Glens Falls, New York: 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, 2022, for consideration at the spring meeting of Trustees or by September 1, 2022, for consideration at the fall meeting.
Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded nearly $9.0 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.
The following grants to area non-profit organizations totaling over $1.8 million were awarded in 2021:
- $200,000 to Hudson Headwaters Health Foundation Inc. for the Mobile Health Program
- $175,000 to CVPH Foundation Inc. for Breast Health in the North Country Program
- $125,000 to Double H – Hole in The Woods Ranch Inc. for Camp-Wide Covid Modifications Project
- $150,000 to Dollywood Foundation for the Imagination Library Program in Essex, Clinton, Franklin and Hamilton counties
- $100,000 to The Hyde Collection Trust for REIMAGINE: The Visitor Experience and Accessibility Project, as well as various pieces of art from the collection of Charles R. Wood
- $75,000 to Adirondack Historical Association for Adirondack Experience – Artists & Inspiration in the Wild
- $75,000 to Northeast Health Foundation Inc. for the Campaign for Memory Care at the Glen at Hiland Meadows
- $55,000 to Comfort Food of Washington County for relocation and expansion of current food hub operations into the new Farm and Food Hub
- $50,000 to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center Inc. for re-opening the Lewis A. Swyer School of the Arts under SPAC
- $50,000 to St. John’s Episcopal Church (Johnstown) for Building Renovations
- $37,500 to Albany Medical Center for 3D Tomography Imaging Equipment for the Breast Center at Glens Falls Hospital
- $34,000 to Adirondack Medical Center for Adirondack Health: Portable Ultrasound Unit
- $26,925 to Ticonderoga Emergency Squad Inc. for the purchase of a PowerLoad unit
- $25,000 to Franklin Community Center Inc. in Saratoga Springs for the Expansion Campaign $25,000 to The Family Counseling Center of Fulton County Inc. for Mobile Crisis Unit Expansion
- $20,000 to Center For Disability Services Inc. for Accessible Playground for Children with Disabilities
- $20,000 to Hudson River Music Hall Productions for Strand Theatre Facade Restoration
- $19,910 to North Country Life Flight Inc. for Ventilator Equipment Upgrade
- $17,500 to American Cancer Society for Hope Lodge Burlington Reopening
- $16,800 to Sunnyview Hospital and Rehabilitation Center Foundation I for Screening for Success project Upgrade Hearing Equipment to Improve Outcomes for Children
- $16,250 to Granville Rescue Squad Inc. for a Mechanical CPR Device
- $16,000 to The Depot Theatre Inc. for Historic Property Exterior Painting Project
- $15,000 to Rebuilding Together-Saratoga County for Repairs for Low-Income Families with Children in Warren County
- $15,000 to Ticonderoga Central School District for Ticonderoga Area Backpack Program
- $15,000 to VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region Inc. for the Respite Fund
- $15,000 to Warrensburg Student Enrichment Fund Inc. for Expansion of Enrichment Programs for “In the Zone”
- $12,800 to Research Foundation for the State University of New York for Internships in Aging Project in the North Country
- $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks Inc. for program staff and reduction of their waitlist
- $10,000 to North Country Cultural Center for the Arts for Live-Stream Technology & Digital Platform for Virtual Arts Classroom and Performances
- $10,000 to North Country Home Services for Home Care Aide Training
- $10,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region Inc. for Family Retreat at Krantz Cottage in Lake George
- $10,000 to Safe Inc. of Schenectady for Infrastructure Investment for Safe House (Shelter for Homeless Youth)
- $10,000 to Special Olympics New York Inc. for Capital District Region Young Athletes Expansion
- $10,000 to United Way of the Adirondack Region Inc. for Plattsburgh YMCA
- $9,000 to NYSARC Inc. – Saratoga County Chapter for Washington Street and Ruggles Road Full Electric Beds, Mattresses and Bed Rails
- $7,200 to AIM Services Inc. for Enhanced Respite Program for School Aged Youth with Disabilities
- $7,000 to Au Sable Forks Free Library for Commercial grade ADA Stairlift
- $6,200 to Vanderheyden Hall Inc. for School Cafeteria Freezer Roof
- $6,160 to Tannery Pond Center for Arts Education & Community Gatherings for 2021 Concert Series & Children’s Art Enrichment
- $6,000 to LOOK Media Resource Inc. for Prevention & Social Change: “Think About It in a New Way” video
- $5,000 to Burlington Amateur Hockey Association Inc. for Green Mountain Mobile Therapy Inc.
- $5,000 to Champlain Childrens Learning Center Inc. for Technology Upgrades
- $5,000 to East Branch Friends of the Arts for Microphone Repository and Sound System
- $5,000 to Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association Inc. for Return to Full Lunch, Learn & Play Programming for Grades Entering K – 9
- $5,000 to Mercy Care for the Adirondacks Inc. for Age-friendly Communities Initiative
- $5,000 to Plattsburgh College Foundation Inc. for Look to the Stars: #CharacterCountdown
- $5,000 to Saratoga Center for the Family to provide Mental Health Therapy Wellness Support for Children & their Families
- $5,000 to Shire Kids Corp. for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Bennington County and Danby, VT
- $5,000 to Tri-County United Way Inc. for Packs for Kids Program
In addition, $111,215 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, an amount higher than ever before, 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 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.