Past Grants
Cayuga Community Fund Grants Distributed
ABC Cayuga, Inc. received $3,504 for the creation of the Parent Powered Early Learning Lab, a community training area for parent & child play groups.
Auburn Public Theater received $10,000 for the 2023 Tubman Troupe season, an all-female, all Black acting troupe.
Auburn YMCA-WEIU received $7,249 to support free swim lessons to children aged 8-17 as part of the Annual Swim Free Program.
Aurora of CNY received $10,000 to support the onboarding of a new peer coordinator and their work to enhance and expand programming for the blind/visually impaired in Cayuga County.
Cayuga County Homsite Development Corp. received $10,000 to launch the Window and Door Replacement Program, providing Cayuga County landlords with funding to remove common sources of lead exposure in the home.
Chapel House, Inc. received $5,859 to provide household and personal care items to individuals moving from homelessness to permanent housing.
John Gavras Center received $6,188 to support parent group meetings for the Early Intervention program, providing parents with the knowledge and skills to effectively participate in the early intervention of their child.
Healing H’Arts Equestrian Center received $2,600 to purchase an additional laptop and software for client, partner and volunteer management.
King Ferry Food Pantry received $1,800 to reduce food insecurity by providing pantry clients with the materials to grow their own produce or to harvest produce in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension-Cayuga County and Grisamore Farms.
Lock 52 Historical Society of Port Byron received $500 to aid local cemeteries with headstone cleaning and a maintenance training program.
Perform 4 Purpose received $9,000 to support instrument rentals, allowing interested musicians the chance to attend introductory courses on string and horn instruments.
Seward House Museum received $4,080 to support the hiring of a DEAI Fellow to assist the Museum in enhancing its overall accessibility.
Syracuse Rescue Mission Alliance received $5,000 to cover expenses for trips to museums, amusement parks and other local attractions for children served by the Auburn Rescue Mission this summer.
Unity House of Cayuga County, Inc. received $5,000 to purchase ten laptops for remote off-site work serving clients with disabilities in the employment services division.
Wells College received $5,000 to provide transportation and scholarships to create better access for high school students in Cayuga County, interested in attending a summer health science program designed to bolster college readiness and success.
Auburn Public Theater received $5,000 to hire instructors for its summer camps that provide youth with opportunities to study music, musical theater, DJ’ing and film.
Auburn YMCA-WEIU received $2,500 to support its Youth & Teen Nights, which offer local youth a safe space to have fun on Friday nights.
Calvary Food Pantry received $7,845 to purchase a freezer and refrigeration equipment that store perishable foods that are distributed to local families.
Catalyst Cayuga received $2,500 to support its Emerging Leader Program, which is designed for nonprofit early-career professionals and management candidates in Cayuga County.
Cayuga Community Health Network received $4,500 to create a peer program that helps promote the agency’s health programs.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art received $10,000 to complete the design of its West End Arts Campus.
Frontenac Historical Society and Museum received $1,300 to purchase archival boxes and a display case for newly acquired material.
Harriet Tubman Boosters received $8,475 to install a mural honoring Harriet Tubman in Auburn.
Healing H’Arts Equestrian Center received $3,000 to provide electricity to horse sheds for volunteer safety and purchase heated water buckets.
Howland Stone Store Museum received $5,000 to install a sidewalk to its handicap-accessible ramp.
Matthew House, Inc. received $7,755 to renovate its west wing to create a handicap-accessible resident suite.
Perform for Purpose received $8,375 to partner with Camp Casper Gregory to enroll first-time campers in an arts-based summer camp and provide all campers with an introduction to music as part of their experience.
Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center received $10,000 toward the construction of the Schweinfurth portion of Cayuga Museum’s West End Arts Campus renovation.
Seymour Public Library District received $3,500 to diversify its collection through an audit, county-wide workshop and purchase of new diverse titles.
The KEYS Program received $2,500 to provide 50 free music therapy sessions to pediatric cancer patients and children in Cayuga County.
Wells College received $2,270 to fund scholarships for Cayuga County high school students to attend a pre-vet and animal science immersion program.
ABC Cayuga received $5,656 to create a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) creative learning space for children ages 5-8.
