Archive: Around Town

Cayuga Medical Center and United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) Board Chair John Turner welcomed a crowd of supporters to Stewart Park to kick off the 2012/13 United Way Community Campaign. He announced that UWTC is Celebrating Volunteers. Turner shared that hundreds of dedicated community volunteers help UWTC and many other organizations throughout the year to fulfill their missions.

James Brown UWTC President thanked the community for its generous support of the 10th Annual Stephen E. Garner Day of Caring Food Drive. J. Brown also thanked Alan Workman and Christina Roberti, Campaign Co-Chairs for CU’s Student United Way Campaign, and shared that over $9,000 was raised at the September 15th Annual A CAPPELLA UNITED Concert.  Brown thanked Cornell University and its Alumni Affairs and Development for including UWTC in its upcoming Homecoming 2012 festivities beginning tonight with a pep rally and the football game on September 22nd.

He thanked M&T Bank for pledging a $1,000 contribution to UWTC as part of Mayor Svante Myrick’s kick-off challenge at the pep rally. Guests are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to both Homecoming events, which will be donated to UWTC for distribution. Lastly, J. Brown announced three grant opportunities for local non-profit organizations are open today, totaling $87,742.

M&T Bank's Kara Garner Taylor and volunteer Kathy Garner-Darnieder co-chair the Pacesetter Campaign and are serving as UWTC’s first mother/daughter volunteer team. Pacesetter results to date have been positive with many of the 22 companies and organizations reporting positive results and 100% employee participation. The Pacesetters help to set the pace for overall community giving and enthusiasm for the Campaign.

Campaign Co-Chairs, Lynnette Scofield from the William Henry Miller Inn and Bruce Ryan from Tompkins Cortland Community College, announced this year’s goal of $2,155,000,  a slight increase over last year’s $2,151,000. Campaign gifts support local health and human services and programs helping individuals and families to lead better lives.  Community Care Fund gifts support seven issue areas: Basic Needs, Child Care/Early Learning, Crisis Services, Financial Stability/Building Self-Sufficiency, Health/Environment, Seniors, and Youth.

UWTC announced three grants available for nonprofit organizations in Tompkins County totaling $87,742. Funds are available for:

Hunger & Food Security - $27,742 T. Merrell Shipherd Flexible Fund - $35,000 Youth and Philanthropy - $25,000

Organizations should visit http://www.uwtc.org/apply-funding to access information and review the grant criteria. Applications are accepted online through the Community Impact Manager. All applications are due on Friday, October 26th at 12:00 Noon.

$27,742 is available for the Fall 2012 Hunger & Food Security grant cycle and all Tompkins County nonprofit organizations may apply for this funding.

UWTC continues to document an increased demand of food and personal care items and is focusing its efforts on addressing the many complex food and hunger issues. UWTC is working to support programming to make an impact or improve the quality of life of area residents.

All local nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for Hunger & Food Security Funds.

$35,000 is available to grant through the T. Merrell Shipherd Fund. Non-United Way Member Organizations may apply in partnership/collaboration with UWTC Member Organizations.

The purpose of this funding is to provide financial support for quality programming and services that address current, new, or emerging needs in the community, to support efforts to improve organizational efficiency and encourage collaborations such as mergers and service delivery joint ventures.

$25,000 is available through the Youth and Philanthropy Grant process. All Tompkins County nonprofits may apply for this funding.

Youth and Philanthropy is a part of UWTC’s Student Engagement, funded with generous grant support from the Park Foundation. For the past twelve years, local high school students have had the opportunity to develop individual and group communication and leadership skills, learn about the unmet needs in our community, review budgets, and make all funding decisions.

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