Dear Friends,

Daily, we are intrigued by the diversity of donors who commit to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.  Each fund at the Foundation, like the individual who created it, has a personality of its own.  Matching each donor’s unique interests to that of a community need is our role, as administrators, to the over 500 charitable funds housed at the Foundation.Notes of appreciation received from our many beneficiaries testify to the broad support our funds offer:  

A message received from a teacher who requested shoes and socks for a student  whose needs had “fallen between the cracks”:  “I would like to thank you; in the  most sincere way and let you know that this grant has helped to change at least  one young man’s life for the better.”

 Or the thank-you note from Emilee Dixon, the recipient of the Rita A. Dunn &  Mollie Dunn McKee Scholarship Fund, “College is an exciting new time in my life,  but the expenses are stressful…!”

Rita A. Dunn, along with her attorney, established a scholarship endowment fund for college tuition assistance. Through this bequest, the income earned by this endowment fund has been matched to deserving students, like Emilee, for over 16 years.  What motivated Mrs. Dunn to put this fund in place is unknown to us – one can only surmise.

However, the motivation behind the unique interest of the Lucy M. Munson Assistance Fund is no mystery.  Mrs. Munson was diabetic. She watched her husband and two sisters suffer with cancer.  In preparing her will, consumed with the desire to help others, she arranged for the establishment of a special interest fund. This fund aids families who are dealing with the hardships of cancer or diabetes firsthand. 

Mrs. Munson, Mrs. Dunn and the donor who provided the funds to buy shoes and socks for a child in need understood their contribution to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation to be a commitment to the community that would forever support their unique interests.

During this time of year, we would remind you that your donation to the Foundation can be sympathetic to many interests.  We would ask that you consider the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation as part of your year-end gift giving.

For your convenience, the Foundation has set up a process for online giving. Go to the Foundation’s website at www.crcfonline.org.  Click on “Donate Now!” or “Be a Star!” located on our home page. This will take you directly to our list of funds.  Type a name, topic or organization which may be of interest to you.  Review the selection. Once a fund is chosen, follow the instructions to making an online donation.

If you do not feel comfortable making an online donation, you can select the fund(s) of your choice and mail a check, noting your fund selection.  On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff, we thank you for your continued support and we wish you a joyous holiday season!
          

Lyman A. Buck III                                                         Randall Sweeney
President, Board of Directors                                         Executive Director