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Fundholder e-Newsletter - July 2023

Congratulations Ron & Sheila Cuccaro!

2023 Recipients of the Rosamond Childs Award for Community Philanthropy

A Utica couple whose generosity has touched countless lives over the last two decades has received the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties’ highest award for community philanthropy.

Ron and Sheila Cuccaro of Utica were honored at our July 26 Celebration of Philanthropy event at Utica’s Delta Hotel by Marriott, presented with support from Rising Phoenix Holdings Corporation and Stephen and Gina Surace. About 200 attendees joined current and past Community Foundation board members in recognizing the Cuccaros’ commitment

to the community.

“Ron and Sheila have demonstrated how personal dedication to community, in partnership with the Community Foundation and nonprofit organizations, can turn philanthropic commitment into lifechanging impact,” said Alicia Fernandez Dicks, president/CEO of the Community Foundation. “The Rosamond Childs Award for Community Philanthropy recognizes their deep and continuing selflessness, leadership, compassion, and generosity.”

Those wishing to honor Ron and Sheila Cuccaro can make a donation by clicking here.

Fund Spotlight

The Helpful Harvest Fund was established to help nonprofits meeting increased Herkimer and Oneida county resident need stemming from economic difficulty and food insecurity. The fund provides direct support to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters meeting resident need during the November-December holiday season. Last year, the fund awarded $38,500 to over 30 human service organizations in the two counties.

“Each year, we support food pantries during the November-December holiday season, and we were looking to get an early start to ensure their needs are met in a timely manner as they began to organize for their giving and outreach,” said Olivia Paul, director of community engagement at the Community Foundation. “The incredible response we received from last year's fund awards has prompted us to do it all again this year, and any donation helps."

Local food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters will be asked to apply for our Helpful Harvest Grant Round in October. Donations to this fund will directly support the awards to be given out in November. To learn more about the Helpful Harvest Fund or to make a donation, click here. For information about making a donation from your donor-advised fund, please reach out to Ely Arnone-Earl, earnone-earl@foundationhoc.org.

Funding Opportunities Catalog

An online directory of nonprofit needs seeking support

Explore our ever-changing list of nonprofit projects, programs, and needs that your fund may choose to support. You can recommend full or partial support for one or more of the opportunities Below are three sample nonprofit funding need requests. Click here to view the full catalog, which makes it easy to search and sort the various funding opportunities.

White Lake ADK Association

White Lake Boat Steward

Funding Needed: $2,500

White Lake ADK is seeking $2,500 to support watercraft education stewards who inspect watercrafts and educate boaters to ensure White Lake remains free of invasive species.

Care Net Pregnancy Center of CNY

Material Aid Boutique

Funding Needed: $2,500

The Care Net Pregnancy Center of New York is requesting funding for its Material Aid Boutique, a local free resource for women and families. Funding will be used to purchase materials such as diapers and wipes for the boutique.

Frankfort Free

Library

Reading Room Furniture

Funding Needed: $1,200

Frankfort Free Library needs $1,200 to help purchase new sturdy, functional, and cozy lounge chairs for patrons who desire a quiet, comfortable place to read, study or use their devices in a safe and inclusive environment.

Browse the full list of needs

Help Fund the Stone Mercurio Skate Park

The friends and family of Stone Mercurio are seeking funding to build a destination-class skate park for all ages and skill levels in downtown Rome, NY. Stone, who passed away in April, was a thrill-seeker and avid skater - this skatepark would be constructed in his memory.

Learn more about the skatepark and its mission by clicking here. If you are interested in making a donation to the cause, visit the GoFundMe page here.

Tt Li

Looking for ways to get involved in

Mohawk Valley Gives 2023?

Explore unique ways your fund can support the 24-hour giving day benefiting 200+ area nonprofits!

Prize Sponsor

For our nonprofit partners, prizes may be the most exciting part about Mohawk Valley Gives! All throughout the day on September 20, we will be awarding prizes—extra cash incentives—to participating organizations. We’re actively seeking prize sponsors so that we can award even more than last year. Here’s how it works:

You commit to a prize amount that you would like to award
Community Foundation staff will create a custom prize named after your fund
We’ll work with you to determine the prize criteria
Your fund name will be featured on:

The prize page on givemv.org
Custom social media promotional graphics
Facebook Live announcements on September 20

Prize sponsors may remain anonymous if they choose

Match or Challenge Sponsor

Matches and challenges ultimately help nonprofit organizations raise more money on the giving day. By becoming a match or challenge sponsor, you are offering an incentive that will inspire more gifts to your organization of choice. Here’s how it works:

You commit to putting up a match or challenge to benefit an organization of choice that is participating in Mohawk Valley Gives
Your fund name will be featured on givemv.org’s matches/challenges page, which will monitor the incentive’s program. (You can remain anonymous if you prefer.)

Giving Day Grant

You may make grant(s) from your fund to participating Mohawk Valley Gives organizations to support them on September 20. Nonprofit registration has just begun and our team will share a list of all participating organizations in the coming months.

If your fund is interested in supporting Mohawk Valley Gives in one of these ways, please reach out to Ely Arnone-Earl, earnone-earl@foundationhoc.org, to learn more!

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Two Counties, One Vision, Two Unique Perspectives

Have questions about something in this month's e-newsletter?

Get in touch with us!