M&T Bank Fund Awards More than $237,000 to Community Organizations

M&T Bank continues to invest locally through the M&T Bank/Partners Trust Charitable Fund (MTPT), a donor-advised fund of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties.

The MTPT fund celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2017 and since its inception, has awarded more than 155 grants, totaling more than $2 million to support a variety of programs and organizations throughout Herkimer and Oneida counties.

The fund’s third quarter 2018 grants, which totaled more than $237,000, include the following recipients:

Catholic Charities of Herkimer County
Catholic Charities of Herkimer County received $22,900 in funding to hire one full-time community education and outreach coordinator. The addition of this new position will help Catholic Charities to educate youth on the topic of domestic violence prevention, reducing overall violence in the community.

Center for Family Life and Recovery
A $10,000 grant has been awarded to the Center for Family Life and Recovery to support the “One Decision Project” which will identify 10 at-risk youth and their families/caregivers in the Oneida County Family Court System to take part in a year-long pilot program. This program will encourage healthy, constructive decisions that will build positive outcomes, promote development and strengthen the family dynamic.

Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
A $23,700 grant has been awarded to the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired to purchase two computer systems to be used in its Assistive Technology Center. This center is the only of its kind in the region and this purchase will allow the organization to double the number of individuals that can train with assistive technology.

Herkimer County College Foundation
Herkimer County College Foundation received a $96,000 grant to support the purchase of technology equipment for a new smart grid training facility, home to its electrical engineering technology degree program. Properly equipping such a facility will better prepare students by providing them access to the most current trends in the electrical industry.

Insight House
A $10,000 grant was awarded to Insight House to hire an on-site yoga instructor. Insight House is introducing yoga classes to its current exercise regimen for clients to encourage healthier lifestyles and overall cardiovascular fitness.

Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation
Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation was awarded $10,000 in funding for the Math Corps program’s science and technology cohort, enabling 30 middle and high school youth to attend the Future Engineers program. The program promotes learning and practicing key science and technology concepts through projects where participants design, develop and test technologies including unmanned aerial systems.

Parkway Center
The Parkway Center received a $10,000 grant to support staffing and program materials for the 2018-2019 Aging Mastery Program. The program empowers older adults to make and maintain small, but impactful changes in their behaviors through evidence-informed materials, expert speakers, group discussions, peer support and small rewards that give participants the skills and tools they need to achieve measurable improvements in health and wellness.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute Foundation
SUNY Polytechnic Institute Foundation received a $19,700 grant to expand its current teaching lab by purchasing a SynDaver, a realistic and sophisticated synthetic cadaver complete with functional muscular, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, gastrointestinal and endocrine systems. This investment will allow students to become familiar with the look and feel of a human body without requiring specialized facilities or risking exposure to biohazards.

The House of the Good Shepherd
The House of the Good Shepherd was awarded a $35,000 grant for improvements to living areas, bathrooms and bedrooms, as well as safety upgrades to a building currently serving adolescent boys, ages 12-18 years old. The improvements will prepare the building for services for younger children in the future.

The MTPT Fund was created in 2007 with the mission to provide continued support for the Mohawk Valley community.

“The MTPT Fund is committed to supporting nonprofit organizations and programs that work to enhance our communities’ local strengths,” said David Manzelmann, M&T Bank Utica market president. “It is through these organizations that we can invest in the education of our children and improve the quality of life for families. We share a passion to achieve these goals and look forward to developing new partnerships that create significant and lasting change in our community.”

Potential grant opportunities are reviewed by an advisory committee, led by Manzelmann. The group of local advisors meets quarterly, awarding strategic support to programs in education and other civic causes in Herkimer and Oneida counties.