Humane Society of Schuyler County speaks on $1.5M donation from Tom Golisano

MONTOUR FALLS, N.Y. ( WETM ) – Executive Director of the Humane Society of Schuyler County Georgie Taylor spoke with 18 News about a donation that the shelter received as a part of a large-scale donation made to non-profit agencies across New York State.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Rochester entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano announced that a $360 million donation would be made to 82 non-profit organizations across the state. Of the 82 organizations, six of them were located in the Southern Tier, including the Humane Society of Schuyler County, which received $1.5 million.

According to Taylor, the donation came to the shelter as a surprise after receiving an email invitation on Thursday, Sept. 12, that requested for the Executive Director and Chair of the Board from the shelter to attend an important announcement ceremony on Tuesday. It wasn’t until Golisano announced the donation while choking back tears that the audience knew what was going on.

“I don’t think anyone in the audience had any idea the magnitude and generosity of this gift,” said Taylor.

Donations for the organizations were split up and allocated into different categories of health, education, intellectual and developmental disability services, general community and animal welfare.

In the Southern Tier, four organizations received funds in the animal welfare category and two organizations received funds in the intellectual and developmental disabilities category. These organizations include the Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA, Finger Lakes SPCA, Hornell Area Humane Society, Humane Society of Schuyler County, Arc Allegany-Steuben and Arc Chemung-Schuyler.

A breakdown of the amounts received by each organization is listed below.

• Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA – $1 million
• Finger Lakes SPCA – $1.5 million
• Hornell Area Humane Society – $1.5 million
• Humane Society of Schuyler County – $1.5 million
• Arc Allegany-Steuben – $5 million
• Arc Chemung-Schuyler – $5 million

Taylor told 18 News that, while there are so many possibilities, it’s “too early to say” what the shelter will use the funding for at this time.

One thing that Taylor can guarantee though, is that the funding will make the shelter finally feel whole and sustainable and that it will transform the work of not-for-profits in New York State.

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