ARISE Child and Family Services received $4,336 to construct home access ramps for clients.
Auburn Downtown Partnership received $5,000 to support the 2022 Harriet Tubman Bicentennial programming which will foster community conversation and attract visitors.
Auburn YMCA-WEIU received $2,500 to offer fitness challenges that will help members achieve goals, make friends and connect them to a cause that inspires them.
Booker T. Washington Community Center received $3,016 to purchase a shed near the community garden to store materials and equipment.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art received $3,377 to implement a new arts program designed for seniors, which includes take-home photography kits and an on-site workshop series.
Caspar Gregory Camp received $8,000 to update its outdoor recreational facilities, including a paved court and barbecue area.
Fair Haven Community Arts Center received $3,763 to purchase a microphone, audio system & internet support for upcoming programs.
Howland Stone Store Museum received $9,750 to professionally frame rare suffrage posters and fund a theatre production based on suffrage efforts.
Perform 4 Purpose received $7,350 to purchase sound engineering equipment for new programming.
Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center received $10,000 to begin the first phase of its West End Arts Campus, a joint project with Cayuga Museum.
Seward House Museum received $2,000 to fund its summer internship program, which is staffed by Cayuga County students.
Sterling Historical Society received $1,875 to preserve and paint the New York Central Signal Tower.
Unity House of Cayuga County received $1,750 to fund training for four mental health professionals who will then attend the Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) exam.
Wells College received $4,336 to hire a virtual author/presenter to lead a conversation on racism, which will be attended by local educators, nonprofits and the Wells community.
Westminster Presbyterian Church received $999 to purchase a camera for hybrid meetings.
Between March 2020 and March 2021, the following grants were awarded on a rolling basis to nonprofits providing critical support services to individuals who were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. In partnership with the United Way of Central New York and with generous support from community members, the Cayuga Community Fund formed the Cayuga County COVID-19 Fund to provide rapid and responsive relief grants during the pandemic.
Auburn Community Hospital – $19,750
Auburn Enlarged City School District – $500
Auburn Public Theater – $18,000
Auburn Rescue Mission – $15,000
Supply food, household items and financial support to keep families moving forward
Auburn YMCA-WEIU – $20,660
Provide safe, socially-distant transport for campers; Continue childcare and school alternatives for working parents in Cayuga County; Purchase PPE and cleaning supplies for facility
Booker T. Washington Community Center – $15,650
Provide properly packaged food for local residents; offer free childcare during the pandemic to support working parents
Cato-Meridian Community Recreation Center – $750
Purchase automatic hand sanitizing sprayer
Cayuga Centers – $2,000
Provide masks and face shields for employees to use during home visits and trauma interventions
Cayuga Community Health Network – $7,608
Provide wellness kits including face masks, hand sanitizer and information in Spanish/ English about COVID-19 prevention to farm workers
Cayuga County Homsite Development Corporation – $10,000
Offer low and moderate-income renters and homeowners funds for emergency rent and home repairs
Cayuga Museum of History and Art – $2,500
Produce weekly online exhibits and develop high-quality, low-contact materials for community educational programming
Central New York TomatoFest – $22,500
Partner with other organizations to bring food to residents of Cayuga County
Faatz-Crofut Home for the Elderly – $3,000
Purchase PPE and conduct continual employee testing for COVID-19
Food Bank of Central New York – $1,320
Create emergency food boxes that will be distributed by Cayuga County’s Office for the Aging
Genesee Elementary Scholarship Program – $500
Distribute new books to school-aged kids as they pick up lunches
Genesee Elementary School – $500
Purchase books to be handed out when families pick up lunch at school
Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County – $1,500
Mozaic (Formerly ARC of Seneca-Cayuga) – $10,000
supply employees with PPE and cleaning supplies as they provide aid to Cayuga County residents
Peachtown Elementary School – $7,800
Hire Wells College education majors as study buddies/tutors to work with individual students via video conferencing; Continue the virtual tutor/study buddy program which pairs Wells education majors with families in need of educational support; Hire a qualified consultant to work with teaching staff over the summer months to develop a vibrant and effective online learning structure
Perform 4 Purpose – $5,300
Purchase media equipment, sanitizing material for performers & instruments and a no-contact infrared thermometer; Purchase instruments for in-person and online learning
Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center – $5,720
Seward House Museum – $1,100
Create a virtual museum package for digital instruction while schools are closed
Special Olympics New York – $400
Acquire PPE for athletes and coaches in Cayuga County to safely return to play
Transportation Project for Cayuga County – $9,921
Transport senior and disabled citizens of Cayuga County to medical appointments and groceries
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Cayuga County – $3,200
Provide childcare, supplies, PPE and new, safe classroom space to children during the pandemic
Unity House of Cayuga County – $1,630
Provide phone cards for clients to participate in telehealth sessions, online classes and check-in meetings; Create emergency PPE kits to be kept at each location
WCNY Public Broadcasting – $2,500
Broadcast the TV Classroom Network, which provides Pre-K-12 instruction in key academic subject areas by Syracuse-area teachers
Wells College – $15,000
Purchase of personal protective equipment
ACR Health received $3,900 to support the new Q Center in Auburn, located at The Westminster Presbyterian Church. This important collaboration and partnership will bring much needed support for LGBTQIA+ youth to Cayuga County.
