The Charles R. Wood Foundation is currently accepting grant applications from IRS approved 501(c)3 organizations whose projects or programs assist children, healthcare or the arts in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas.
Eligible applicants can visit the website www.charlesrwoodfoundation.com to submit an online application by April 1 for consideration at the spring meeting of the board of trustees. The next subsequent deadline will be Sept. 1 for consideration at the fall meeting.
Over the past five years, the foundation has awarded nearly $7.7 million dollars.
“We are so pleased to be able to invest in such worthwhile projects. From the smallest soup kitchens to the larger capital projects, we are committed to investing in children, healthcare and the arts in our geographical focus area,” said Charlene Wood, chairperson and trustee.
Charles R. Wood established the Foundation that bears his name in 1978 to provide assistance in areas of special need in the Lake George Region and surrounding areas. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations with an emphasis on programs for children, healthcare and the arts.
Wood, founder of Storytown USA, the present-day Great Escape Theme Park, the Double H Hole in the Woods Camp for critically ill children and numerous other endeavors and businesses in the area, died in September of 2004 leaving the majority of his estate to the Charles R. Wood Foundation.
The following grants were awarded in 2016 to area nonprofit organizations:
$250,000 to the Adirondack Historical Association for the Adirondack Experience exhibit; $175,000 to Double H – Hole in the Woods Ranch, Inc. for various capital improvement projects; $125,000 to the Elizabethtown Community Hospital as a challenge grant for the Investment in Healthcare Excellence Campaign;
$125,000 to Glens Falls Hospital as a challenge grant for The Cancer Center Pharmacy Relocation and Upgrade project; $100,000 to the Hyde Collection Trust for the Transformation: The Feibes & Schmitt Project; $100,000 to Glens Falls Hospital for The Snuggery renovation; $100,000 to the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center for the SPAC Youth Arts Education Program;
$48,974 to the Center for Disability Services toward Dixon Road Residence Needs; $44,000 to the CVPH Foundation, Inc. for the renovation of a procedure room in the Family Medicine Center; $25,000 to X-Quest Inc. for building repairs; $25,000 to Oak Hill School for expansion;
$25,000 to the Village of Lake George for the Shepard Park Amphitheater Improvement project; $25,000 to the Wildwood Foundation for Camp Wildwood renovations; $25,000 to Luzerne Music Center for the campus electrical system repair and rebuild; $25,000 to Adirondack Community College Foundation, Inc. for Reach New Heights: The Campaign for SUNY Adirondack;
$20,000 to The Conkling Center, Inc. for the On The Go Transportation project; $12,500 to Adirondack Theatre Festival, Inc. for ATF Artist Housing; $12,000 to The Mentor Connector for Foster Care Mentoring; $11,000 to the Adirondack Tri-County Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. for capital improvements toward LED lighting; $11,000 to the Depot Theatre, Inc. for Phase 2 of Stage Technology Improvements;
$10,000 to the Ballston Area Community Center, Inc. for the Gym Campaign; $10,000 to the Saratoga Springs Universal Preservation Hall for stage lights and blackout curtains; $10,000 to Springfield Medical Care Systems, Inc. for the Springfield Hospital Childbirth Center Renovations; $10,000 to Adirondack Community Action Programs, Inc. for the purchase of Wee Care Center equipment;
$10,000 to the Parson’s Child and Family Center for the Camp to Belong program; $7,500 to North Country Life Flight, Inc. for the Multi-Channel Intravenous Pump Replacement; $6,700 to the Fort Edward Historical Association for Art Center Repairs; $6,000 to Families First in Essex County, Inc. for the 2016 Summer Camp at Southwoods; $6,000 to the Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country for Parents Anonymous of the North Country;
$5,800 to the Joint Council for Economic Opportunity of Clinton & Franklin for the Community Action Angels’ BackPack program; $5,000 to First Night Saranac Lake, Inc. for the 2016 First Night event; $5,000 to the Caldwell Lake George Library for Circulation Area Renovation; $5,000 to the Family Service Association of Glens Falls for the First Feet program; $5,000 for the Adirondack Shakespeare Company LTD for the Co-Curricular Education Tour: Academic Year 2016-2017;
$5,000 to Tannery Pond Center for Arts Education & Community Gatherings for youth programs; $5,000 to Everybody Wins Vermont, Inc. for the Addison County Everybody Wins! Literacy Mentoring Project; $5,000 to the Franklin Community Center, Inc. for Project Lift; $4,320 to Caritas, Inc. for Volunteer Recruitment and Training/Public Awareness; $4,000 to the Southern Adirondack Child Care Network, Inc. for STEM learning in Early Childhood Development Programs;
$3,900 to Lake George Post No. 374 American Legion Emergency Squad, Inc. for the purchase of two Broselow Pediatric Resuscitation Systems; $3,100 to Lake George Region Women for Win, Inc. for Care Kits for Kids; $3,000 to AIM Services, Inc. for the Enhanced Respite program; $3,000 to Adirondack Mountain Club, Inc. for the Three Seasons of Heart Lake School Outreach; $2,500 to the Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum for the Handicap/Family Bathroom Facility; $2,500 to the Appleby Foundation, Inc. for insulation of the Tawahus Center attic; $2,500 to the Schenectady Museum Association for Star Lab Outreach;
$2,500 to Foxcraft Farm Harvest Program, Inc. for the Summer Harvest Youth program; $2,500 to the Upper Jay Art Center for the installation of a safety railing; $2,500 to the Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association, Inc. for the Lunch, Learn & Play Program; $2,000 to Castleton Community Seniors, Inc. for the Scamp Summer Camp for Children; and $1,700 to the Agricultural Stewardship Association for the LED lighting upgrades for the Landscapes for Landsake Art Sale & Exhibition.
In addition, $7,920 was granted in smaller denominations to benefit various other not-for-profit organizations.
The Charles R. Wood Foundation also recognizes the increased need for food supplies in the area’s food pantries. Grants amounting to $150,000 were given for the summer and holiday seasons of 2016 to pantries in the Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Fulton, Saratoga, Warren, Washington counties of New York and Bennington, Rutland and Windsor counties of Vermont.
Information about grant applications can be obtained online at www.charlesrwoodfoundation.com, by calling 800.839.1821, or by writing to: Charles R. Wood Foundation, c/o Foundation Source, 55 Walls Drive, Suite 302, Fairfield, CT 06824.