The Allegany County Area Foundation (ACAF) awarded over $11,700 in grants to several local organizations working to make a meaningful difference across Allegany County.
Allegany County Agricultural Society: Awarded $1,900 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
Every year, the Allegany County Fair is organized by the Allegany County Agricultural Society (ACAS). To further improve visitor safety and strengthen emergency response efforts, this grant will support two signage projects. The first project will introduce new parking lot and bleacher signage at the fairgrounds. Additionally, this grant will fund fire number signage on all buildings in the fairgrounds to improve coordination with local dispatch services during emergency situations.
“By improving signage across the grounds, we can create a safer, more organized environment and provide the best possible experience for the thousands of patrons who attend the fair each year,” ACAS Board Member Michelle Linza said.
Bolivar-Richburg Parent-Teacher Association (PTA): Awarded $2,000 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
The newly chartered Bolivar-Richburg PTA will host a Back-to-School Community Kickoff Event prior to the upcoming school year. This grant will provide essential school supplies prioritized for high-need students at the event. The grant will also provide funds for light snacks and beverages, as well as family activities, games, and signage.
“As the first PTA in the area, this event represents a new approach to supporting students and families through coordinated, community-wide engagement,” PTA Treasurer Jonah Crump said.
David A. Howe Public Library: Awarded $2,000 from the Charles and Lorraine Joyce Family Fund
The David A. Howe Public Library will be hosting Shake on the Lake in Wellsville for the fifth summer. Shake on the Lake is a non-profit, professional theatre company known for their outdoor productions of William Shakespeare’s classics. This grant supports the return of Shake on the Lake to the Wellsville area. The David A. Howe Public Library will host this summer’s production of “The Comedy of Errors” on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the library.
“One of the goals of the David A. Howe Public Library is to provide quality arts and cultural programming in our rural community so that residents of the area can access these enriching activities without traveling great distances,” Assistant Library Director Kate Elliot said. “All events sponsored by the library are free and open to the public, which makes the principal benefit of this program for our community access to high-quality live theatre.”
Cuba-Rushford Community Fútbol Club: Awarded $1,823 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
The Cuba-Rushford Community Fútbol Club (CRCFC) is a newly rebranded and reorganized community-based youth soccer program serving Cuba, Rushford, and surrounding communities. This grant will provide funds for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Due to safety requirements, an AED must be readily available at all practices, games, and club-sponsored events.
“An AED is a critical, life-saving resource that allows the program to operate safely regardless of venue,” CRCFC Vice President Molly Vaughan said. “Ownership of an AED provides long-term stability for the organization and ensures participant safety remains a priority.”
Fillmore Powerhouse Youth Center: Awarded $1,500 from the Allegany Fund
This grant provides support for Fillmore Powerhouse’s Summer Recreation and Free Lunch Program, which primarily serves youth in the greater Fillmore area. Students are provided with fresh, nutritious meals utilizing the Powerhouse’s children/youth garden.
“During our Free Lunch Program, our Lunch Coordinator prepares and serves fresh meals [with] nutritious foods,” Program Director Matthew Brooks said. “We teach the kids about sustainability. Throughout the year, kids have an opportunity to plan, plant, maintain, and harvest [organic produce from] our gardens.”
Scio Memorial Library: Awarded $1,000 from the Allegany Fund
The Scio Memorial Library is a registered cooling site for community members. This grant award will provide funds for the purchase and installation of new ceiling fans in the Scio Library. This update will replace the existing 17-year-old ceiling fans that stopped working over the past winter.
“This grant will help create a more sensory friendly atmosphere for patrons,” Scio Library Director Raeanne Smith said. “Our older fans were very loud and disruptive to concentration.”
Southern Tier Traveling Teachers: Awarded $1,500 from the Carter-Windus Family Fund
The mission of the Southern Tier Traveling Teachers (STTT) is to assist county residents with improving their reading and math skills to eventually earn a New York State High School Equivalency Diploma. This grant will fund the purchase of GED Ready Exams, which provide students with online access to take practice GED Exams and review customized study guides prior to taking the official GED Exam.
The grant will also be used to purchase new preparation workbooks for the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) Test. A new version of the TABE Test was released last year, so the updated workbooks will help students prepare for the exam.
Non-profit organizations serving Allegany County are encouraged to apply for grant funding opportunities. The next Grant Application Deadline is Friday, August 21.
To learn more about how you can support local non-profits through ACAF, visit alleganycountyareafoundation.org or contact Executive Director Bruce Campbell at 585-296-5616 or [email protected].
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.
