Granville Community Foundation Fund

GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED — november 1, 2024

The Granville Community Foundation (GCF) is pleased to announce that its latest recommendation to award $42,975 of grants for the second half of 2024 has been approved by the Glens Falls Foundation.

“We received grant proposals for $87,395 worth of projects with specific funding requests of $67,975 from the GCF. We’re able to support $42,975 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made in previous years, we have now made a total of 22 grants totaling $241,119 since starting in 2022”, said Michael Freed, Chair of the GCF Advisory Board. Freed went on to say “These three latest grants are consistent with our goals of funding projects that address community development, education, art & culture, environment, and health and social needs of the greater Granville community. We continue to be inspired by the passion of these nonprofit organizations to help the Granville community and we’re honored to try and assist however we can.”

“The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received, reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community”, said Laura Vamvalis, Business Administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation.

The grants awarded are as follows:

1.)  Granville Engine and Hose Co. $25,000 to support their purchase of a special washer and dryer for personal protective equipment (PPE). Firefighters are exposed to numerous cancer-causing contaminants from fires, hazmat situations and other chemicals. Greater awareness of the long-term hazards, including cancer, of wearing dirty and contaminated PPE has created greater urgency for regular cleaning of PPE gear.

2.)  North Granville Hose Co. Inc. $10,000 to purchase a new hydraulic RAM add-on for their Jaws of Life. The RAM tool is designed to create additional space where push points are more distant, such as with heavy machinery, buses and large SUVs. The new RAM also offers the ability to push bigger holes from further away, enabling volunteers to work quickly in even the trickiest extrications.

3.) Haynes House of Hope $7,975 to provide a safe ramp for handicap accessibility for residents and visitors to come and go safely, as well as funds to remove and replace the front entrance stairs.

GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED — OCTOBER 30, 2023

The Granville Community Foundation (GCF) is pleased to announce that its latest recommendation to award $41,500 of grants for the second half of 2023 has been approved by the Glens Falls Foundation.      

“We received grant proposals for $92,090 worth of projects with specific funding requests of $56,500 from the GCF. We’re able to support all $41,500 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made last year for $84,660 and our April, 2023 grants of 47,109, we have now made a total of 16 grants totaling $173,269 since starting in 2022”, said Michael Freed, Chair of the GCF Advisory Board.  Freed went on to say “These four latest grants are consistent with four of the five goals of the GCF in that they address community development, art & culture, health and social needs of the greater community. We continue to be inspired by these nonprofit organizations and the many volunteers who work so hard on their behalf and we’re honored to try and assist however we can.” 

“The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received, reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community”, said Laura Vamvalis, Business Administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation.

The grants awarded are as follows:

1. The Granville Area Food Pantry & Community Service, Inc. $3,000 to upgrade the Food Pantry building’s electric service.  The building is in relatively good condition; however, it’s an older building with upkeep needs, both minor and major.  The electrical service was recently evaluated by a local electrician and he recommended making these upgrades. 

2. The Village of Granville, NY $22,500 to help fund the placement of two pickleball courts in Mettowee Park, located on Church Street.  The Village recently completed a master plan, through a Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) grant, which quantified five specific initiatives for developing recreational opportunities.  One of those five initiatives is to expand access and use of the Mettowee River, which passes through Mettowee Park.  The park has considerable land for a dog park, a community garden, a picnic area, fishing and swimming access as well as parking.  In addition, the Village would like to construct two pickleball courts there as this was an item that was most requested through public input into the master plan.  The total project cost is expected to be $62,456 with funding coming from a variety of sources, $22,500 of which will be provided by the GCF.  

3. Granville Lions Club Foundation, Inc. $8,500 to help fund the restoration of a building mural painted on their warehouse wall facing Main Street, just off Lions Lane, which is expected to cost $12,840.  The mural was painted by local artists in the summer of 1996, depicting life and the contributions of the working class to foster an American identity.  The mural is the kind of art that urban designers refer to as “community fingerprints” in that it makes people feel represented and gives them a sense of ownership in their community.  One of the other five initiatives identified in the RERC-funded master plan mentioned above was “Cultural and Historical Identity and Branding”.  This restoration project is considered to be very consistent with this initiative in that it is a representation of Granville’s unique history, art and cultural traditions and is part of a promotional strategy for both internal and external audiences.  It is very visible from both the Rail Trail and Main Street.  

4. Granville Youth Football $7,500 to purchase helmets and pads.  The Granville Youth Football program has approximately 200 kids and focuses on teaching kids the fundamentals of the game as well as sportsmanship, teamwork, respect and work ethic.  Children who sign up to play only need to provide cleats and socks as the GYF provides all the protective gear they need.  Some of the current gear is reaching the end of its useful life and this grant will help begin to replenish this gear.  

GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED — MAY 2, 2023

The Granville Community Foundation (GCF) is pleased to announce that its latest recommendation to award $47,109 of grants for the first half of 2023 has been approved by the Glens Falls Foundation.      

“We received grant proposals for $110,000 worth of projects with specific funding requests of $47,109 from the GCF. We’re able to support all $47,109 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made last year for $84,660, we have now made a total of 12 grants totaling $131,769 since starting in 2022”, said Michael Freed, Chair of the GCF Advisory Board.  Freed went on to say “Both of these latest grants are examples of the collaboration that is a hallmark of Granville and other small communities across our country.  We’re honored to participate with the Village of Granville, the Town of Granville and the many volunteers who will make these projects a reality.” 

“The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received, reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community”, said Kelly Rose Bolton, former Business Administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation.

