The Allen Speiser Memorial Vocational Rehabilitation Fund awarded $4,031 to local nonprofit projects meeting a vocational need for individuals with disabilities. The Speiser Fund is a component of the Central New York Community Foundation.
Arc of Onondaga received $1,501 to help individuals secure competitive employment through the use of assessment tools that assist in identifying their career interests, capabilities and skills.
ARISE Child and Family Service received $1,450 to provide benefits practitioner training and certification to an Onondaga County employment consultant.
LAUNCH received $1,080 to provide Mental Health First Aid training through Contact Community Services to staff that help clients prepare for employment.
In 2001, the C.I.G.S. Foundation board of directors chose to direct assets to the Community Foundation to establish a fund to promote the vocational, educational, health and social needs of people with disabilities subject to social barriers. The fund is named in honor of Dr. Allen Speiser, the first director of Consolidated Industries, a sheltered workshop program for people with disabilities.
The Central New York Community Foundation was established in 1927 to serve as a permanent community endowment built by the gifts and charitable legacies of individuals, families and businesses for the betterment of the region. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of more than $272 million. It has invested more than $190 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of special initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time. Its vision is to create a vibrant Central New York community that provides opportunity for everyone and builds a hopeful, prosperous region for future generations.
