Central Current was among more than two dozen local nonprofits recently awarded $1 million in grants from the Central New York Community Foundation.
Other recipients include Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, The Reading League, Elmcrest Children’s Center and the Town of Eaton. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $150,000.
Central Current — a nonprofit, nonpartisan, independent news website –launched earlier this year with a staff of three, is actively hiring journalists to expand the reach and coverage of the organization.
The grant from the CNY Community Foundation, for $50,000, will support start-up costs for Central Current’s new digital newsroom, including hiring editorial and business staff.
The Central New York Community Foundation, a public charity established in 1927, is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of nearly $400 million. The Community Foundation has invested more than $250 million in community improvement projects since its inception.
The foundation recently distributed $1,131,877 in Community Grants and $45,000 in LeadSafeCNY grants to local nonprofits. Here’s the full list of recipients, in addition to Central Current:
A Tiny Home for Good- $25,000: Hire a Construction Manager to help build high quality homes more efficiently and increase its capacity for projects like simultaneous multi-house builds and renovations of run-down multi-family properties
Altamont Program- $35,500: Purchase new equipment and renovate a kitchen used for serving nutritious meals to Veterans on-site in East Syracuse
American Cancer Society/ Northeast Region- $30,000: Transport cancer patients to appointments around Onondaga and Madison counties
American Red Cross of Central New York- $40,000: Make technology upgrades in three training rooms to better accommodate both larger in-person and hybrid training sessions
Brady Faith Center- $50,000: Support the Hope, Health, and Healing Workforce Training Model at the Brady Market
BRiDGES/ Madison County Council on Alcoholism- $15,000: Purchase a new web-based Employer Resource Portal that will help expand its Employee Assistance Program
Elmcrest Children’s Center- $150,000: Build a 28-bedroom home for its mental health crisis respite program, which provides children with professional counseling, peer support, healthy meals and recreational opportunities
ESF College Foundation- $40,400: Assist landowners on Skaneateles Lake with land restoration to preserve water quality and increase the health of the ecosystem
Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways- $20,000: Launch Camp Beyond 10102, the first sleep away camp for LGBTQ+ children in New York State
Greater Syracuse Works (SHA) – $40,000: Hire a new coordinator and support a Director of Strategic Initiatives position
Hospice Foundation of CNY & of the Finger Lakes- $27,578: Upgrade data back-up capacity and server space
Joseph’s House for Women- $25,000: Make fire and safety renovations to its new building that houses pregnant and parenting women and their children
Manlius Senior Centre- $35,000: Renovate its activity center to create a comfortable gathering room for seniors
National Audubon Society- $13,000: Host its Youth Leadership Program, which teaches students about how to preserve Central New York’s declining bird species
National Black Leadership Commission on Health- $50,000: Hire two LCSW Mental Health Providers and a Program Manager to help implement a program that increases access to mental health services for Black residents of Syracuse
Natural Heritage Trust/Albany Office- $50,000: Support its Central NY Ladders to the Outdoors Program to allow for year-round outdoor programming for youth
Onondaga Community College Foundation- $40,000: Provide financial awards to students who participate in its OCC Advantage Program, which provides support for students who face a lack of home resources
Partners in Learning- $10,000: Expand its Diversity in Early Education and Care project aimed at increasing the supply of skilled, bilingual early education and care professionals
Syracuse University/ Advancement & External Affairs- $18,425: Host a strategic planning retreat and train staff of the North Side Learning Center and SU’s Engaged Humanities Network
The Reading League- $50,000: Hire a Director of Community Education and Engagement to help expand its reach to Black, Indigenous and people of color
The Research Foundation for SUNY- $27,474: Launch its Video Production and Visual Storytelling Summer Camp for Syracuse City School District students to learn about film and storytelling
Town of Eaton- $120,000: Construct a public park with an amphitheater, restrooms, spray fountain, picnic tables and trees to address the lack of parks and recreational facilities in the town
Vera House- $50,000: Conduct and launch a rebranding campaign to be inclusive of all genders
WCNY Public Broadcasting Council of CNY- $65,000: Purchase and replace broadcast equipment to continue broadcasting educational programs and local government proceedings
YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley – Oneida- $22,500: Purchase new fitness equipment for its Cardiovascular Rehab and Cancer Survivorship programs
YWCA of Syracuse & Onondaga County- $32,000: Expand its Girls Inc. program that helps develop girls’ potential and talents by focusing on financial literacy, college and career prep, STEM and ELA
Children’s Defense Fund – New York: $25,000 (LeadSafeCNY Grant): Advocate for New York State funding and policy change toward primary and secondary interventions that address childhood lead poisoning
Home HeadQuarters: $20,000 (LeadSafeCNY Grant): Offer EPA-certified workforce lead removal training to landlords and contractors
