10 St. Lawrence County share in over $47K in funding

ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY , N.Y. (WWTI) — Ten St. Lawrence County nonprofit organizations will share nearly $47,195 in grant funding to strengthen the quality of life across the county from the Dr. D. Susan Badenhausen Legacy Fund of the Northern New York Community Foundation.

The Dr. D. Susan Badenhausen Legacy Fund was established through a bequest from Dr. Badenhausen who was a St. Lawrence County resident and retired physician who passed away in 2018 at the age of 83. Dr. Badenhausen believed in the strength of community and was an advocate for the people and places in the region she loved and called home. This charitable fund continues her legacy of caring for others while thoughtfully perpetuating her interests and passions in responsible ways with a focus on improving the quality of life in St. Lawrence County.

“ This fund continues to make a difference in ways that are both meaningful and diverse. It reinforces the wisdom in the way Dr. Badenhausen’s legacy was designed to have lasting impact ,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “ In the first four years, over $340,000 has been put to work in local communities and, at the same time, the fund continues to grow so its ability to support future programs and projects is increased. That is powerful and enduring .”

Grant funding is awarded annually to qualified nonprofit organizations whose missions and efforts align with the Badenhausen Legacy Fund objectives, which include the general health and well-being of residents, arts and culture programs, education initiatives and conservation and wildlife preservation programs.

The Community Foundation’s board of directors recently approved the following grant awards:

• Priority Wellness Campaign, Watertown — $10,000 to expand mental health services for first responders in St. Lawrence County.
• Bayside Cemetery Association, Potsdam — $5,000 to support an arboreal conservation project that will Nearly $48,000 in Grant Funding Will Strengthen Quality of Life Across County address the declining health of mature trees within the cemetery grounds, ensure safety, foster wildlife habitats, and enhance the well-being of residents.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County — $5,000 to bring the Celebrating Community, Family and Food Cooking Series to St. Lawrence County residents.
• Edwards Arts Council — $5,000 to present “The Barb Heller Variety Show,” which will bring local performers together for an evening of talent-sharing and community engagement at the historic venue.
• Fort La Presentation Association, Ogdensburg — $5,000 to help expand the Abbe’ Picquet Trail onto Van Rensselaer Point, connecting it to a newly installed bridge and developing a trail system onto an adjacent island.
• St. Lawrence County Arts Council, Canton — $5,000 to support the Ives Park Concert Series that will run four Saturdays in August and culminate during the North Country Arts Festival, a four-day festival leading up to Labor Day weekend.
• Traditional Arts in Upstate New York, Canton — $5,000 to support “Fiddling with Traditions,” a program that aims to engage five St. Lawrence County K-8 schools through live traditional music concerts followed by hands-on workshops.
• Potsdam Humane Society — $4,195 to help present a zoology summer camp in collaboration with the North Country Children’s Museum, and SUNY Potsdam’s biology department.
• PCS Music Friends, Potsdam — $2,000 to address the need for a more inclusive and contemporary music education program through a new modern band class at Potsdam High School.
• Brasher Falls Central School District — $1,000 to support the High School Robotics Club, which engages students in the First Tech Challenge Robotics League.

Since the Badenhausen Legacy Fund began grantmaking efforts in 2020, it has awarded almost $341,000 in funding to support 27 projects at 23 St. Lawrence County organizations, supporting the general health and well-being of residents, arts and culture programs, education initiatives, and conservation and wildlife preservation programs.

Applications for 2024 funding from the Fund will be made available August 1, 2024, with up to $50,000 available. Qualified organizations whose missions and efforts align with the fund’s charitable purposes may apply for support.  You can contact Kraig Everard, Community Foundation director of stewardship and programs at kraig@nnycf.org , or 315-782-7110, to learn more about this opportunity. Applications for 2024 grant funding will be made available through the Community Foundation’s online grant portal .

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