M&T/Partners Trust Fund Awards $765,000+ to Community Organizations

M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund (MTPT) awarded more than $765,000 in grants to 35 local nonprofits in 2019. As one of the most active funds of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, MTPT has granted more than $3.2 million dollars to organizations in the two counties since the fund was established in 2007, as part of its commitment to address a wide range of community needs.M&T Bank/Partners Trust Bank Charitable Fund (MTPT) awarded more than $765,000 in grants to 35 local nonprofits in 2019. As one of the most active funds of The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, MTPT has granted more than $3.2 million dollars to organizations in the two counties since the fund was established in 2007, as part of its commitment to address a wide range of community needs.

“M&T Bank is dedicated to helping local nonprofits, each of which serves an important need in our communities, from education to making necessities more attainable, and we are driven to aid our neighbors and support nonprofits in achieving their goals,” said David Manzelmann, M&T Bank Utica market president. “We are pleased to be able to help make a positive impact in our area.”

Potential grant opportunities are reviewed and approved by a local advisory committee, which meets regularly to review applications from nonprofit organizations. Grants awarded in 2019 included:

• $10,000 to the Center for Leadership Excellence to cover the costs of course facilitation, supplies, and assessment for its Board Leadership Program, helping board members understand the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of board service
• $21,050 to the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) to purchase state-of-the-art vision screening and therapy equipment for its new vision therapy program serving children and adults in eight counties
• $19,600 to Frankfort Free Library to complete the renovation of its multipurpose community room
• $10,000 to Friends of Historic Herkimer County to fund its Historic Herkimer Jail Preservation & Tourism Project, helping to repair, restore, and preserve the physical structure of the 1834 jail
• $10,000 to HomeOwnershipCenter to continue offering comprehensive financial literacy education and coaching services to assist individuals with home purchases and overall financial health
• $25,000 matching grant to Hope House in support of its 2020 construction project
• $50,000 to ICAN to support the Museum Without Walls, an interactive and educational mobile children’s museum● $20,000 to Johnson Park Center for its Head, Hand, and Heart Program, helping to promote literacy, learning, and school success for children ages 3-5
• $50,000 to Mid-York Library System to support the multiphase renovation of the Frank J. Basloe Library, improving the services the library can offer to its patrons
• $20,000 to Mohawk Valley Jr. Frontiers to provide 20 supplemental scholarships for disadvantaged youth to successfully obtain a college degree, as well as $10,000 via the Community Choice Awards
• $60,000 to Mohawk Valley Community College Foundation to support its New Career Scholarships Program for part-time adult students, and $22,800 for its Young Entrepreneurs’ Academy, training and inspiring youth to launch their own businesses
• $30,000 to Notre Dame Schools to provide student scholarships for at least 20 current and incoming students for the next three academic years
• $29,250 to Oneida County Youth Bureau to fund a program for 200 disadvantaged children to tour the Cooperstown’s Glimmerglass venue and have one-on-one conversations with professional performers, musicians, directors and staff
• $20,000 to Rescue Mission of Utica to provide equipment and resources for its Skills for Success Program and Small Houses Project, which provide on-the-job and classroom construction training for at-risk individuals
• $25,000 to Resource Center for Independent Living to assist with renovations to the facility’s new location on Genesee Street
• $5,000 to St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church to provide year-end support for Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen● $20,000 to Stevens-Swan Humane Society to support renovations to the medical suite and isolation and intake areas, improving the quality of care for shelter pets
• $30,000 to The House of the Good Shepherd to make improvements to its intensive treatment center cottages, providing children with a safe, comfortable environment
• $5,000 to The KEYS Program to purchase instruments and equipment to provide music therapy to individuals with cancer, autism, and disabilities
• $3,300 to United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area to support the work of volunteers who responded to the October 31, 2019, flooding in Herkimer and Oneida counties
• $13,500 to the Utica Public Library to help fund supplies, guest fees, and prizes for its Summer Reading Program and Fandemicon events that provide free entertainment and education opportunities for the community
• $14,000 to View Center for Arts and Culture to support expenses associated with its summer internship program where college students can gain valuable fine arts experience
• $33,695 to Young Scholars Liberty Partnership Program at Utica College to help fund its Summer STEAM Scholars Program, a learning experience providing Utica City School District high school and middle school students opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics careers