M&T Bank Fund Awards Nearly $300,000 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 and Oneida Counties.

The MTPT Fund recently awarded a $100,000 grant to Hope House in support of its new building project. This investment in the fund’s largest grant to date, demonstrating their commitment to helping individuals in need.

Hope House offers multiple services, including hot meals, daytime opportunity for shelter and service referrals. Three meals are provided each day with more than 90,000 meals served annually. To better meet the needs of those they serve, Hope House has purchased and is renovating the former Laborers International Union building at 112 South Street, Utica. The $1.2 million project includes an expansion that will house a larger kitchen, improved access to the facility and storage space that will increase the organization’s current capacity by 25 percent.

“M&T Bank, through the MTPT Fund, is proud to partner with Hope House on this project. The services Hope House provides make a tremendous impact in our community, helping to combat hunger and improve health. We look forward to building on this new partnership to strengthen this mission,” said David Manzelmann, M&T Bank Utica market president.

Additional 2017 community grants include the following recipients:

Rochester Community Inclusive Rowing
A $10,000 grant to bring a program to the Mohawk Valley that affords individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in rowing through the use of adaptive equipment.

On Point for College
A $10,000 grant to support On Point for College’s efforts of providing inner-city youth with the tools needed to apply for college. Since its inception, the program has informed nearly 250 youth that college is possible, enrolling nearly 100 youth in college programs with approximately a 70 percent retention rate for students participating in the program.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute Foundation
A $5,000 grant in support of SUNY Polytechnic’s STEM program which engages youth who are interested in robotics and computer programming and allows kids to experiment in math, science, engineering and technology in a fun and creative way that can inspire interest in these fields.

Young Scholars Liberty Partnership Program
A $30,780 grant to support Young Scholar’s summer STEAM program designed to motivate and cultivate students who are interested in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

Arc Herkimer
A $15,000 grant that aids in Arc Herkimer’s mission to empower and enrich the lives of those living with disabilities in the community. The funding will support a new software program that enhances the organization’s ability to manage staff, control costs and track billing to ensure quality service.

Samaritan Counseling Center of the Mohawk Valley, Inc.
A $5,000 grant for an equine assisted psychotherapy program that helps those who struggle with PTSD, addictions, anxiety, depression and abuse.

Thea Bowman House
A $12,000 grant for the Reading Rockets Program where school-aged children’s literacy skills are improved and a love for reading is developed.

Utica Public Library
An $8,500 grant in support of the Utica Public Library’s 2017 summer reading program, “Build a Better World.” Funding will be used for program supplies and reading prizes.

Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation
An $80,000 grant for MVCC’s Math Corps, a program that promotes student success and community involvement by bringing quality academic interventions to the region’s lowest-income youth.

HomeOwnershipCenter
A $10,000 grant to aid in the revitalization and growth of local neighborhoods by empowering residents with programs and supportive services that are designed to improve their lives.

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

The MTPT Fund was created in 2007 with the mission to provide continued support for the Mohawk Valley community. The funds have been managed and distributed through The Community Foundation since 2008. The MTPT Funds has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants since inception.