The 2017 Lend-A-Hand Grant recipients at a reception held on Dec. 11 at the Adirondack Trust Company. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS – The Adirondack Trust Company Community Fund announced this week that its Independent Advisory Committee has awarded more than $52,000 in Lend-A-Hand Grants to 29 local nonprofit organizations.
The grants were presented at the Community Fund’s annual reception on Monday, Dec. 11. Directors or representatives of the organizations were present at the reception and spoke briefly about their respective organization’s mission and how the grant will support their particular cause.
The David H. Porter Memorial Grant was awarded to the Friends of Ulysses S. Grant Cottage, Inc., to fund the cost of travel expenses associated with the speakers in an effort to expand awareness of the cottage and increase participation.
The other grant awards were provided to the following organizations:
After the Fire, to provide assistance to families in Saratoga County who suffer loss due to fire, including gift certificates and a bag of personal items.
Amanda’s House at Glens Falls Hospital, to fund renovations of Amanda’s House which houses individuals and/or their families who are being treated by local physicians at the Cancer Center, Wound Center, and local physicians.
Ballston Spa Partnership for Innovation in Education, to support the 2018 Girls' Summit: a full day event for 100 7th grade girls from Ballston Spa, including at risk students, to empower, inspire, and inform girls to lead healthy lives and better prepare for their future.
Best Buddies New York, to support the Best Buddies Friendship Program, which creates one to one friendships between students with and without developmental disabilities at local high schools and middle schools.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks, to provide careful screening and matching of volunteers with children who face adversity, have single, low income or incarcerated parents, and to provide funding for materials for one to one mentor relationships.
Books in Kids Hands Corporation, to fund the purchase of books for children who are unable to afford them at Christmas and the summer.
Catie Hoch Foundation, to purchase forty $50.00 supermarket gift cards to financially assist families who have children with cancer.
Dance Alliance, Inc., to fund the program MOVE Dance, the teen outreach program of Dance Alliance which meets for a free weekly hip hop/contemporary dance class, including transportation for guest artists, tee shirts, and admission fees.
Family Service Association of Glens Falls, Inc., to support the “Emergency Housing and Utilities Program,” which provides financial assistance to those in need of a rent or utility payment to avoid an eviction or having the power turned off.
First Baptist Church Summer Lunch Program, to support the 2018 Summer Lunch Program which provides free lunches Monday through Friday during the months of July and August to children who receive free lunch during the school year.
Franklin Community Center, to support the program Project Lift which is a prevention program providing direct and intensive services for “high risk” students in the Saratoga Springs City School District.
Glens Falls Area Youth Center, Inc., to purchase after school snacks and drinks for disadvantaged youth.
Hands and Paws, to fund the purchase of comfort bags for children entering crisis shelters and foster care in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties.
Lake George Region Women for WIN, Inc., to purchase Hygiene Kits for Kids for 100 Glens Falls students which provides children with the basic self-care products in an effort to foster daily personal hygiene habits.
Nipper Knolls Equine Center, to provide horses, equipment, and support personnel which are used to provide equine assisted activities to children with special needs.
Queensbury Senior Center, to fund an educational program and purchase books, audio books and DVDs for the seniors to continue to learn and grow. They are also seeking funding to purchase a portable AED to bring on all trips.
Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, to provide safe home kits to twenty low income families in Saratoga County, which include smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, batteries, flashlights, fire extinguishers, and other safety items.
Saratoga Bridges, to pay a local professional artist to teach art classes to people with disabilities and people in the community, including classes in textiles, fiber arts and ceramics.
Saratoga Center for the Family, to enhance the counseling program by allowing the center to provide more counseling sessions to clients who are uninsured or underinsured and unable to afford the fees.
Saratoga Community Health Center/Saratoga Hospital, to fund the CHC Patient Prescription Relief Fund, which assists patients who cannot afford to pay for their prescription medication or copays for the medication.
Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, Inc., to support the initiative for healthy eating with local, fresh produce by expanding the refrigeration capacity in order to receive fresh produce donations and store them until redistribution.
Saratoga Sponsor A Scholar, to provide graphing calculators for the students who recently began the program which are used for 10th grade Geometry class, 11th grade Trigonometry class and the SATs.
Shelters of Saratoga, to fund the cost of 25 bed-nights for shelter guests who do not qualify for funding from another source, which includes the cost of shelter, food, clothes, transportation and counseling services.
The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund, Inc., to purchase hygiene kits for school aged children in an effort to increase self-awareness and self-esteem.
The Charlton School, to support the Equestrienne Expo and intensive individual, group and family equine sessions for young women who attend the special education program.
The Wesley Foundation, to purchase three Welch Allyn Ear Wash Systems which reduce the side effects of excessive earwax.
Veterans & Community Housing Coalition, to purchase and install seamless gutters on the front porch of the NY Vet House, a transitional supportive housing program for fourteen homeless male Veterans.
Wellspring, to provide funding for essential items not covered by government grants, including prescription medicine, documents such as birth certificates, diaper bags, formula, diapers, clothing for work, etc.
“We are so fortunate to have the communities’ support that enabled us to award 29 Lend-A-Hand Grants this year,” said Independent Advisory Committee Volunteer Chair Caroline Putman. “This year’s grant awardees are a small example of the amazing non-profit organizations that are out there serving a multitude of needs. The awarded grants support programs that help all ages, those that have fallen on hard times, the arts, education, health and well-being…we are honored to be a part of this process.”