The grants awarded are as follows:

1. The Granville Little League (GLL) - $32,109 to fund a portion of a new concession stand that is expected to cost $80,000.  In recent years, due to growth, expansion and the addition of lighting, the use of the facility has increased significantly. The building that is now used as a concession stand was never intended to be a concession area. The new concession building will be centrally located in the middle of the four main fields.  This will keep all the support staff for the games centrally located as well.  The GLL feeds over 500 people on the days and nights that they are hosting multiple games and they are able to do so at a very reasonable cost.  The organization’s proposed small building in the middle of the four main fields is expected to be built primarily with volunteer hours.

2. The Town of Granville, NY and the Village of Granville - $15,000 to fund a portion of a new $30,000 Senior Shuttle in the Town of Granville.  The program has existed for over 20 years and began with a New York State Grant from Sen.  Betty Little.  The grant enabled the two municipalities to purchase a minivan and hire a driver to get the program started. The operation of the program is funded primarily by the Village and Town through budget appropriations.  The balance is funded by private donations and fuel donations by the patrons of the service. The Senior Shuttle operates three days a week, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, year round from approximately 9am to 1 pm, and is available to any senior citizen in the Granville area.   The program is overseen by the Village and Town of Granville and is administered by the Village.

GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED — November 7, 2022

The Granville Community Foundation (GCF) is pleased to announce that its latest recommendation to award $35,486 of grants for the second half of 2022 has been approved by the Glens Falls Foundation.      

 “We received grant proposals for $48,266 worth of projects with specific requests of $35,486 from the GCF. We’re able to support all $35,486 of these requests and, coupled with our grants made earlier this year for $49,174, we have made $84,660 of grants for 2022”, said Michael Freed, Chair of the GCF Advisory Board.  Freed went on to say “Once again, the quality of all these grant requests was outstanding, a testament to the volunteer spirit that exists in Granville and a huge motivator to those of us who are trying to raise $5 million by the end of the decade to support this spirit.”   

“The Distribution Committee of the Glens Falls Foundation has received, reviewed and fully supports the recommendation of the GCF Advisory Board to approve these grants and we look forward to the positive impact these, and future grants, will have on the Granville community”, said Kelly Rose Bolton, former Business Administrator of the Glens Falls Foundation.

The grants awarded are as follows:

1. Slate Valley Museum Foundation - $5,430 to fund a portion of their $18,030 collections management and access project, a project aimed at completing a full inventory and assessment of the Slate Valley Museum collection, improving the spaces where it is stored or displayed, and enhancing the digital tools they use to share it broadly with the local Granville community and the world. 

2. South Granville Congregational Church - $1,250 to fund the purchase of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).  The unit would be mounted in an area of easy access both for people in the sanctuary and for the people in the community room in the basement and is critical given the use of the church by community groups and the fact that cell phone coverage in the area is lacking.

3. Granville Area Food Pantry & Community Service- $5,521 for the purchase of a commercial grade refrigerator and freezer to replace aging units.  The GAFP has seen an increase of 18% in the number of persons served in the past year. 

The remaining recommendation is made with the condition that 501c3 status must be secured, and evidence of such provided, before any funds will be disbursed: 

1. North Granville Hose Co. Inc. - $23,285 to purchase a new extraction apparatus (JAWS).  The current extraction equipment is 27 years old and, with the stronger, lighter steel used in cars today, requires more time to cut than current extraction equipment and is less mobile given that it is tethered by hydraulic hoses.  In these emergency situations, time is of the essence.  The latest generation of extraction tools operates with more speed, power and mobility (given its battery operation).

The GCF is a donor-advised sub-fund of the Glens Falls Foundation with a seven-member Advisory Board.  The goal of the GCF is to evaluate local needs and opportunities and to fund projects, managed by nonprofits, which address broad areas of community development, education, art & culture, environment, health or social needs. 

Supporting the community of granville

The Granville Community Foundation Fund, a regional affiliate of the Glens Falls Foundation, evaluates local needs and opportunities and looks to fund projects that address the areas of community development, education, art & culture, environment, health, or social needs and that:

• represent an innovative, start-up effort or are capital in nature (e.g., construction, renovation, equipment)

• promote cooperation among agencies without duplicating services

• obtain the necessary additional funding to implement and maintain the project

• are for the benefit of citizens residing in the communities that comprise the Town of Granville, Washington County, New York

• strengthen or improve agency self-sufficiency or efficiency

• yield substantial community benefits for the resources invested

• serve a broad segment of the community

• encourage additional and permanent funding or matching gifts from other donors

• are managed by nonprofits

To pay by check

Please make your check out to the Granville Community Foundation Fund, and mail to:
Glens Falls Foundation
c/o Laura Vamvalis, Foundation Business Administrator
P.O. Box 4560
Queensbury, NY 12804

Giving Online is Easy!

All gifts to the Granville Community Foundation Fund are tax deductible and for the benefit of citizens residing in the communities that comprise the Town of Granville.

CONTACT US

granvillefoundation@glensfallsfoundation.org

Please note that we are an affiliate of the Glens Falls Foundation. You will see “Glens Falls Foundation” at the top of the next page, but once you enter your email address, you’ll see that your donation will be earmarked for the Granville Community Foundation Fund. Your receipt will come from the Glens Falls Foundation, with a line that specifies that this donation has been made to the Granville Community Foundation Fund.

FUND ADVISORY BOARD

Community Leaders who Serve the Granville Community Foundation

Michael Freed, Chair
Denise Davies
Kathy Juckett
Jenine Macura
Rick Roberts