American Red Cross of Central New York received $2,500 for their Sound the Alarm campaign. Red Cross volunteers canvas neighborhoods door-to-door, installing new smoke alarms and replacing batteries in existing alarms. They also help families make fire safety escape plans.
Auburn Civic Band, Inc. received $839 to acquire music stand lights for outdoor evening concerts.
Auburn Public Theater received $1500 for scholarships to its 2019 Performing Arts Summer Day Camps. The camps include musical theater, ESR music, and a new filmmakers’ camp.
Auburn YMCA-WEIU received $3500 to support their LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a 12-week small group fitness program for adult cancer survivors who have become de-conditioned or chronically fatigued from their treatment and/or disease. This is a national YMCA program that is new to the Auburn Y.
Boy Scouts of America Troop 11 received $4725 to purchase outdoor camping gear to improve the overall experience for current and future scouts. By having this gear, families who may not otherwise have the opportunity to get involved can be better included.
Cayuga Community Health Network received $6,500 to lead a health symposium to explain the biology of addressing diabetes. People with prediabetes and diabetes will be connected to lifestyle change programs.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art received $3,783 for new equipment and upgraded technology to enhance the visitor experience, create new avenues for accessibility, and streamline daily operations.
Fair Haven Community Arts Center, Inc. received $1,800 to purchase technological equipment and thereby strengthen its educational opportunities.
Finger Lakes Land Trust received $5,000 to assist with the creation of a publicly accessible 74-acre nature preserve on Owasco Lake, which will protect undeveloped shoreline, conserve wetland habitat and safeguard water quality.
Frontenac Historical Society and Museum received $750 to assist with replacement of a leaking 1960’s-era roof over the structure, which houses the storage of the museum’s collection and exhibit rooms.
Healing H’Arts Equestrian Center received $2,168 to support its Safety First project, which will include 10 new riding helmets, first aid kit, AED unit and CPR/First Aid training for five volunteers to provide the best safety practices for high risk activity and a rural location.
King Ferry Food Pantry received $1,500 to obtain input and ideas integral to strengthening the its services for an increasingly culturally-diverse clientele, in order to better meet its nutritional/food needs.
Owasco Watershed Lake Association, Inc. received $7,500 to purchase materials for roadside ditch erosion mitigation in the Owasco Lake Watershed.
Perform 4 Purpose received $4,700 to assist with the purchase of an enclosed trailer to house and transport band instruments and concert equipment.
Salvation Army Empire State Headquarters received $2,500 to complete repairs on gymnasium floor.
Scipio Volunteer Fire Department received $2,500 to purchase a trailer to haul and house a new UTV and equipment.
Seward House Museum received $635 to purchase a security camera.
St. Alphonsus Food Pantry received $2,000 to buy personal care items for families during the summer months when kids are out of school.
Stewart B. Lang Memorial Library received $5,000 to assist with up-front architectural planning and consulting costs for a new library building project. This work is a prerequisite to getting bids and starting construction.
Syracuse Rescue Mission Alliance received $5,000 to support a food pantry for families served by the Auburn Rescue Mission. Funding will be used to stock the pantry with key items and provide support for families with children during summer recess and other school breaks.
