Community Foundation awards nearly $700,000 in grants to area nonprofits

SYRACUSE — The Central New York Community Foundation announced it has recently awarded nearly $700,000 in grants to nonprofit programs in the fields of arts and culture, education, environment and animals, human services, and public and societal benefit.

The grants included the following:

- ACR Health received $47,478 to hire a licensed mental-health counselor for its Q Center. The center serves as a “safe space” for LGBTQA youth to attend support groups, care management, drop-in hours and events, the Syracuse–based foundation said.

- American Red Cross of Central New York was provided $25,000 to support its “Sound the Alarm, Save a Life” smoke-alarm installation and education program. The program will teach households in neighborhoods that do not have access to in-home fire safety checks how to safely install and manage fire alarms.

- Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse was allocated $35,460 to support its Daily 5 program, a literacy framework that builds “effective lifelong learners” in reading, writing, and independent learning, according to the foundation.

- BRiDGES received $7,000 to establish an LGBTQA community coalition to implement community education programming and host events and support groups countywide.

- Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation received $6,900 to purchase and install digital audio-visual upgrades including a new projector.

- Chadwick Residence was awarded $15,000 to renovate common areas with new furniture and accessories to create a “more comfortable environment where women and their children feel empowered,” per the foundation.

- Christian Health Service of Syracuse was allocated $32,330 to replace computers, network switches, and firewalls in its clinic to ensure privacy of patient information.

- The Cora Foundation/Art Rage Gallery was offered $11,625 to create a photography exhibition featuring portraits of local women who have “broken gender boundaries and fought for gender equality.”

- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County received $6,000 to create an online directory of farms in Madison County to boost community development and education of farms.

- Everson Museum of Art was provided $150,000 to make repairs to its front podium to halt leakage into the building.

- Family Counseling Services of Cortland County was allocated $41,355 to purchase office equipment and furnishings for its new behavioral health clinic in Morrisville. The clinic will provide people living in the southern part of Madison County with access to “quality” behavioral health-care services.

- Hopeprint received $20,000 to support its Community Integration Coalition program that will help identify needs and steer refugee families to resources from a number of organizations upon resettlement.

- Image Initiative was allocated $15,000 to support the expansion of its CHOICES afterschool program for young women. The bi-weekly developmental program provides female youth from a diversity of neighborhoods with workshops focused on skill development and education.

- Oneida Community Mansion House was offered $31,202 to purchase improved security systems to better monitor and protect mobility of impaired individuals.

- Onondaga Earth Corps received $15,000 to design and implement a “comprehensive and inclusive” public-input process for maintaining and growing Syracuse’s urban forest.

- On Point for College was allocated $45,000 to support the relocation of its headquarters to a larger, “more efficient facility that supports programming and growth,” the foundation said.

- Skaneateles Lake Association received $27,000 to expand its Watershed Stewardship and educational programs to help protect lake water quality now and in the future.

- Symphoria was offered $22,000 to support its Canal Concerts, a collaboration with the Erie Canal Museum to present a concert series in “celebration” of the Canal’s Bicentennial.

- Syracuse Center for Peace and Social Justice received $25,000 to install a wheelchair-accessible ramp on its first floor to make the entrance accessible for all visitors.

- Syracuse City Ballet was awarded $15,000 to equip its new studio space that will allow the organization to increase the number of its performances and expand its youth outreach.

- Tillie’s Touch received $15,000 to purchase a 15-passenger van for the organization’s travel soccer program to help transport sports equipment and school supplies.

- WAER-FM88 was allocated $25,000 to build an interactive website that expands awareness, initiates a conversation, and promotes civic engagement around poverty in Syracuse.

- Women’s Opportunity Center received $55,000 to support its Journey to Success program, which works with low-income women who need intensive preparation to become job-ready.

The grants were awarded from the following charitable funds administered by the Community Foundation: Anonymous 33, Charles F. Brannock Fund, Shirley M. Aubrey Fund, Community Fund, Community Literacy Fund, Mary Louise Dunn Fund, Viola M. Hall Fund, Flora Mather Hosmer Fund, Leo & Natalie Jivoff Fund, Marjorie D. Kienzle Fund, Faith T. Knapp Memorial Fund, George & Luella Krahl Fund, Lettie H. Rohrig FOI Fund, Martha Fund, John F. Marsellus Fund, James & Aileen Miller Charitable Fund, Donald W. Ryder Fund, Ralph Myron Sayer and Sophrona Davis Sayer Endowment Fund, Syracuse Dispensary Fund, Spanfelner Fund, Walter A. Thayer Fund, and William & Mary L. Thorpe Charitable Fund.