The Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System received a Generous Acts grant from Adirondack Foundation to support its community care initiative, which enables the 18 CEFLS affiliated libraries to provide essential hygiene items to those who need them most. (Provided photo)

LAKE PLACID — Adirondack Foundation has mobilized nearly $800,000 in philanthropic support to communities across the Adirondack region through its Generous Acts program, with additional grants to be awarded in the coming weeks.

The open call application annually invests in nonprofit organizations, schools and municipalities. Generous Acts grants aim to strengthen communities by addressing three strategic focus areas: basic needs, educational pathways and economic vitality.

“We remain committed to lifting up the Adirondack region through the generosity of the people who call this place home,” Adirondack Foundation President and CEO Cali Brooks said in a statement. “Generous Acts continues to evolve — generating grants will always be at the heart of what we do, but this work also helps us understand current and future trends so we can share this information with donors and leaders. Our communities continue to prioritize food access, health care, housing, early childhood development and career pathways, but we also noted emerging needs centered around STEM education, downtown revitalization, migrant and immigrant assistance, and emergency services preparedness.”

Adirondack Foundation’s Generous Acts program is fueled by unrestricted donations from thousands of generous individuals; its service area consists of the Adirondack Park, all of Clinton and Franklin counties and the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory.

“Generous Acts has proven to be an effective vehicle for funneling charitable funds to the programs, projects and people who are in the trenches and working to improve quality of life in the Adirondack region,” said Joe Steiniger, chair of Adirondack Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Acting as stewards of philanthropic assets is a big responsibility and one that we take seriously; it’s a privilege to announce this year’s worthy slate of grant recipients.”

A grant from Generous Acts at Adirondack Foundation will support Play ADK’s Infant & Toddler Playgroups, which promote socialization and development for children ages 0-3 and foster connections for parents and caregivers in the Tri-Lakes region. (Provided photo)

A total of 107 organizations have received $794,000 to date in 2024. More grants will be announced in the coming weeks as co-funders — donors who have a charitable fund with Adirondack Foundation and award grants in conjunction with Generous Acts — make their decisions. Key funding partners include Hudson Headwaters Health Network’s Upstream Fund, the Stewart’s Shops/Dake Family Foundation and the WaterWheel Foundation Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation.

Basic needs grants build equity, access

The vision for the Foundation’s basic needs strategy is straightforward: residents of all ages should have equitable access to services that enable and promote a healthy quality of life. The Generous Acts program aims to accomplish this by expanding and strengthening the social safety net to facilitate upward mobility, providing resources to assist with emergency relief and ensuring quality support networks for all.

A total of $386,390 was awarded to over 50 organizations for programs that address everything from food scarcity and immigrant and migrant assistance to early child care and equitable access to outdoor recreation.

The Free Little Clothing Closet in Indian Lake was among the basic needs recipients this year. This project will fill the gap left behind by the closing of the former Our Mart, which provided a location for residents and visitors to drop off gently used items — including clothing — for individuals and families to pick up as needed.

“When COVID was at its peak, Hamilton County had to close the building where the former Our Mart was located for health and safety concerns,” said Joan Golden, who coordinates the new Free Little Clothing Closet on Main Street. “That’s when the idea came about to help continue to provide free clothing for all ages. Our inaugural season in 2022 was at the town of Indian Lake’s Saturday summer Farmer’s Market. Three years later and after thousands of donated clothes, we are pleased to receive a grant from the Adirondack Foundation to allow us to open a storefront in the center of town, adjacent to our historic movie theater and our food pantry, providing us with the opportunity to go from a seasonal Saturday activity to a year-round operation.”

Helping communities thrive

The Foundation’s economic vitality focus envisions thriving communities that provide equitable and just economic opportunity, build generational wealth, attract residents and businesses, and inspire community participation. Generous Acts prioritizes programs that invest in towns and villages for regional uplift, support workforce development and business sustainability, and retain residents and encourage people to move here.

A total of 22 organizations addressing economic vitality received $176,700 in Generous Acts support. Grants were awarded to projects that provide enhanced data on the employment landscape, renovation and rehabilitation to community infrastructure, affordable housing and more.

In Essex County, a Generous Acts grant will help the Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership and the Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce implement employment opportunities programming and services, which will help the community retain and attract businesses and assist in workforce development.

“The Chamber seeks to create a thriving Ticonderoga area with sustainable economic growth,” said Matthew Courtright, TACC’s president and CEO. “Adirondack Foundation has been a key partner in our efforts, providing the necessary support to help fuel our growing economy.”

Blazing trails for quality education

The Foundation’s emphasis on educational pathways aims to ensure that all learners have meaningful opportunities to pursue pathways to gainful employment and fulfilling lives. Generous Acts focuses on organizations that foster a systems approach for cradle-to-career education, support early childhood development and invest in career-preparedness.

Generous Acts funneled $230,850 in grants to 32 organizations in 2024, including support for North Country Community College’s Non-Credit Career Pathways initiative.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the funding provided by Generous Acts,” said Erin Walkow, executive director of the NCCC Foundation. “Over the last few years, Adirondack Foundation has made it possible for students to attend college and pursue their academic and career goals. Most recently, Generous Acts allowed the college to provide training for childcare workers, one of the many foundational needs across the North Country. We look forward to providing more of those opportunities for residents in our region.”