Union Springs Soccer Club, Inc. received $1,250 to assist with the completion of the interior of the bathroom stalls at McIntosh Park.
Village of Aurora Historical Society received $2,000 to enhance roof support and ADA compliance for Patrick Tavern. This will bring the historic 1793 building up to code for use as an innovative, three-season education and community space.
Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County, Inc. received $1,500 to provide critical civil legal services in Cayuga County. The agency harnesses the efforts of volunteer lawyers to meet the needs of low-income clients with legal problems affecting the essentials of life.
ABC Cayuga, Inc. received $2,000 to create a toddler play area that addresses the unique developmental needs and play interests of young children.
Auburn Public Theater received $1,500 to provide five camp scholarships to underserved youth for its School of Rock summer theater camp, which includes a trip to New York City to see a Broadway show.
Auburn YMCA-WEIU received $2,500 to upgrade waterfront equipment at Camp Y-Owasco for its Transforming Lives through the Camp Experience summer camp.
Aurora Masonic Center received $2,500 to restore its iconic 1819 Masonic Lodge building, a historic landmark.
Booker T. Washington Community Center, Inc. received $2,993 to upgrade the refrigerator system for its community feeding program that serves snack and dinner to more than 400 youth five days a week during the school year.
Calvary Food Pantry received $2,300 to purchase food items for baskets that are distributed to underserved families during the winter holidays.
Cayuga County Homsite Development Corporation received $2,100 to upgrade its technology to better serve low and moderate-income households in Cayuga County.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art received $2,925 to purchase new display panels and easels for its Case Research Laboratory featuring historic exhibits about Theodore Case and his invention of talking movies.
Food Bank of CNY received $8,300 to hire an outreach coordinator for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Cayuga County.
Friends of the SCCS Planetarium received $5,000 to support a year-long grant and strategy consultant position.
Habitat for Humanity/Cayuga County received $2,500 to fund its 19th home rehabilitation for a family in Auburn.
Healing H’Arts Equestrian Center, Inc. received $2,016 to update its technology and equipment for presentations given throughout the year.
Lifeworks of Cayuga County received $6,500 to support recovery community events for its sober support program to instill self-improvement in all of its participants.
Nick’s Ride 4 Friends received $3,000 to purchase desktop computer stations and a printer for its community clubhouse.
Peers in Cayuga County, Inc. received $6,000 to purchase equipment and train two members to become Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) facilitators.
Perform 4 Purpose received $2,500 to purchase instruments and equipment to expand its community-based programs in Cayuga County.
Rescue Mission Alliance received $2,862 to support S.T.E.M. educational activities for homeless youth, including a visit to the Museum of Science and Technology.
Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center received $5,000 for HVAC improvements to its second floor. The new system will ensure environmental comfort for community patrons and improve air quality for proper preservation of historical records and collections.
Seward House Museum received $749 to update its multifunction printer to allow for in-house printing of its promotional materials.
Southern Cayuga Anne Frank Tree Project received $500 to add signage near the tree site to draw attention to the new surveillance system and deter vandalism.
Sterling Historical Society received $5,000 to complete the 1917 Caboose Restoration Project to prevent deterioration and provide public access to its exhibits for generations to come.
Transportation Project for Cayuga County, Inc. received $1,500 to purchase a new van to provide additional specialized, door-to-door transportation to the senior and disabled of Cayuga County.
2017
ARC of Seneca Cayuga received $4,380 to offer computer-assisted art labs at its day service sites, which provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The art and design labs will allow participants to develop art portfolios and participate in public art exhibits.
Auburn YMCA-WEIU received $3,208 to purchase and install new stairs for its warm water therapy pool, which will provide safe access to individuals participating in swim lessons, arthritis classes, pre/post physical therapy and recreational swim sessions.
Booker T. Washington Community Center received $900 to provide youth summer campers with ukuleles and music lessons. In addition, students will also learn music theory for multiple instruments including piano, guitar and drums.
