- By Carmela LoRusso
- Around Town
Print 
United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) Board of Directors recently awarded over $900,000 to support the health, education and financial stability of people throughout Tompkins County and beyond. Grants were made through the Community Care Fund, the Focus on Community Understanding and Service (FOCUS) Fund from the Dryden Middle School, and the Hunger & Food Security Fund.
The United Way’s funded partners help people meet immediate basic needs while creating lasting change by strengthening the building blocks for a good life. The Community Care Fund awards of $877,052 support 90 programs. Hunger and Food Security Fund awards totaling $36,400 were invested in nine programs projected to assist 18,648 local residents gain access to an adequate supply of nutritious food.
FOCUS grant awards totaling $2,000 will support programs at four different nonprofits that serve the Town of Dryden. Students of Dryden Elementary School reviewed grant applications and made funding recommendations for applying non-profits. FOCUS allowed the students to share their views of their community’s needs and invest funds to make a difference.
Community Care Fund and Hunger & Food Security applications are reviewed by community volunteers. The review process includes a discussion of current community needs and an evaluation of each program’s design, finances, outcomes, and performance. Final investments are recommended by UWTC’s Community Investment Committee and approved by the UWTC Board of Directors.
In addition to these funds and donor-designated gifts, UWTC recently funded special initiatives: the Urgent Rx Prescription Program, and the Get Connected, Volunteer Center.
100% of donations to UWTC’s Community Care Fund and special initiatives goes directly to local programs thanks to the UWTC’s earned income and Corporate Cornerstone Partners.
2017-2018 Community Care Fund Grants by Area
Education – Total of $265,350
Brooktondale Community Center
Brooktondale Summer Camp - $5,000
Child Development Council
Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR) - $45,000
Family Support Services - $25,000
Teen Pregnancy/ Parenting Program - $15,000
Danby Community Council
Scholarships - $1,500
Youth Services - $1,500
Downtown Ithaca Children's Center
Tuition Assisted Childcare Program - $14,500
Dryden Community Council
Dryden Community Camp - $3,000
Southworth Library Summer Reading - $600
Southworth Library Teen Programs - $800
Enfield Community Council, Inc.
ESAP Scholarships - $3,000
Summer Day Camp Program - $3,000
Teen Program - $7,500
Franziska Racker Centers, Inc.
Early Childhood Feeding Program - $8,000
Freeville Community Council
Freeville Summer Recreation Program - $4,000
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Inc.
Girl Scout Leadership Experience - $3,500
Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc.
Teen Program - $19,000
Youth Program - $35,000
Groton Community Council
Groton Public Library - $1,000
Groton Recreation Committee - $1,500
Youth Services - $2,550
Ithaca Community Childcare Center
Access Scholarship Fund - $5,000
Lansing Community Council
Lansing Youth Services - $3,000
The Learning Web
Community & Career Exploration & Apprenticeship Program - $25,000
McLean Community Council, Inc.
Calling all Teens - $3,000
Newfield Community Council
Before and Afterschool Program - $2,000
Newfield Summer Day Camp - $4,500
Summer Reading Program - $1,500
Youth At-Risk and General Recreation - $2,200
Southside Community Center
Recycle Ithaca’s Bikes (RIBS) - $5,500
Ulysses Community Council
Afterschool Program - $2,350
Library Program - $800
Nursery School - $500
Summer Recreation Programs - $3,500
Youth Services - $5,500
Financial Stability - Total of $260,877
Better Housing for Tompkins County, Inc.
Tompkins County Home Repair Program - $17,500
Brooktondale Community Center
Caroline Food Pantry at the Brooktondale Community Center - $1,250
Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga
Immigrant Services Program - $10,000
Samaritan Center Emergency Services Program - $26,000
Challenge Workforce Solutions
Contract Production Facility - $30,000
Job Club-Transition to Employment - $6,750
Foodnet Meals on Wheels
Home Delivered Meals - $12,250
Groton Community Council
Izzy’s Closet - $2,000
Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County Inc.
