Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation continues “growing good”
Recipients who received grants from the Mildred Milliman Fund helped honor Ms. Milliman’s legacy posthumously along with foundation scholarship awardees at the 2011 Friends of the Foundation Luncheon. Pictured from left: Ms. Milliman (in portrait); Carol Stitt, CRCF Board President; Karen Niemic Buchheit, CRCF Executive Director; Allex Granger, Pat McGee Nursing and John J. Murphy Family scholarships awardee; Wendy Brand, board member; Yogini Kothari, scholarship committee co-chair; Tony Evans, scholarship committee co-chair; Karen Fohl, board member and friend of Ms. Milliman; and Sue Kallenbach, friend of Ms. Milliman.
Helping to support the community’s local hospital, assuring that the arts thrive in the region and assisting young people with college tuition were just three key areas the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation impacted during 2011.
This past year the CRCF board of directors awarded 200 grants totaling more than $321,000.
Top grants included:
• $183,460 to the Olean General Hospital from the Mildred Milliman Fund to help fund the building of the new Outpatient Surgery Center.
• $22,000 to the Cattaraugus County Arts Council from the F. Donald Kenney Fund for the Southern Tier Biennial, which is also co-sponsored by the Olean Public Library and CRCF.
• $85,500 for scholarships from 12 different scholarship funds to help 23 local students pay for college.
With 2011’s grant total the Foundation now has awarded more than $3 million in grants to improve the lives and well-being of citizens in Cattaraugus County communities.
Established in 1995, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation continues “growing good” by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in our region. Each year grants from the foundation support many areas including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service and youth development.
Donors help many
Causes in 2011 that received support were wide-ranging and reflected the passion of donors who have funds at the Community Foundation. In addition to providing funds for health care, the arts, and scholarships, grants distributed from donor funds made a difference by:
• Helping the less fortunate enjoy the holidays through the Gift Tree program.
• Enhancing performing arts and vocal music programs.
• Helping our libraries maintain their services.
• Restocking food pantry shelves for the needy.
• Providing holiday meals for families in need.
• Enriching the lives of senior citizens.
• Providing services to the homeless, disabled and mentally ill.
• Assisting local families who have a loved one serving our country in the military.
• Supporting positive youth development through recreation, scouting and other programs.
• Taking care of our four-legged friends at the SPCA and other animal welfare agencies.
• Making our community shine through beautification projects.
How can you get involved in 2012?
When you think about your philanthropic and estate planning goals, consider giving through the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to your favorite charities. An endowed fund will provide support now and far into the future, carrying out your wishes in perpetuity.
Here are just five reasons you may want to consider giving through your Community Foundation:
1. A fund at the Community Foundation is easy and inexpensive to establish. The foundation takes care of the paperwork and accounting for you.
2. A gift of cash to a charitable fund at the foundation allows a deduction of up to 50% of a donor’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) whereas a gift of cash to a private foundation allows a donor to deduct up to 30% of AGI.
3. You can create an endowment fund to benefit the community forever and help create a personal legacy. You can do that through a named fund – in honor of a loved one or your family’s name – or you can establish your fund anonymously.
4. Your community foundation is a local organization with deep roots in the community through an active community-based board of directors who care about local issues.
5. Your community foundation offers personalized service individually tailored to meet your philanthropic goals and estate planning needs.
If you would like more information about establishing a fund, or how to give to an existing fund, visit www.cattfoundation.org or contact the foundation staff by email at foundation@cattfoundation.org or phone 716-372-4433. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cattfoundation.
