The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation is honored to announce the creation of The Resource Center Dr. John Vona "Smile" Fund, an agency endowment fund, established in loving memory of Dr. John Vona by his children Linda Hart, Dr. David Vona, Sandy Stewart, and Daniel Vona.

Keeping up with an ever-evolving landscape of tax legislation can be a full-time job! Many attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors regularly ask the community foundation to provide a refresher course on the potential tax changes on the horizonin 2025, especially those that might impact charitable planning techniques. 

Chances are, you’ve already begun to notice that a major transfer of wealth is happening as your Baby Boomer clients establish financial and estate plans to pass their wealth to their Gen X and Millennial children.

Did you know that the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation has administered a Charitable Gift Annuity program since 2006? With advisors fielding more questions about charitable gift annuities (CGAs), we thought this was an opportunity to share some updates: 

The Women's Giving Circle of Chautauqua County (WGC), a collective of women dedicated to positively impacting the lives of women and children through pooled resources and collaborative grantmaking, is excited to announce its first-ever grant opportunity.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation is thrilled to announce "Radio Remembrances," a special program featuring Dennis Webster, Terry Frank, and Mike Goldman.

Tom and Bev Lingenfelter had a love of learning, a tremendously strong work ethic, and an ability to find joy in life's simple moments. These were all lessons their adult children sought to perpetuate through the Tom and Bev Lingenfelter Scholarship Fund. 

Never is grantmaking more local than through the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation’s geographic Field of Interest Funds. These funds provide consistent, annual support to address critical community needs, at the direction of residents and community leaders.

For more than a decade, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Chautauqua County 4-H Endowment Fund has stood as a testament to the power of endowment.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) is proud to announce the establishment of the Chautauqua Area Scholarship Program Fund.

The Rosemary "Rosie" Billquist Memorial Fund is a Donor-Designated Endowment Fund that continues to bring comfort, care, and hope–just as Rosie did.

The Randy Ridgeway Foundation Fund has been established at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF) to honor the memory of Randy Ridgeway, a man known for his generosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion for helping others.

A new year is in full swing, but you’ve still got plenty of time to consider your charitable impact and how you’d like to make a difference in 2025. A great way to do that is to reflect on the difference you’ve already made through the years.

Since its launch in June of 2024, the Women’s Giving Circle of Chautauqua County has achieved remarkable success, bringing together almost 100 passionate women to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.

At the end of March 2025, we will say farewell to Lisa Lynde as she retires after more than twenty years of dedicated service to the community. The Foundation also welcomed two new team members: Tina Downey as Development Officer and Lindsey Goold as Donor Services Officer.

There’s no doubt that Anthony Senske touched the lives of everyone he encountered during his nineteen years. From his friendships with students and staff at Jamestown Public Schools to the football players from the Northside Warriors, his legacy is one of joy and strength.

The family and friends of Rich Telford recently established the Undersheriff Richard D. Telford Memorial Award Fund in memory of the Undersheriff who passed away in September.

The James Baker Memorial Scholarship Fund was established recently by Jessup Baker, the President of Jamestown Plastics and the third generation Baker at the helm of the 66 year-old family business.

The Whiffy Fund provides access to baseball games by offsetting the cost of tickets. It’s a partnership between the Tarp Skunks, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, and the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame.

The Jeep Jam Fund was created in 2023, and has already made its first award providing financial support to the Lakewood Fire Department and the Lakewood Canine unit.