Cayuga County Community Health Network received $3,250 to purchase tablets and mobile devices to encourage use of technology and online toolkits for health tracking purposes. This project is part of its free education program for diabetes prevention and chronic disease self-management for residents of Cayuga County.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art received $10,000 to support an original museum exhibition entitled Women’s Protest: Two Sides of the Fight for Suffrage in New York, which will celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New York State.
Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency received $7,500 to hire a third-party neutral facilitator to assist with development of the agency’s 2018-2020 strategic plan. The organization
will utilize the plan in conjunction with its recently completed community needs assessment to define the agency’s role in addressing complex poverty issues within the community.
East Hill Family Medical received $4,300 to purchase a Pure Tone & Tympanometry (AutoTymp) screener for its Summit pediatric office. The portable diagnostic instrument will allow for quick and accurate hearing screenings for its pediatric patients.
Faculty Student Association of Cayuga Community College received $2,406 to renovate and expand four age-appropriate playgrounds at its childcare center.
Genoa Historical Association received $5,475 to help install a new HVAC system for the Rural Life Museum building complex, which includes a schoolhouse, meeting room and records room. The new system will ensure environmental comfort for community patrons and improve air quality for proper preservation of historical records and collections.
Howland Stone Store Museum received $10,000 to install a lift in the west wing of Opendore, Isabel Howland’s historic home. This will ensure full accessibility to the home’s second floor, particularly the Elsie Gutchess Room, which will house an extensive collection of donated women’s history materials.
Merry-Go-Round Playhouse received $500 to provide a certified sign language interpreter at a performance during its 2017 summer season.
National Audubon Society received $2,450 to help support Montezuma Audubon Center’s Explore Our Great Outdoors program, which creates opportunities for Cayuga County residents to engage in outdoor recreation while learning about the region’s natural history, migratory birds and habitat conservation.
Seymour Public Library District received $1,300 to purchase books in support of a community read about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. The books will circulate freely among the nine public libraries in Cayuga County, in an effort to promote literacy and raise community awareness about the historical legacy of Harriet Tubman and other abolitionist leaders.
Transportation Project for Cayuga County received $3,500 for maintenance and repair work needed for three transport vans, which provide specialized, door-to-door service to senior and disabled residents of Cayuga County.
Unity House of Cayuga County received $1,450 to install an electric stove/oven unit in the mental health program kitchen facility for classroom use and skill building for daily living.
Weedsport Central School District received $5,000 to purchase makerbots for the Inspired Adaptions Initiative. Weedsport students and teachers will collaborate with ARISE staff members, adaptive design professionals and a multi-partner adaptive design coalition to create and produce assistive devices that make daily life easier for individuals with disabilities.
Westminster Manor received $2,406 to install a walking path and meditation garden for senior residents and visitors.
ABC Cayuga, Inc. received $5,000 in support of a capital campaign for its new Play Space, which will serve as a welcoming community space for young children and their families to play, learn and grow together.
ARISE – Auburn received $3,000 to fund the continuation and expansion of the Personal Care Bank program, which provides low-income clients with access to basic necessities such as personal hygiene products and cleaning supplies.
Auburn Chamber Orchestra received $500 for advertising and professional fees associated with putting on performances of HMS Pinafore in collaboration with Auburn Players Community Theatre and Auburn High School.
Auburn Memorial Medical Services received $2,000 to help purchase a RetinaVue and associated software for Auburn Regional Diabetes and Endocrinology. The RetinaVue technology will assist with early diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and will promote sight preservation by enabling the practice to make timely referrals for diabetic patients showing early signs of the disease.
Auburn Public Theater received $3,000 to purchase two JamHub stations to help with the expansion of its Exchange Street Records program which connects youth with progressive music education opportunities.
Cayuga Counseling Services received $1,770 to provide mental health first aid training and stress reduction activities for participants in its bimonthly parent/grandparent support group.
Cayuga County Habitat for Humanity received $5,000 to rehabilitate a property on Adams Street in Auburn to provide a family in need with a safe and comfortable place to live.
Cayuga County Highland Search & Rescue received $1,000 to purchase upgraded software and GPS units, which will help facilitate ongoing training and bolster search and rescue efforts by ensuring that the team’s technology is up-to-date.
Cayuga Home for Children (Cayuga Centers) received $1,997 for an accessible double wheelchair swing set to help create a special needs playground for consumers in its People with Developmental Disabilities program.
