In the fifth year of its Cortland County Bright Ideas program, the Central New York Community Foundation awarded $70,000 to 14 nonprofit organizations serving residents of Cortland County. Each organization received a $5,000 grant.
Applicants were invited to submit a ‘bright idea’ for enhancing their nonprofit and explain how that idea will help the organization to better serve its community. The submissions were evaluated based on community impact, collaboration and sustainability.
“As part of our efforts to create the most extended, holistic benefit packages as possible for project communities, we were glad to be a part of Cortland Bright Ideas,” said Jack Honor, development director at EDF Renewables, one of the fund’s benefactors. Jack continued, “It was great to see all of the good work the nonprofits that applied are doing for Cortland County, and we look forward to seeing the impact these 14 grants make.”
Cortland County Bright Ideas is supported through the generosity of the Fenstermacher Fund, the Nicholas and Agnes Renzi Charitable Fund, the Margaret and Roland Fragnoli Designated Fund, the Yaman Foundation, the Bertini Family Foundation, the Cortland Community Foundation, Brenda and Rod Comolli, EDF Renewables and other local donors who were inspired to give back to the local community. The selection committee was comprised of the organizations and individuals who contributed.
The Fenstermacher Fund, administered by the Community Foundation, serves as a catalyst for the Bright Ideas program. Ted Fenstermacher was a prominent attorney who served as a chief prosecutor in the Nuremberg war crimes trials following World War II. The Fenstermacher Fund, established through his bequest in 2001, has supported the general needs of the community for more than 15 years, largely through the funding of a lecture series, prior to the launch of Bright Ideas.
“It is our mission to steward donors’ intentions and bring together people with common interests to make a bigger impact,” said Peter Dunn, president & CEO of the Central New York Community Foundation. “It’s inspiring to see the generosity of Mr. Fenstermacher and the other donors supporting important projects in Cortland County.”
2022 CORTLAND BRIGHT IDEAS $5,000 GRANT RECIPIENTS
City of Cortland Youth Bureau will enhance its youth center with equipment for a wide variety of multi-faceted programs that encourage kids to engage in productive behaviors and establish healthy ideas.
CNY SNAP will subsidize its spay and neuter program and provide microchips for pet owners.
Cooperative Extension of Cortland County will build a greenhouse and storage shed, and purchase gardening equipment that will extend gardening programs.
Cortland Arts Connect (formerly Cultural Council of Cortland County) will create Arts Off Main, a family-friendly and inclusive festival held in downtown Cortland that will promote art galleries and other local businesses.
Cortland Chenango Rural Services will build a storage shed that will house for-loan medical equipment, such as hospital beds, toilets, shower chairs, wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other donated items.
Cortland County Historical Society will install shelving units that will expand photograph storage.
Cortland ReUse will purchase new tool sets and technology for educational programs that will spark creativity for Cortland residents.
Doula Access Initiative will provide individualized maternal care from professionally-trained doulas who specialize in caring for disenfranchised community members.
Homer-Cortland Community Agency (d.b.a. CNY Living History Center) will enclose an existing structure for year-round use.
JM McDonald Sports Complex will purchase new rental ice skates for the complex.
JM Murray will provide support to individuals who have a disability and live independently in their own apartments.
Liberty Resources will add a physical fitness Structured Day Program for program participants.
Lime Hollow Nature Center will repurpose an existing structure to accommodate the OCM BOCES New Visions Environmental Science Program for local students.
The Salvation Army will purchase four new cafeteria-style tables for use in Cortland County programs.
To learn more about the Cortland County Bright Ideas grants program and to gain information on donating, please visit cnycf.org/cortland.
