Community Foundation turns 25

Creating funds for grants, scholarships

By Amy Hines | Manor Ink Mentor

Sullivan County, NY – It’s been giving away money for 25 years to strengthen Orange and Sullivan counties. Its plans aim to grow its reach and impact for the next 25 years as well.

To celebrate, the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan brought together its founders, current trustees, staff and the people who contributed many of the 400 funds that have made possible over $35 million in grants and scholarships distributed. More than 100 people gathered at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello on Feb. 13, for an awards ceremony to honor volunteers and donors who are the lifeblood of the Foundation.

The Foundation’s Executive Director Elizabeth Rowley recognized the evening’s honorees Ron and Anita Feller of Orange County, and Judy Siegel of Sullivan County. Sullivan County corporate leader Resorts World Catskills hosted the event and the Jeff Bank was a key sponsor. The Fellers established one of the very first funds with the Foundation 25 years ago in memory of their daughter. They have organized a girls basketball tournament to replenish the funds every year.

Community foundations make it possible for individuals to set up philanthropic funds of even small amounts without the administrative challenge and expense of establishing a family foundation. The funds are pooled and invested with professional management, typically to provide funds in perpetuity to benefit nonprofit organizations in a community or region. The Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan also allows for nonprofits to establish specific organizational funds.

Longtime Hudson Valley attorney Gerald Jacobowitz played an instrumental role in establishing the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan in 2000, and he attended the event along with founding CEO and President Anne Palmer.

“Twenty-five years ago, Palmer came to R.J. Smith, Ken Abt and me to describe how community foundations were in formation across the country,” Jacobowitz recounted. “She asked if we would be interested in getting involved in something like that here. Our answer was yes, we would. That was the genesis.” Jacobowitz also added that the other person who believed in the organization was Alan Gerry.

Sullivan County billionaire businessman and philanthropist Gerry was honored along with his wife Sandra Gerry at the Foundation’s 10th anniversary celebration. Gerry used some of his wealth to build Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which is now a nonprofit organization. His wife was a founder of Sullivan Renaissance.

The June issue of Manor Ink will have an additional story on the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, and ways to support many local nonprofit organizations through the Foundation generally as well as its designated funds. To learn more about the Foundation, visit cfosny.org.