Cayuga Museum of History and Art received $1,255 to fund its Exploring the Prison through Film four-part film series to foster ongoing conversations with the community.
Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency received $3,900 to enhance its existing Breastfeeding Support Group in order to provide transportation, refreshments and material assistance including breast pumps, pads and storage bags to participating mothers in Cayuga County.
Community Preservation Committee received $500 to help update The History of Willard Memorial Chapel & the Auburn Theological Seminary video, which is shown to all Willard Chapel Complex visitors and tour groups.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County received $4,362 to purchase new laptops, a printer and marketing banner stands to provide technology upgrades for nutrition education and health-related programs.
Food Bank of CNY received $5,000 to purchase nutritious food that will be distributed from its Cayuga County mobile food pantry.
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways received $1,000 to conduct two programs for girls in Cayuga County who are not served by a Girl Scout troop to offer a fun and interactive way to learn about the basics of girl scouting.
Locke Volunteer Fire Department received $3,388 to purchase two HeartStart defibrillator kits and storage cabinets to be installed in various buildings on the premises, which are designated as Red Cross emergency evacuation shelters and are also available for community events.
Maple Wood Cemetery Association received $553 to repair the face of the vault on its property to serve as a storage area for its work materials.
Perform 4 Purpose received $3,000 to provide equipment for seven existing and one new after school workshop for the 2016-2017 school year. The program seeks to foster and encourage youth involvement in altruism and the arts by providing at-risk students with opportunities to learn to play a musical instrument and engage in live performance events that benefit charitable causes in Cayuga County.
Recuse Mission Alliance received $4,770 to create an iPad station for Auburn Rescue Mission’s Community Center, which will allow women and families who have experienced homelessness to search for jobs and access homework assignments.
Scipio Volunteer Fire Department received $3,393 to purchase four finger pulse oximeters and two suction units to strengthen its medical support to the community.
Southern Cayuga Anne Frank Tree Project received $1,500 to provide funding for books and marketing materials to support the annual community read event – an educational event hosted in partnership with the Southern Cayuga School District, the Hazard Public Library and the Aurora Free Library – which aims to cultivate a culture of tolerance, understanding and respect within the context of current social justice issues.
The Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. John received $2,150 to replace an existing garbage disposal for use by its Bread of Life soup kitchen, which serves a free midday meal to community members every Saturday.
Transportation Project for Cayuga County received $5,000 to assist with the purchase of two new wheelchair accessible vans to provide specialized, door-to-door transportation to senior and disabled citizens of Cayuga County.
UCPA (E. John Gavras Center) received $2,250 to assist with the installation of an electronic door access security system, which will help the Center meet its goal of obtaining an operational day care license.
Unity House of Cayuga County received $3,800 to purchase two adjustable beds for the Auburn Day Habilitation program. The beds will help ensure the safety and comfort of the program’s
non-ambulatory consumers and staff caregivers by allowing for safer, more efficient transfers from wheelchairs to beds.
Village of Aurora Historical Society received $2,500 to provide funding to bring the first floor of Patrick Tavern up to code for use as a three-season museum and community space. The Patrick Tavern is the oldest building in the Village of Aurora, dating back to 1793.
Auburn Beautification Commission received $2,000 to support the installation of the City of Auburn’s first Permaculture Park – otherwise known as an “edible forest system” – that will inspire the community to come together, grow their own food, regenerate the local ecosystem, and educate the public, while repurposing an underutilized city park.
Auburn Chamber Orchestra received $1,000 to support the production and promotion of an orchestral performance of Prokofieff’s Peter and the Wolf.
Auburn Civic Band received $600 to purchase new band uniform shirts featuring the band’s logo.
Auburn Junior High School received $2,200 to support its overnight retreat for 7th grade girls in the Auburn Enlarged City School District, to take place on the grounds of Camp Casowasco. The retreat will expose girls to strategies to develop leadership, creativity, decision-making, trust, mindfulness and self-compassion through a series of team-building and outdoor adventure activities, yoga and self-empowerment workshops.
Auburn YMCA-WEIU received $3,500 to replace the antiquated timing system used by the Y’s Stingray Swim Team for competitive swimming events.
