Dear Friends,
Over Thanksgiving I did something that I should do more often – I made a mental list of what I am thankful for. The list was long! Included on the list was our community. I am truly grateful to live and work in northern Chautauqua County.
I hope that you enjoy this month’s newsletter.
Gratefully,
Diane
In this season of gratitude, the board and staff at NCCF are thankful for your friendship and support.
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Charitable Holiday Gift Giving
Although you may have already started your holiday gift list, there may be an option that you haven’t considered.
More and more, people are reconsidering their gift giving traditions. As they follow the news and look around their communities, they realize that their blessings far exceed those of others. People are replacing gifts of jewelry, clothing, and electronics with donations to youth programs and food pantries and visits to those who are lonely during the holidays.
NCCF is your local source for charitable gift giving this holiday season. When you choose to give through the NCCF, 100 percent of your charitable dollars will stay right here in northern Chautauqua County. You can be assured that your contribution will be appreciated by the recipient and used for the good of the community for years to come.
Your can direct holiday gifts to the causes important to those on the receiving end of your generosity, such as the general charitable needs of the community, the arts, health care, scholarship, senior services, youth development and many other areas. Festive holiday cards announcing your gifts can be sent to you or directly to those on the receiving end of your thoughtful gifts.
To learn more:
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$30 for a Better Community!
Thanks to 30 community members, 19 funds at the NCCF received gifts through the Celebrate 30 Years and Counting event on October 6. Upon arrival, each guest received a special $30 bill to spend on a gift to the community. They were asked to select one of the NCCF funds to donate $30 in their name. Some donors made a personal contribution above the $30 - thank you!
The community will benefit from the $1,680 raised at this event. Listed below are the funds our generous donors selected (several funds received more than one contribution).
1891 Fredonia Opera House Fund
Boys & Girls Club of NCC Endowment Fund
Horatio & Julia G. Brooks Trust to Benefit Brooks Memorial Hospital
Camp Gross - Mr. & Mrs. Richard F. Anson Fund
Fredonia High School Class of '79 Fund
Fredonia Rotary Club Scholarship Fund
James S. and Rose M. Tampio Meals on Wheels Fund
Lakeshore Humane Society - Verona Barker Memorial Fund
Literacy Volunteers of Chautauqua County Endowment Fund
Ann J. Manly Fund to Benefit Rural Ministry
The Mintun Family Fund
NCCF Unrestricted Fund for Grantmaking
Northern Chautauqua Environmental Fund
Northern Chautauqua Local Economic Development Fund
Olivia's 5K Wish Run Fund
Revitalize Dunkirk Fund
St. Columbans on the Lake Retirement Home Fund
Arthur H. Woelfle Scholarship Fund
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Community Foundation Week
NCCF Celebrates with Open House and Grants Reception
During the week of November 12-18, 2016, We celebrated Community Foundation Week along with over 780 community foundations in the United States.
Over 40 friends joined NCCF on November 18 to celebrate Community Foundation Week at the annual Open House held at the Fredonia Technology Incubator in Dunkirk. This event wraps up our 30th Anniversary Celebration! We LOVE our community!
 
During the event, Grants Committee members presented checks to those who received a grant from the fall round of our Community Grants Program (read the October newsletter for a list of grantees).
 
We also wrapped up NCCF's 30th Anniversary Library Adventure to a Better Community. The Be a Philanthropist winners from local libraries were invited to the event for the presentation of the $100 grant checks (see list of winners below).
Guests were treated to lunch catered by Aloe Vera Eatery.
Thank you to all who attended and those who continually support the mission of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation!
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To recognize their sacrifice, NCCF once again partnered with local organizations to say Thank You and to provide Veterans Day cards to veteran's in our community. Over 100 veteran's received hand written and personally crafted cards from children at the following organizations:
- Campus & Community Children's Center
- Fredonia Elementary School, Mrs. Well's 3rd Grade Class
- Northern Chautauqua Catholic School, After School Program
- Fredonia's Cub Scout Pack 267, Bear Den
Many veterans have never been thanked for their service to our country. We are privileged to have the opportunity to thank our local heroes.
Thank you to the organizations and to all the student's who participated in this year's Veterans Day program.
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Advice from author James Kelly on inmilitary.com. When meeting a veteran, don't just say "thank you for your service." Ask them what they did. What was their job in the military? Take a deeper interest in their sacrifices. If you run into a vet that doesn’t want to talk about it, ask what he or she is doing now. Help destroy the anonymity that many vets feel.
When veterans were asked how civilians should thank them for their service, one answer proved to be the most common: Vote! Volunteer in your community, try and make a difference, and vote for what you believe is right. Honor the actions of veterans by ensuring that your voice is heard at the ballot box. Educate yourself on veterans’ issues. There are a number of fantastic organizations that help veterans with real issues. (Click here for the full article.)
inmilitary.com 2016 Veteran's Day Video
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The NCCF Neighborhood Pride Challenge Grant is available to all northern Chautauqua County neighborhoods.
Applications are due by 4 p.m. on
February 17, 2017
Your questions are welcome and assistance is available if needed.
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In November winners were chosen for the NCCF Library Adventure to a Better Community contests. Each library collected entries for the three different contests - "Inspire Us” coloring contest for children, the "Philanthropy" essay contest for adults, and the “Be a Philanthropist” $100 grant drawing. The Be a Philanthropist grants were awarded at the NCCF Community Foundation Week Celebration on Friday, November 18.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the NCCF Library Adventure at the nine participating libraries. The story hours and the time we spent at the local libraries were great fun, and we were thrilled to have an opportunity to talk to the community about the power of philanthropy.
Inspire Us Children's Coloring Contest Winners
Children received a Literacy Volunteer's 21 East Bookstore coupon for two free books and a piggy bank. The winners below each received a Barnes & Nobles $25 gift card.
Dunkirk Public Library - David
Ahira Memorial Library - Kaleigh Fitch
Cassadaga Branch Library/Mary E. Seymour Library - Dakota
Ripley Free Library - Allison Close
Anderson-Lee Library - Isaac Hillman
Patterson Library - Evangelia Afionis
The "Philanthropy" Essay Contest for Adults
First Prize Winner - Kasey Way, Cassadaga branch library
Prize- Ad free Kindle Paperwhite E-reader
Second Prize Winner - Kaleb Nixon, Ahira Hall Library
Prize- $50 Barnes & Noble gift card
Third Prize Winner - Rebecca Woelfle, Dunkirk Public Library
Prize- $25 Barnes & Noble gift card
Library Adventure Be a Philanthropist Contest Winners
Winners selected a nonprofit to receive their $100 grant check.
Dunkirk Public Library - Carl Sobilo for Dunkirk Public Library
Ahira Memorial Library - Jay D. Hardenburg for Ahira Memorial Library
Cassadaga Branch Library/Mary E. Seymour Library - Stephanie Banaszak for Mary E. Seymour Memorial Library
Darwin R. Barker Library - Ben Gonzalez for Darwin R. Barker Library
Ripley Free Library - Nancy McIntosh for Ripley Free Library
Patterson Library - Jessica Hasig for Northern Chautauqua Canine Rescue
Sinclairville Free Library - Marilyn Zlotchew for Sinclairville Free Library
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Kasey Way was thrilled that her essay was chosen in the "Philanthropy" adult essay contest! "Thank you so much for awarding me with the Kindle Paperwhite. I appreciate all that the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation does for our county."
Kasey sent us this picture of herself with her four-year-old son, Gibson. Gibson is modeling the NCCF hat that was included with her Kindle.
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