To learn more about Generous Acts at Adirondack Foundation, or to make a gift in support of future grants, visit adirondackfoundation.org or contact Jennifer Russell at jennifer.russell@adkfoundation.org.

The grant recipients are listed below, organized by areas of focus.

Basic Needs ($386,390)

¯ Adirondack Community Outreach Center: Addressing Food Scarcity Amongst Johnsburg Area Youths

¯ Adirondack Health Foundation: Getting Newborns off to the Best Start

¯ Adirondack Welcome Circle: Funding for the Temporary Sheltering of Newly Arriving Immigrants

¯ AdkAction.org: Hamilton County Local Grocery Connections

¯ AdkAction.org: Sharing our Strength: Building Strategy and Capacity for Adirondack Food Systems

¯ American Red Cross of Eastern New York: Home Fire Financial Relief

¯ ARISE of Northern New York: Tupper Lake Backpack Pogram

¯ Blue Mountain Center: Local and Healthy Food Connections in Hamilton County

¯ Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Ogdensburg: Immigrant and Migrant Assistance Program

¯ Clinton Essex Franklin Library System: Community Care Project

¯ Craigardan: The Winter Free Food Fridge

¯ Creative Healing Connections: Arts and Healing for Women with Cancer and Chronic Illness and Women Vets with PTSD

¯ Crown Point Central School District: School to Table, Establishing a Sustainable School Garden

¯ Eagle Island Inc.: Equitable Access to Outdoor Recreation through Summer Camp Opportunities

¯ Ecumenical Council of Saranac Lake, Inc.: Samaritan House Operating Support

¯ Elizabethtown Social Center: Teens Off Screens

¯ Elizabethtown Social Center: Baby and Me Therapy Groups

¯ Essex County Office for the Aging: Healthy and Active Aging

¯ Fieldstone Foundation: The Backpack Program: Essential Meals for Food Insecure Children in Northern New York

¯ First United Methodist Church: 2024 Support for Weekly Community Supper

¯ Healing Grace Perinatal Hospice, Inc: Children’s Grief Support and Bodhi’s Toties

¯ Homestead Development Corp.: Helping Hands Community Hub

¯ Hudson Headwaters Health Network: Preventive Dental Care for Kids 14 and Under

¯ Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties, Inc.: Supporting ALICE Households in Crisis

¯ Lakeside Preschool: Lakeside School at Black Kettle Farm: Expanding Programs to Increase Access

to Affordable Child Care

¯ Lifeway Church: Inflation Gap Needs for Emergency Food, Shelter and Resource Sharing

¯ LivingADK: Old Forge Farmers Market Direct Nutrition Assistance Program

¯ Mercy Care for the Adirondacks: Age-friendly Communities in the Adirondacks

¯ Minerva Service Organization: Fighting Food Insecurity

¯ Moriah Central School BackPack Program: Backpacks for at Risk Children

¯ North Country Health and Wellness Inc: Youth Sports for All

¯ North Country Ministry: Mobilizing our Food Pantry Efforts

¯ Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps: Continual Medical Education Courses

¯ Old Forge Volunteer Fire Department: Equipment to Help Save Lives

¯ Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Inc.: Survivor Support Services

¯ Plattsburgh Cares, Inc.: Caring for Vulnerable Refugees and Food-Insecure in the North Country

¯ PLAY ADK: Saranac Lake Infant and Toddler Playgroups

¯ Riverside Volunteer Fire Department: Fire Department Generator

¯ Rural Law Center of New York, Inc.: Adirondack Regional Family Stabilization Program

¯ Saranac Lake Voluntary Health Association, Inc.: Equipping Home Health Nurse with Management Tools

¯ Saranac Lake Youth Center, Inc.: Afterschool Snack Program

¯ Servants of the Word Inc., dba The Open Door Mission: A Life Path for People Experiencing Homelessness

¯ Speculator Volunteer Ambulance Corps: Generator for Emergency Services Headquarters

¯ The Adirondack Arc Children’s Corner Program: First Steps Toward Equal Footing: Providing Special Needs with the Chance to Succeed

¯ The Forest Ranger Foundation, Inc: Headlamps for Forest Rangers

¯ The Free Little Clothing Closet: Indian Lake Storefront Project

¯ The Prevention Team: E.P.I.C. – Essex People Impact Communities

¯ The Salvation Army-Empire State Division: Basic Needs Assistance for ALICE Population in the Adirondack Region

¯ Ticonderoga Central School District: Providing Nutritious Food to Children Who Might Otherwise Go Hungry

¯ Town of Indian Lake: “Generating” Sustainability for Indian Lake Community Organizations

¯ Tupper Lake Community Food Pantry: Generator for Tupper Lake Food Pantry

¯ Village of Tupper Lake: Celebration of Youth: Tupper Lake Police Department Bike Rodeo

¯ WAIT House: Adirondack Families Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Rehousing

Economic Vitality ($176,700)

