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If everyone joined together to give 5% of their assets to charity through their estates, imagine what magnitude of change could be made in our five-county region. That additional support would mean millions of dollars more each year for our local nonprofits and would help fund state-of-the-art programs of all kinds: after-school programs, arts education, safe and affordable housing, environmental conservation, job readiness and economic development, historic preservation, animal welfare…the possibilities are endless.

When you give a legacy gift to the Community Foundation, your charitable dollars are pooled with other gifts, invested to grow over time and used to fund programs that improve Central New York communities. The following stories show our grants and initiatives in action, supporting and enhancing some of your favorite causes. Now, imagine what we can do with your support!

Stories of Impact

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Peter Wong, a former airline worker, found renewed purpose through North Area Meals on Wheels after health challenges left him isolated. With nutritious meals, friendly visits and vital support, he says, “It gives me a reason to get up and live a life.”

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Sixteen-year-old Azory Infinite dreams of redefining music while breaking cycles of poverty. Through the Good Life Youth Foundation's HipHop-preneurship program, youth like Infinite are learning about hip-hop, entrepreneurship and resilience, empowering them to rise above their circumstances.

Hear from Chayna Short, founder of Women Overcoming Obstacles Together, about how her transformative experiences with The Leadership Classroom (TLC) and our Participatory Grantmaking project provided her with guidance to develop, strengthen and grow her organization.