People Helping People

Year after year, it becomes more and more evident that a key aspect of the Chautauqua Region is the people. The charitable actions of those people have shown special traits in ways that cannot be fully conveyed in this short article.

Over our history, there have been a significant number of people that understood the importance of community. Through their vision and generosity, it has led to the establishment of 12 charitable foundations in the Chautauqua Region. This is an asset that areas of our size can only dream of. Once again, this is an indication of the type of people that live here. Its value is priceless when people are eager to help people.

In conjunction with the asset of the people that have generously given, we have the thousands of people that have received support from the Community Foundation and the other area foundations. In the past year, the Community Foundation has made over 400 grants to Arts and Culture organizations, such as the Arts Council for Chautauqua County, Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet and Youth Symphony, the Drama Enrichment Program, and Jamestown Concert Association. In addition, financial assistance has been provided to several area libraries, Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, Lucille Ball Little Theatre, and Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation to name just a few. A review of the CRCF funding for education would indicate support to Chautauqua Striders, Fenton History Center, Lucile M. Wright Air Museum, and Robert H. Jackson Center. Further support was provided to American Red Cross, Joint Neighborhood Project, The Resource Center, and St. Susan Center. Last but not least, local organizations such as the YMCA, YWCA, Salvation Army, and Chautauqua Adult Day Care which assist families and children were helped with various programming needs.

These organizations, along with many others, are providing valuable services to the people in our community. The people here have needs and the Community Foundation is committed to lending a helping hand to our non-profit organizations as they look to enrich the quality of life for everyone.

Also, people have established scholarship funds to help our area students achieve their education goals. In 2006, the Foundation was able to over 800 scholarships totaling over $688,000.00. Another example of people helping our young people.

The mission of Chautauqua Region Community Foundation is to enrich the quality of life in the Chautauqua Region. As the Board of Directors, volunteers, and staff focus on this mission, it is the people that will make it happen and the people that will be enriched, as the result of this giving spirit.

If you would like to be part of this group of people that want to make this a better place by helping people, a gift can be made to an existing fund at the Community Foundation or you can establish a new fund for a charitable purpose that is important to you. In either case, the staff at the Community Foundation office is available to assist you, if needed.

For your convenience, a gift can now be made online through the Community Foundation website at www.crcfonline.org.

As you are considering your year-end charitable gift, the Community Foundation encourages you to join those people that are reaching out to help people in a variety of ways.

On behalf of the family at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, we extend to each of you a warm note of thanks for your support in 2006 and best wishes in the New Year.