations.

“The new Town of Webb Fund expands the ability of The Community Foundation to truly be The Community Foundation for the Town of Webb.”

Grant applications are now available from The Community Foundation. The application deadline for the first round of grants is June 20, 2006. Grants will be awarded mid-summer and will range from $500-$5,000.

The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties has been a force for improving lives and promoting philanthropy throughout the two counties since 1952. Since that time, the Foundation has made more than 3,100 grants totaling over $23 million in support of causes ranging from education to health care, the arts to the environment. Grants are generated by the more than 200 funds that comprise the Foundation’s endowment, established and advanced by area individuals and families.