¯ Accessible Adirondack Tourism, Inc.: ADA Compliant Location Assessment for People with Disabilities

¯ Adirondack Explorer: Jobs 2.0: The Future of Employment for the Adirondacks

¯ Adirondack Housing Development Corporation: Project Manager for Affordable Housing Development

¯ Adirondack Land Trust: Bringing 19th-Century Adirondack Land Justice Records to Digital Life

¯ Adirondack North Country Association: Creating Inclusivity for North Country Sustainability – 2024 Symposium

¯ Adirondack Rail Trail Association: Using the Adirondacks’ New Rail-Trail to Unite our Communities

¯ Adirondack Roots: Increase Capacity for Adirondack Community Housing Trust

¯ AdkAction.org: Long Term Rental Catalyst Pilot Program

¯ AuSable River Valley Business Association: Strategic Plan to Guide Future Growth

¯ Chazy Youth Hockey Inc.: Scotts’ Memorial Rink Updates and Renovation

¯ Friends of the Tuscarora/Gingell: How to Move a Giant Historic Steamboat into the 21st Century

¯ Indian Lake Theater, Inc.: Summer Performances & Programming

¯ Inlet Public Library: Tools to Promote Community Events, Programs, and Services

¯ Keeseville Free Library: The Keeseville Tool Library and Makerspace

¯ LOOK Media Resource Inc.: Challenges Facing Youth Series

¯ Northern Forest Center, Inc: Attracting New Residents in Focal Communities

¯ Owls Head Mountain View Community Connection: Growing our Coummunity Center – The Heart of the Community

¯ Pride of Ticonderoga, Inc.: Building Bridges: Essex County’s Missing Middle Scattered Site Affordable Housing Initiative

¯ Saranac Lake Civic Center Inc.: Annually Recurring Summer Event Series in Franklin County

¯ Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce/Schroon Lake Arts Council: Creating a First-Class Visitor Experience

¯ The Lake George Arts Project: Jazz at the Lake – 40 Years

¯ Ticonderoga Montcalm Street Partnership/Ti Area Chamber of Commerce: Small Towns Big Opportunities: Employment Opportunities Programs and Services

Educational Pathways ($230,850)

¯ Adirondack Center for Writing: Next Generation Newsroom

¯ Adirondack Folk School: Attracting the Next Generation Audience

¯ Adirondack Research Consortium: Adirondacks Climate Change Conference & Workshop

¯ AuSable Forks Free Library: Community Creativity and Education

¯ AuSable Valley Central School District: Literacy Intervention and Resources

¯ Champlain Children’s Learning Center Inc.: Preschool Learning Centers

¯ Chateaugay Central School District: Chateaugay Bulldogs Summer Camp

¯ Franklin County: Future Prosecutors

¯ Franklin-Essex-Hamilton BOCES: JET: Job Employment Training

¯ Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, Inc.: Access to Outdoor Education

¯ Kinderwood LTD: Early Education and Development

¯ Lake Placid Center for the Arts: Providing School Time Arts Education Activities for Lake Placid Head

Start

¯ Literacy Volunteers of Clinton, Essex and Franklin Counties: Advancement of Adult Literacy and

Career Pathways

¯ Little Peaks Inc.: A Sustainable Oasis: Investing in Little Peaks as Integral to Remedying the ADK Childcare Desert

¯ Long Lake Central School: After School Program for Students

¯ North Country Community College Foundation, Inc.: Funding for Non-credit Career Pathways

¯ North Country Workforce Partnership, Inc: Adirondack Career Connect Support 2024

¯ North Country Workforce Partnership, Inc: Empowering Future Innovators: Mentorship Support for

Authentic STEM

¯ Northern Lights School: Essential Heating System Replacement for Early Education Center

¯ Old Forge Library Association: Youth Educational Programming

¯ Paul Smith’s College: Summer Internship Opportunity for Akwesasne Student

¯ Pendragon Theatre: Supporting and Growing Camp Pendragon’s BIPOC Leadership

¯ Plattsburgh College Foundation: Shine On 2.0 Expansion: Digital Literacy Workshops for Children

¯ Plattsburgh YMCA: Fun in the Sun for Babies and Ones!

¯ Reach Out and Read: Adirondack Literacy Regionalization Initiative

¯ Saranac Lake Central School District: Making Connections: Shared Experiences and Access

¯ Schroon Lake Central School District: Career Pathways

¯ Silver Bay YMCA: Ticonderoga Teen Center Program Enhancement

¯ St. Agnes School: Therapeutic Intervention for Atypical Learners

¯ Tendercare Tot Daycare Center: Wild Woodland Outdoor Exploration Station Classroom

¯ Trudeau Institute: Experiential Learning Activities to Inspire STEM Careers in Middle and High School Students

¯ Tupper Lake Central School District: Coffee Cart For The Neurodivergent Population

¯ Tupper Lake Central School District: Tools to Support ALL Students with an Educational Pathway

¯ We Are Instrumental Inc.: The Long Note: Maintaining Our Instruments through Sustainable Training

¯ Willsboro Central School District: Pathways to Expanded Learning and Career Readiness Preparation for students