Charles R. Wood Foundation Announces 2023 Grant Application Deadlines
From a press release: The Charles R. Wood Foundation is 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 are invited to visit www.charlesrwoodfoundation.com to submit online applications by April 1, 2023, for consideration at the spring meeting of Trustees or by Sept. 1, 2023, for consideration at the fall meeting.
Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded nearly $9.7 million dollars to charitable organizations in the Capital Region, North Country, and western Vermont. “We are so pleased to be able to invest in so many 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,” states Charlene Wood, Chair and Trustee. The foundation’s Special Healthcare initiative aims to improve the overall health of the population in the region and will continue to accept collaborative applications from organizations serving Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Warren, and Washington counties.
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. Mr. Wood, founder of Storytown, USA, the present-day Great Escape Theme Park, and co-founder with the actor Paul Newman of the Double H Hole in the Woods Camp for critically ill children, along with numerous other endeavors and businesses in the area, died in September of 2004 and left the majority of his estate to the Charles R. Wood Foundation.
Foundation grants totaled over $2.3 million in 2022.
Some of the grants awarded:
- $300,000 to Albany Medical Center for Glens Falls Hospital’s Crisis Stabilization Unit Relocation and Expansion
- $300,000 to the Double H - Hole In The Woods Ranch, Inc., for the 30th Anniversary Capital Campaign
- $175,000 to Dollywood Foundation for the Imagination Library Program in the New York counties of Essex, Clinton, Franklin and Hamilton
- $100,000 to Childrens Museum at Saratoga for the Theatre Exhibition
- $89,000 to the YMCA of Saratoga County for creating an Intergenerational Community Hub dedicated to health and wellness
- $20,000 to Center For Disability Services, Inc. for Prospect School Flooring Renovation
- $16,500 to Ticonderoga Central School District for Ticonderoga Area Backpack Program
- $15,000 to North Country Childrens Museum for Kids Stage Theater
- $13,000 to Adirondack Theatre Festival, Inc. for ATF Capital Improvements - 50 Elm St. Office Building, Glens Falls
- $13,000 to Moreau Emergency Squad, Inc. for AED Field Deployment
- $5,000 to Camp Abilities Saratoga, Inc. for 2 local campers to attend Sports Camp
- $5,000 to Lake George Opera Festival Association, Inc. for Opera Saratoga Summer Festival
- $5,000 to Adirondack Folk School, Inc. for Blacksmith shop expansion and winterization
In addition, $69,130 was granted in smaller denominations to benefit various other regional not-for-profit organizations.
The Charles R. Wood Foundation also recognizes the increased challenges of food insecurity resulting from the pandemic, especially in the North Country. Funding of nearly $200,000 was provided to pantries and school backpack programs in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Fulton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties of New York and Bennington, Rutland and Windsor counties of Vermont.
Information about the online grant application process can be obtained online at www.charlesrwoodfoundation.com.
Grishkot Memorial Scholarships for college students
From a press release: The Grishkot Foundation announces the launching of a new Joan Grishkot Memorial Scholarship program for college students studying for careers in nursing and related fields.
The foundation also announced continuation of The Walter Grishkot Memorial Scholarship for college students studying for careers in aviation, aerospace and related fields, and a new partnership with the Glens Falls Kiwanis Club to administer both scholarship programs.
The application period for both scholarship programs is now open. March 3 is the deadline to apply for scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. Information and scholarship applications can be found at grishkotfoundation.org.
The Joan Grishkot Memorial Scholarship and Walter Grishkot Memorial Scholarship programs are open to college students who live in Warren, Washington or Saratoga counties.
Each scholarship will be at least $2,500 per year for up to four years, depending on the number of qualified applicants in any year.
Joan Grishkot, who died July 8, 2021, was Warren County Director of Public Health for 31 years. As a volunteer, Joan served on the boards of 28 regional health care organizations and charitable groups. She nurtured friends and neighbors, many of whom thought of her as a mother figure.
Joan was co-founder in 2009 of The Grishkot Foundation, originally known as The Adirondack Balloon Festival Foundation. She was instrumental in raising funds and administering annual scholarship in memory of her husband, Walter Grishkot.
“I used to say that I was the president, but Joan was the prime minister,” said foundation President Maury Thompson. “Joan’s interest in scholarship recipients didn’t stop with awarding the scholarships. She stayed in touch with scholars or their families, and delighted to share their academic progress with others.”
Walter Grishkot, who died May 11, 2011 at age 85, was a photographer, publicist, event organizer and aviation enthusiast who was known for his sense of humor.
He once said, “A smile is worth a million dollars.”
Walter was best known locally as co-founder and long-time organizer of The Adirondack Balloon Festival.
The Grishkot Foundation, based in Glens Falls, is funded from a bequest by the late Joan Grishkot, and from private donations. A volunteer board manages the foundation’s investments and operates scholarship programs in collaboration with the Glens Falls Kiwanis Club Foundation.