Media Release
For Immediate Release
2 March 2021
Contact:
Kerri Green
(607) 334-1404
kgreen@chenangony.org
Commerce
Chenango Ends 2020 with Overwhelming Support
for the Chenango Foundation Initiatives
Commerce
Chenango would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who so
graciously donated funding during the COVID pandemic in 2020 in support of the many
initiatives that were important to the greater good of Chenango County. One
hundred percent of the donations received from March to December through the
Chenango Foundation went directly to the projects that it served.
Fueling
the Frontlines was a program that provided 1,056 meals to frontline workers using 26 restaurants throughout
the county. Although, we were prepared to pay for the food that was delivered
to the employees tagged for this initiative, many of the restaurants donated
their fare. Deliveries went to UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital and their
satellite offices, Chenango County Public Health, Achieve, the Chenango County
911 Call Center, and local pharmacies.
In
thanks to an anonymous donor the Chenango Foundation was able to support six other
projects that enabled us to provide much needed services to other community
organizations within Chenango County.
In early 2020, the
Village of Bainbridge was seeking donations for what would become the new Bainbridge Community Center. Built in the 1930s as a chicken coop, the Scout House served as the de facto community center for several decades, hosting regular meetings of local 4-H groups, Bainbridge’s Girl Scout troop, Cub Scout pack and two troops under Scouts BSA. The new 3,200-square-foot building will enable local youth sports teams to hold practices and events. It will also include a recreation area with ceilings high enough to host league volleyball games, according to project coordinator and chamber board member Matthew Germond. The new center will also feature kitchen space and a meeting area, which will be available for use by local residents for a small fee, Germond said.
In
March 2020, the Chenango United Way
COVID Relief Fund was initiated to provide direct assistance to families facing immediate basic needs, such as low-income working families with children and the elderly. As of July 7, 2020, the CUW had raised $85,651 for Chenango County COVID-19 relief towards the program and had allocated $71,590 of those funds to local needs directly related to the pandemic.
The
Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) created the Norwich Downtown Relief Fund in April 2020 to provide assistance to local businesses and organizations falling within the boundaries of the BID district that were most affected by disruptions resulting from COVID-19. Citing impending closures, the Norwich Business Improvement District matched any funds donated up to $15,000. There were zero administration fees, and all donations went directly to the businesses/organizations. The money raised assisted 15 businesses and organizations within the BID and were able to distribute over $42,000 to the applicants that had applied.
In
June 2020, Commerce Chenango was contacted by the National Warplane Museum announcing plans for a Southern Tier flyover. The flyover honored first responders,
medical personnel and essential workers all across the Southern Tier of New
York. In our area, the flyover will specifically include UHS Chenango
Memorial Hospital and the New York State Veteran's Home,
Oxford. The mission took place on Saturday, June 6th with the NWM’s very own Douglas C-47, affectionately named “Whiskey 7, accompanied by one other aircraft, a P-51 Mustang named "Mad Max.”
In
December 2020, Commerce Chenango collaborated with SUNY Morrisville-Norwich
Campus and NBT Bank to distribute 400 meals in both Norwich and Bainbridge for
the Holiday Food Drive.
Keeping in mind all the proper safety and public health hygiene protocols, this
was a very successful drive-thru event. Several local organizations provided
funding, including the Chenango Foundation, in an effort to bring some relief
to struggling families to put a holiday meal on the table. Thank you to all the
volunteers that helped with the food distribution on a cold, but sunny, day.
One of the longest lasting Chenango Foundation programs, Leadership Chenango, graduated 19 new leaders on October 8, 2020, despite the pandemic. Although, the program was paused during COVID, the class was able to finish their lessons and hold their graduation virtually. Plans are underway to take on a new ‘class’, and while the program will likely undergo some changes in the future, the core of leadership development and encouraging our next generation of leaders will remain. We hope to share more information about this program later on this spring.
“The Chenango Foundation was honored to have the ability to help so many this past year and to be the recipient of donations that enabled us to help so many throughout Chenango County” noted Commerce Chenango President & CEO, Kerri Green. “While we wished we could do more, the Chenango Foundation Board of Directors is inspired to do find ways to do more positive programming and make meaningful donations that will make a difference throughout the communities in Chenango County. We truly appreciate the philanthropy that has been shown from the businesses and citizens, and we look forward to continuing to keep our mission vibrant and strong.”
The
Chenango Foundation is committed to the belief that leadership is the single most important ingredient needed to build a thriving and successful community. Although this years’ program looked a bit different, in keeping with its longstanding model for success, Leadership Chenango once again ushered in a new wave of leaders. Each graduate bringing with them new insights and fresh ideas to keep Chenango County moving forward.
The Chenango Foundation is responsible for aiding research
and development contributing to the community development of the Chenango
County area. For more information on Commerce Chenango programs and services
and the Chenango Foundation initiatives visit https://commercechenango.com/chenango-foundation/.
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