Board & Staff
Our staff is dedicated to making a difference in Central New York. With extensive knowledge of our community’s changing needs, our staff is uniquely suited to assist donors in creating and implementing their charitable goals. We are also here to help the community by funding a broad spectrum of local needs by providing grant dollars and other assistance to the not-for-profit organizations we support. We are here to serve you, our donors and our community.
 
Staff
President's Office
 
Peter A. Dunn
President & CEO

Welcomes all questions you may have regarding the foundation and its services.


Finance & Administration
 
Mary C. Meyer, Esq.
Senior Vice President, Finance & Operations

Accountable for financial management, fund accounting, facilities management and investment liaison activities.
Liz Cavallaro
Controller

Oversees the financial and investment reporting, implementation of audit and budget activities, software and technology processes and serves as deputy to Vice President of Finance and Administration.
 Dorotha F. DeSimone
Accountant

Reports and records contributions, grants and investment results of the individual charitable funds held by the Community Foundation.

Kathleen Deaver
Grants Coordinator

Processes all grant distributions, operations payables, donor fund holder statements and other related functions.
   

Nicole Robinson
Administrative Assistant

Works the reception desk as the first point of contact for callers and visitors of the Community Foundation, and also performs administrative duties.

Development & Marketing
 
Jennifer Owens
Vice President, Development & Marketing

Promotes charitable giving  helping donors accomplish their individual charitable goals.
 Monica Merante
Donors Relations Officer

Serves as the primary contact for Community Foundation donors, focusing on donor stewardship, outreach and engagement.
 
Katrina M. Crocker
Communications Officer

Coordinates the development and implementation of an annual communication plan fulfilling marketing strategies related to the foundation’s audiences.

 

Stephanie Parzych
Development & Operations Coordinator


Manages the office environment to optimize efficiency, and provides support for the Development and Marketing Department. 

Grants and Community Initiatives
 John G. Eberle
Vice President, Grants and Community Initiatives

Oversees and monitors the grantmaking process, conducts research on issues or concerns of importance to the foundation, shares expertise with donors and manages special projects for the foundation.

 

Frank Ridzi
Director, Research & Community Initiatives

Directs the research, coordination, implementation and evaluation of the Community Foundation’s proactive initiatives.
Olive Sephuma
Director, Community Grantmaking

Directs the Community Grantmaking process, special grant initiatives and programs.
 

Danielle M. Gill
Program Officer

Assists in the community grantmaking process, special grant initiatives, programs and oversees grantmaking for the Foundation’s component funds.

 David Kilpatrick
Grants Manager

Assists in the community grantmaking process, special grants initiatives and programs.
Board of Directors
The Central New York Community Foundation’s Board of Directors is comprised of community leaders who hold extensive knowledge in the areas of accounting, estate planning and law. Members are responsible for managing the Foundation’s assets, developing new funds and making grants to the organizations that the Foundation and its donors support.

  Board Chair
Melanie W. Littlejohn
Regional Executive - Central Region
Energy Solution Services
National Grid

Vice Chair
Linda Dickerson Hartsock
Director, Community Engagement & Economic Development
Syracuse University

Treasurer
Madelyn H. Hornstein, CPA
Partner
Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC
Assistant Treasurer
Kenneth J. Entenmann
Senior Vice President and Director
Alliance Investment Management
Assistant Secretary
Warren W. Bader, Esq.
Partner & Chief Operating Officer
Costello, Cooney & Fearon, P
LLC 
 Board Members
 William C. Brod
Owner and Publisher
Syracuse New Times
 Calvin L. Corriders
Vice President/Sales Manager

Pathfinder Bank
  Richard D. Hole, Esq.
Partner
Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC
 Ellen Percy Kraly, Ph.D.
Director of Upstate Institute
Colgate University

Joseph B. Lee
Director & General Manager
WAER FM
Syracuse University

David J. Moynihan, CPA
Partner
Testone, Marshall & Discenza CPAs


Brian Pollard, D.D.S.
President
Smile Design, D.D.S., P.C.

 Rita L. Reicher, Ph.D.
President
KS&R, Inc.
 Maria P. Russell
Professor & Chair, Public Relations Department
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Syracuse University

Judith M. Sayles, Esq.
Partner
Hiscock & Barclay, LLP

 Corinne R. Smith, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair of Teaching Learning Programs
Syracuse University School of Education
 Stephanie R. Threatte
Community Volunteer

Michael J. Wamp
Managing Partner
Lakewater Capital Management, LLC

Counsel
 Gay M. Pomeroy, Esq.
Mackenzie Hughes, LLP
Our 85th Anniversary
The Central New York Community Foundation is celebrating its 85th Anniversary with various celebrations and grantmaking opportunities over the course of 2012.

The CNY85 Giving Project

The CNY85 Giving Project will award grants to projects that are addressing Central New York's greatest needs. Winners will be decided by public vote. Learn More

The CNY85 Collaborative Impact Prize
The CNY85 Collaborative Impact Prize will award a special one-time grant of $85,000 to a project will that support the implementation of an innovative, collaborative, cross-sector solution to a critical community issue. Learn More
Newsletter

Spring 2012 Smart Giving

View the PDF Version.
View the archives.

To subscribe to Smart Giving, email us.

Annual Report


Read descriptions of each of our funds.

Contact us to request a hard copy of our Annual Report.