Archive: Around Town

United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) recently made community investments of $65,197. These grant funds will support agencies and programs that help people meet their immediate, basic needs while creating lasting change by strengthening the three building blocks for a good life: education, financial stability, and health.  The fall grant cycle included grants that were open to all Tompkins County non-profits. Scott Keenan of Tompkins Trust Company, the UWTC Community Investment Committee Chair, presented funding recommendations to the Board of Directors for the 2016 Fall Hunger & Food Security Fund, totaling $38,870.00. Three of the sixteen members of the Youth and Philanthropy Council, Bronwyn Galloway, Claire Conklin, and Hyebin Kim presented the $25,000 grant recommendations to the UWTC Board.

United Way of Tompkins County helps eliminate barriers and create paths to greater self sufficiency. The Hunger & Food Security grant targets alleviating hunger and the Youth & Philanthropy grant supports Education, Financial Stability, and Health services.


The sixteen local nonprofit organizations receiving a total of $38,870.00 from the Fall Hunger and Food Security Fund are:

Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga: $750
Samaritan Center Personal Needs Products

Center for Transformative Action/Youth Farm Project: $7,164
Fresh Snack Program

Child Development Council - $2,250
Family Services Program

Community Dinner at Dryden United Methodist Church: $500
Community Dinners 

Cooperative Extension Association of Tompkins County: $8,200
Healthy Food For All – Feeding Change – Single Moms Project

Dryden Community Council: $1,800
Dryden Kitchen Cupboard- $1,000
Weekend Backpack Program- $800

Enfield School Age Program, Inc.: $600.00
Healthy Lifestyles

Food Bank of the Southern Tier: $2,006
Tompkins County BackPack Expansion 

Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County Inc.: $2,500
Free Meal Program

Newfield Community Council: $1,000
Newfield Kitchen Cupboard 

Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse: $2,000
Community Food Pantry

The Learning Web: $2,800
Youth Outreach Program

The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County: $3,000
The Jenkins Center for Hope and Recovery

The Salvation Army: $2,500
Direct Assistance Program

Tompkins Community Action: $750
Emergency Food Pantry

Women’s Opportunity Center: $800
Food For the Day

Youth and Philanthropy (YAP) provides a formal, structured opportunity for young people to develop leadership skills, learn about their community and think about philanthropy as an important part of their lives. Students participate in team-building activities, learn about community needs and assets, explore leadership abilities, review grant applications, develop financial and program assessment skills, and invest $25,000 in programs that are making a difference in our community. YAP is made possible by the generous support of the Triad Foundation. Cindy Noble, UWTC Youth and Philanthropy Chair, and Myriah Marnell, Tompkins Trust Company, worked with 16 YAP Council Members this year.

At the December 7^th YAP Grant Awards Ceremony held at United Way of Tompkins County, the participants presented 8 grants totaling $25,000 to the following organizations:

Alternatives Impact: $6,000
Free Community Tax Program

Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga: $4,000
Transportation Assistance

Enfield Community Council, Inc.: $2,500

Youth Paddling Club 

Family and Children’s Service of Ithaca: $3,000

Open Doors Program

Family Reading Partnership: $1,000

The Bright Red Reading Tent

Ithaca Community Childcare Center: $4,000

Outdoor Classroom

Ithaca Health Alliance: $2,500

Patient Database Upgrade and Server Replacement

The Discovery Trail: $2,000

Kids Discover the Trail! 2065-17 Program Expansion


2016 Youth and Philanthropy Council Members:

Avery Ellis – Ithaca High School

Bronwyn Galloway – Ithaca High School

Casey Wetherbee – Ithaca High School

Celia Brown – Ithaca High School

Chloe Wray – Ithaca High School

Claire Conklin – Ithaca High School

Hyebin Kim – Ithaca High School

Jaden Demarest – LACS

James Cronin – Ithaca High School

Marissa Tordel – Dryden High School

Medina Lojic – Dryden High School

Morgan Nenon – Ithaca High School

Olivia Moreland – Ithaca High School

Renee Stilwell – Ithaca High School

Savanna Hilker – Dryden High School

Sirena Carpenter – LACS

Tad Donovan – Ithaca High School

Taylor Burk – Dryden High School