Aurora Masonic Center received $2,500 to provide equipment and materials to assist with collections management such as cataloging, documenting, restoring and preserving historically significant artifacts and memorabilia for educational and historical uses.
The Booker T. Washington Community Center received $1,000 to support an interactive science, art and culture week during the summer to encourage students to learn more about the history of the community and to help with further development in the STEM program.
Brutus-Sennett Food Pantry received $2,000 towards renovations at its new single story food pantry location that will allow more direct food truck drop-offs through use of an overhead door.
Calvary Food Pantry received $5,000 to help meet emergency food needs of residents of Auburn and the surrounding area and to advocate for the alleviation of hunger.
Cayuga County Nurse Family Partnership received $2,926 to purchase educational toys for low-income, first-time, at-risk mothers and their children to encourage healthy development and participation in the Nurse Home Visiting program.
Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency received $3,000 to support the establishment of a Head Start Backpack program that will provide backpacks filled with child-friendly food for underprivileged children in Auburn and the surrounding areas.
Central New York Adult Homes (Evergreen Heights) received $4,000 to build a new covered entryway to allow for easier accessibility and safer entrance.
Chapel House received $1,539 to purchase a new dining room table and chair set for its homeless shelter.
Christ United Methodist Church of Locke and Moravia received $1,100 to purchase nutritional snacks for kids participating in its 180 Kid Time afterschool program designed to enhance spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual growth of children in pre-k through grade 5.
The Community Preservation Committee received $1,295 to install updated video equipment in the Willard Memorial Chapel to use for preservation talks and presentations.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County received $1,695 to purchase equipment to offer online purchasing through its Education Center to ensure safe and encrypted online credit card transactions.
The Episcopal Church of Saints Peter & John received $3,000 to purchase a new dishwasher for its soup kitchen, Bread of Life, which offers nutritious midday Saturday meals to the underserved.
The Faatz-Crofut Home for the Elderly received $2,500 to collaborate with Scat Van, a transportation service for the elderly, to provide safe transportation of its residents during community outings.
Fair Haven Community Arts Center received $1,500 to purchase equipment for its art and music classes, which offer affordable education and events to underserved residents of the greater Fair Haven community.
Friends of the Southern Cayuga Planetarium received $2,000 to support the temporary hire of a professional strategic planner and grant consultant to help determine and carry out the most effective strategies needed to reinstate the planetarium and observatory.
The Genoa Historical Association received $2,700 to help update its 1810 Threshing Barn exhibit and additional exhibit and storage spaces.
Lock 52 Historical Society of Port Byron received $1,000 to create a website, which will promote the history and tourism services of the village and region.
Merry-Go-Round Playhouse received $1,500 to provide a certified sign language interpreter at three performances during its 2015 summer season.
The Montessori School of the Finger Lakes received $850 to purchase materials for the construction of a rustic teepee fort for its playground.
Muscular Dystrophy Association received $1,200 to support tuition costs for two Cayuga County children to attend its annual summer camp in Rush, NY.
Peachtown Elementary School received $2,150 to refurbish and buy new instruments and equipment that will expand the music ensemble program and facilitate improved integration of the ensemble class with in-school music instruction and after-school performance classes.
The Southern Cayuga Anne Frank Tree Project received $1,250 to purchase signage directing visitors to the tree site behind Emily Howland Elementary School which serves as a commemorative symbol and reminder of Anne Frank.
Southern Cayuga Instant Aid received $1,800 to purchase a modern stair chair that ensures patients and emergency care providers remain safe during difficult transfers from home to ambulance.
St. Alphonsus Food Pantry received $3,000 to purchase personal hygiene products for food pantry holiday baskets.
Theatre Association of New York State received $1,500 to promote the 2015 TANYS Festival, which provides workshops and performance sessions to educate volunteers in production techniques, theater managements and fundraising activities.
Weedsport Gators Community Athletics received $1,000 to rent pool space from Cato Rec Center to run a seven-week swim lesson program for youth during the summer.
Wells College received $1,500 to promote the village of Aurora Farmer’s Market in order to grow and provide support for small, local growers and producers to participate as “pop-up” market vendors.