At the April Grants Committee and Board of Directors Meeting, the Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF) awarded grants to several local organizations working to make a meaningful difference across Allegany County. These grants, made possible through the generosity of our donors, support a wide range of initiatives.
Alfred Box of Books Library: Awarded $956 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
To engage young readers, this grant will support the Summer Reading Program at the Alfred Box of Books Library. Specifically, this grant will be used to fund three special library programs: a Dinosaur Adventure Show and fossil dig with paleontologists Mike and Roberta Straka, a Foam Party provided by Chris Johnson, and a Magic Show provided by George Sweatt of Fun that Pops.
“When children visit the library for a special program, this is an opportunity for staff members to engage with them, invite them to participate, and increase their curiosity about what is happening at the library,” Library Director Melanie Miller said. “Many children visit the library for the first time for a larger program but then become regular patrons because these programs build awareness.”
Alfred Twenty First Century Group: Awarded $2,500 from the Allegany Fund
This grant will support an outdoor mural on the North Main Street Uni-Mart in the heart of Alfred, NY. Designed in collaboration with local artists, residents, and students, this Alfred Twenty First Century Group Mural Project aims to transform public spaces into colorful landmarks.
This project will commission local artist and Alfred University MFA painting student Chloe Smith, whose work “combines strong technical skill with a vibrant, community-centered visual language. … Her artistic style — colorful, expressive, and grounded in storytelling — aligns with our goal of creating a welcoming landmark for Alfred,” Events Director Audrey Mattio Evans said.
Allegany County Department of Health: Awarded $700 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
To strengthen public health education, this grant will support the 4th Annual Lead (Pb) Smart Conference, hosted by Allegany County, Cattaraugus County, Chautauqua County, and the Seneca Nation every October. This grant award will be used to support the attendance of Allegany County personnel at this conference.
“Last year, 36 people from Allegany County agencies attended the conference,” Allegany County Deputy Public Health Director Jami D’Arcy said.
Bolivar Free Library: Awarded $1,000 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
Expanding access to interactive literacy tools, this grant will provide a new addition to the children’s book collection at the Bolivar Free Library by funding the purchase of several Wonderbooks.
“Wonderbooks are great audiobooks with additional family features to involve both children and the adults in their lives,” Bolivar Free Library Director Cathy Fuller said. “The books encourage our younger readers to listen, interact, and participate in conversations about the books. It is one of the most popular resources to encourage readers to become involved with literature.”
Fillmore Powerhouse Youth Center: Awarded $1,500 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
This grant supports the Summer Recreation and Free Lunch Program, which primarily serves youth in the greater Fillmore area. Students are provided with fresh, nutritious meals utilizing the local children/youth garden. This award will also support the Afterschool Tutoring and Recreation Program, where students receive healthy snacks, opportunities to participate in afterschool clubs, and tutoring from Houghton University students.
“Our program offers recreation opportunities, where children can be supervised in a safe environment,” Fillmore Powerhouse Executive Director Marcie Brooks said. “Our free lunch program provides meals to children during the summer, whose families often struggle without the help of free school lunches. [And] our [tutoring] program helps students succeed scholastically by offering free individual tutoring.”
Finger Lakes Trail Conference: Awarded $2,500 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
This grant will provide financial support to the Finger Lakes Trail Conference Allegany Hiking Challenge. This self-guided, education hiking challenge will encourage people to explore the 52 miles of the Finger Lakes Trail in Allegany County. Through this grant, ACAF will provide funds for updated educational materials, maps, and challenge prizes.
“The principal benefit of the [hiking] challenge is increased access to structured, safe, and meaningful outdoor recreation that supports physical health, mental well-being, and community connection in Allegany County,” Executive Director Nathan Hayes said. “This challenge program [structure] reduces costs and barriers to participation while still providing motivation, education, and a sense of accomplishment.
Genesee River Wilds: Awarded $1,000 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
Improving accessibility and awareness of local natural resources, this award will provide funding for river access signs on the Genesee River at the Caneadea site and the newly opened Houghton access site.
This grant award will also be used to fund drone footage of the Genesee River Wilds’ access sites to be published to their website. This footage will enhance accessibility and allow visitors to get an accurate view of various access point locations.
“One of our main missions is to improve [Genessee] River access, making access safe, easy to find, and informative,” Executive Director Rebecca Rowley said.
IMPACT – Friends Improving Allegany County Trails: Awarded $1,500 from the Kendall Environmental Fund
This grant provides funds for IMPACT’s Community Adirondack Shelter Project, which will result in a shelter and six benches on Trail Four of the West Almond Trail System.
“IMPACT is currently collaborating with the West Almond DEC Forestry Office, Andover Central School’s Technology and Environmental Studies class, and Eddy Lumber to build an Adirondack camping shelter and six Leopoid observation benches on Trail Four of the NYSDEC West Almond Trail System,” Board President Glenn Gebhard said. “This collaborative effort exemplifies how cooperative projects can enhance Allegany County in meaningful ways.”
Salvation Army Wellsville Corps: Awarded $2,500 from the Charles and Lorraine Joyce Family Fund
Responding to growing community needs, this grant award provides funding for food and hygiene products for the Salvation Army of Wellsville. The Salvation Army of Wellsville provides a wide range of services such as food and hygiene items, housing and rental assistance, medical transportation, and more.
Director of Corporate Engagement and Foundations Laura Crandall reported that community needs have increased significantly, and the Salvation Army has seen a rise in demand for their services, particularly for food and basic hygiene items.
Together for Youth: Awarded $1,500 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
This grant will support the Summer to Remember Program, which provides opportunities for underserved youth in Genesee Valley and Bolivar-Richburg areas to participate in various events and programming. This program provides students with community support and resources while school is out of session.
“For the youth we serve, summer outings through the Summer to Remember Program in Allegany County may be the only opportunity for them to see, visit, and participate in various enrichment activities,” Together for Youth Director of Development Eric Guzman said.
Last year, this summer program provided trips to Roseland Water Park, Hidden Valley Animal Adventure, and Letchworth State Park.
Wellsville Youth Cheer: Awarded $2,000 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
This grant will support the installation of a storage shed for the Wellsville Youth Cheerleading League. The shed will be used to securely store uniforms and equipment.
Wellsville VEX Robotics Team: Awarded $2,000 from the Charles and Lorraine Joyce Family Fund
Empowering the next generation of innovators, this helps local students on the Wellsville VEX Robotics Team (Emily Stuck, Tayler Palmatier, Lydia Brockway, and Raegan Vogel) to travel to compete in the Research Division of the 2026 VEX Robotics World Championship, held in St. Louis, Missouri this year.
This article is a community submission from Alyssa Bump, ACAF RCWJ Communications Fellow. The views expressed in this submission are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishing outlet.
