Rome charity helps fund new equipment at MMRI

UTICA, N.Y. — The Griffin Charitable Foundation in Rome has made a $71,000 donation to the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) to fund the purchase of a new state-of-the-art microscope for imaging cells.

“It came as wonderful news that the foundation pledged this generous donation,” MMRI’s Development Director Stephen F. Izzo said in a release. “This gift will make a profound impact on our research capabilities.”

“While we maintain the Griffin family legacy of supporting healthcare, it is rare that we support research,” Foundation President Daniel Burgdorf said. “So often our work helps with more immediate needs. But with this gift, we are looking at impacting the greater community for generations to come. Many people we all know today would not be alive if not for the work of the Masonic Medical Research Institute.”

The Griffin Charitable Foundation supports not-for-profit entities serving Rome and surrounding communities. The Griffin family, which has been part of the community for more than a century through its Varflex Corporation — was established in 2019 following the passing of siblings Dorothy G. Griffin and William (Bill) Griffin.

The work at MMRI both strengthens the local economy and helps people around the world through advances in medical science, the organization contends.