A $490,000 impact investment from the Central New York Community Foundation helped WCNY train 40 people for jobs in television and film. Every person who finished the program is now working in a new job because of the training.
The program served men and women from communities that have had fewer job opportunities. Students learned skills used on television and film sets. They also earned OSHA safety and aerial lift certifications.
Before the training, some students received public assistance. Most of those students no longer needed any form of public assistance after finishing the program and finding work.
The investment also helped WCNY keep its other work moving forward. The organization created six new education and public affairs television programs without stopping production. And during the 2025-2026 school year, more than 1,000 local students took part in WCNY’s Enterprise America program. The program teaches students about money, jobs, and running a business.
In addition, WCNY helped 12 young women from the Syracuse City School District learn about careers in hospitality, fashion, and marketing. The students received support and advice through the Career Challenge program.
The Community Foundation made the investment in 2025 through a certificate of deposit with Pathfinder Bank. The funding allowed WCNY to run its Entertainment Academy while it waited for payment from a state grant.
The success of the Entertainment Academy has opened the door to more training. WCNY received a new $490,000 grant from Empire State Development for a third year of the program. Another 40 young men and women will learn skills that can help them find good jobs.
This investment shows what can happen when local groups work together. WCNY had approved state funding, but it needed money to run the program while waiting for payment. The Community Foundation and Pathfinder Bank helped fill that gap.
Because of this support, students completed their training, found jobs, and gained more financial stability. WCNY also continued creating local programs and serving students across the region.
The Community Foundation’s impact investing program supports projects that create both a financial return and a clear public good. These investments help local groups continue important work, create jobs, and give more people a chance to succeed.
Learn more at cnycf.org/impactinvesting.