Human Service Planning - $8,000
2-1-1 Information and Referral Services - $7,000
The Learning Web
Youth Outreach - $22,000
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. ® (Ithaca Office)
Tompkins/Tioga Neighborhood Legal Services - $4,000
McLean Community Council, Inc.
McLean Community Hall - $1,000
Newfield Community Council
Newfield Kitchen Cupboard – Pantry - $1,000
Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) of Tompkins County
Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) - $29,875
Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse
Emergency Shelter/Day Center - $31,377
The Salvation Army
Direct Assistance Program - $9,000
Tompkins County Senior Citizens’ Council (Lifelong)
Tax Counseling for the Elderly - $4,000
Tompkins Learning Partners, Inc.
Adult Literacy - $16,875
Ulysses Community Council
Food Pantry - $1,000
Women's Opportunity Center
On the Job Training - $20,000
Health- Total of $350,825
Advocacy Center of Tompkins County
Youth Intervention and Prevention Services - $25,000
Alcohol & Drug Council of Tompkins County, Inc.
Education and Prevention Program - $2,500
Outpatient Alcohol & Drug Treatment - $19,500
Brooktondale Community Center
Newsletter - $1,000
2016-17 Playground Project - $8,500
Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes
Individualized Information and Support for Those Affected by Cancer - $12,750
CDRC - Community Dispute Resolution Center
Mediation Services - $22,000
Danby Community Council
Danby Seniors - $200
Family Programs - $1,000
Newsletter - $1,500
Dryden Community Council
Southworth Library Large Print Materials - $300
Enfield Community Council, Inc.
Community Newsletter - $2,000
4th & 5th Grade Basketball - $900
Family and Children's Service of Ithaca
Clinical Counseling - $35,000
Psychiatry - $33,000
Rural Outreach Services - $40,000
Finger Lakes Independence Center
Disability Benefits Education and Assistance - $5,000
Gadabout Transportation Services, Inc.
Gadabout Transportation Services - $12,750
Greater Ithaca Activities Center, Inc.
Recreation - $6,000
Adult /Senior Program - $5,000
Lansing Community Council
Lansing Department of Parks and Recreation - $2,000
McLean Community Council, Inc.
Happening in the Hamlet - $1,000
McLean Beautification Committee - $975
The Mental Health Association in Tompkins County
Community Health Education Outreach - $3,500
KIDS FIRST Summer Recreation Program - $35,000
PASS Program Mentor Training - $1,000
The Salvation Army
Salvation Army Golden Agers (SAGA) - $1,000
Youth and Educational Support - $1,000
Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service
Crisisline - $35,000
Online Crisis Counseling Service for Youth - $6,700
Tompkins County Senior Citizens’ Council (Lifelong)
Tompkins County Senior Citizen’s Council Activities - $4,000
Volunteers Connected! - $2,000
Varna Community Association
Varna After School Program - $10,000
YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County
Open Door Scholarship Program - $14,750
Spring 2017 Hunger and Food Security – Total of $36,400
Community Dinners at Dryden United Methodist Church
Community Dinners - $700
Dryden Community Council
Weekend Backpack Program - $500
Foodbank of the Southern Tier
Child Hunger Program - $2,500
Foodnet Meals on Wheels
Weekend & Holiday Meals - $8,000
Loaves and Fishes of Tompkins County Inc.
Free Meal Program - $10,000
The Mental Health Association of Tompkins County
The Jenkins Center of Hope and Recovery - $5,200
Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse
Community Food Pantry - $5,000
The Learning Web
Youth Outreach - $3,500
Tompkins County Action
Emergency Food Pantry - $1,000
2017 FOCUS Grants – Total of $2,000
Community Dinners at United Methodist Church
Community Dinners - $500
Dryden Elementary School
Dryden Summer Food Program - $950
Lifelong
Enhance Your Fitness - $200
Varna Community Association
Water for Kids - $100
Village of Dryden
Replacement Basketball Backboards in Montgomery Park - $250
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