The following is a republished press release from a community organization or member and NOT written by the Ithaca Voice … to submit community announcements to The Voice, contact us at msmith@ithacavoice.com.

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Ithaca, NY – United Way of Tompkins County (UWTC) recently made community investments of $65,197. These grant funds will support agencies and programs that help people meet their immediate, basic needs while empowering lasting change by strengthening the three building blocks for a good life: education, income, and health.

The fall grant cycle included three grants that were open to all Tompkins County non-profits. Scott Keenan of Tompkins Trust Company, the UWTC Community Investment Committee Chair, presented funding recommendations to the Board of Directors for the 2015 Fall Hunger & Food Security Fund, totaling $38,422.00. Six of the sixteen members of the Youth and Philanthropy Council, Amy DeGaetano, Anna Danner, Emma Robison, Jamie Mullins, Merry Jones, Samson McKinley presented the $25,000 grant recommendations to the UWTC Board.

United Way of Tompkins County helps eliminate barriers and create paths to greater self sufficiency. The Hunger & Food Security grant targets alleviating hunger and the student led grants, Youth & Philanthropy and Ithaca College, address the various outcomes to target the multifaceted demands of our community.

United Way Donations

The fourteen local nonprofit organizations receiving a total of $38,422.00 from the Fall Hunger and Food Security Fund are:

Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes: $600.00
Nutritional Supplements for Low Income Individuals with Cancer

Catholic Charities of Tompkins Tioga: $1,000
Samaritan Center Personal Needs Products

Center for Transformative Action/Wood’s Earth: $7,000
Fresh Snack Program

Challenge Workforce Solutions: $5,000
Job Club

Child Development Council: $2,250
Family Services Program

Community Dinner at Dryden United Methodist Church: $700
Community Dinners

Cooperative Extension Association of Tompkins County: $6,000
Healthy Food For All

Dryden Community Council- $1,800

Dryden Kitchen Cupboard- $1,000

Weekend Backpack Program- $800

Food Bank of the Southern Tier: $5,000
Mobile Food Pantry

Freeville Community Council: $1,000
Freeville Food Pantry

Newfield Community Council: $1,000
Newfield Kitchen Cupboard

The Learning Web: $5,000
Youth Outreach Program

The Salvation Army: $2,072
Direct Assistance Program

Youth and Philanthropy Donations

Youth and Philanthropy (YAP) provides a formal, structured opportunity for young people to develop leadership skills, learn about their community and think about philanthropy as an important part of their lives. Students participate in team-building activities, learn about community needs and assets, explore leadership abilities, review grant applications, develop financial and program assessment skills, and invest $25,000 in programs that are making a difference in our community. YAP is made possible by the generous support of the Park Foundation. Cindy Noble, UWTC Youth and Philanthropy Chair, and Myriah Fitterer, Tompkins Trust Company, worked with 16 YAP Council Members this year.

At the December 10th YAP Grant Awards Ceremony held at TST-BOCES, the participants presented 11 grants totaling $25,000 to the following organizations:

Brooktondale Community Center: $1,000
Brooktondale Community Center Playground Renovation

Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga: $4,000
Transportation Assistance

Challenge Industries, Inc.: $2,030
Ability in Bloom

Family and Children’s Service of Ithaca: $3,000
Open Doors Program

Foodnet Meals on Wheels: $2,000
Blizzard Bags: Emergency Meal Program

GIAC/The Science and Mathematics Saturday Academy: $1,620
The Chrome ‘N Code Initiative

Ithaca City School District: $1,000
Golden Opportunity Program

Northeast Kids Count, Inc.: $2,900
Northeast Kids Count Scholarship Fund

Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services: $1,450
Shelter from the Storm: Promotion of SPCS Service to Youth

The Discovery Trail: $2,000
Kids Discover the Trail! 2015-16 Program Expansion

Women’s Opportunity Center of Tompkins County: $4,000
Scholarships to Remove Barriers to Employment

2015 Youth and Philanthropy Council Members:

Amy DeGaetano – Dryden High School

Andrew Stover – Ithaca High School

Anna Danner – Ithaca High School

Emma Robison – Groton HS

Guthrie Kuckes – Ithaca High School

Ian Cullings – LACS

Ixchel Lec-Cutter – LACS

Jamie Mullins – Dryden High School

Lara Patz – Ithaca High School

Lenny Wiesner – Ithaca High School

Marissa Cronk – Groton HS

Meredith Jones – Dryden High School

Nicholas Perkins – Trumansburg High School

Samson McKinley – Ithaca High School

Uma Mohanty – LACS

Ithaca College Student United Way Donations

The Ithaca College Student United Way (IC SUW) is a student-led initiative dedicated to community-wide charitable and volunteer efforts. IC SUW raises funds to award to local nonprofits through a competitive grant process. IC SUW provides students with experience in the nonprofit sector and grant writing, as well as opportunities to engage with the local community and encourage youth empowerment. This year, IC SUW leaders awarded $1,775 to two local agencies:

Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes: $1,200
Just a Little Breathing Space – Emergency Assistance for Cancer Patients

The History Center in Tompkins County: $575
Press Play: Equipment Needed to Capture Local Oral Histories

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