Three non-profit organizations in the Upstate New York region are the recipients of a total of $10,000 in grants funded by Upstate Institute Student Philanthropy Council (SPC) at Colgate University. In its fifth year, the thirteen-member Council, comprised of sophomores, considered 17 applications from non-profits throughout central Upstate New York.
The grant awards will help to support the following projects:
- CNY Quest, to train teachers to implement a Literacy Workshop as part of the Saturday Skills program that teaches social abilities to children with ADHD and Autism
- Multicultural Association of Medical Interpreters (MAMI) for the purchase of anatomically correct models for use in the training of medical interpreters.
- Oneida Healthcare Center to enable the uninsured and less fortunate diabetes patients to enroll in the Diabetic Self-Management Program that can help raise their quality of life.
Under the direction of the Upstate Institute Director Ellen Percy Kraly, the SPC met with leaders from area non-profits and foundations during the fall semester to learn about philanthropy in upstate New York. Guest lecturers included Barbara Boucher, Director of Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts; James Allen Smith, Colgate Class of ‘70, Vice President and Director of Research and Education at Rockefeller Archive Center; Dr. Dana Hart, Director of The Leadership Institute at Utica College; and John Eberle and David Kilpatrick from the Central New York Community Foundation. Kraly, who is also the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Geography at Colgate, wrapped up the semester by guiding students through a demographic assessment of community needs and assets in the region.
In January, the SPC became a small working foundation and developed a Request for Proposals that focused on “training and education programs” Upon receiving the grant applications, the students developed and conducted an evaluation process that included careful review of proposals and site visits with potential grantees.
The students presented the awards to these organizations in a ceremony on April 28, 2011. Gray Huffard, SPC member, said, “I think I speak for all members of the Council by saying that we have thoroughly enjoyed working on the Council this past year. It has allowed us to create strong linkages between Colgate and the regional community. It is clear to us that there are an incredible number of people invested in the future of this area.”
The year-long, non-credit bearing, service-learning initiative is underwritten by a $50,000 grant from the Brennan Family Foundation of Ohio.