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 submit online applications by March 1, 2024, for consideration at the spring meeting of Trustees or by September 1, 2024, for consideration at the fall meeting.
Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded nearly $10.2 million dollars to charitable organizations in the Capital Region, North Country, and western Vermont. “We are so pleased to be able to support so many worthwhile projects. From small community 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, 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.
Recognizing the increased challenges of food insecurity, especially in the North Country. the Foundation provided funding of nearly $200,000 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.
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 $2.0 million were awarded in 2023:
- $250,000 to Double H – Hole In The Woods Ranch Inc for Adaptive Playground Capital Campaign;
- $211,000 to the YMCA of Saratoga County for Capital Project: Creating an Intergenerational Community Hub dedicated to health and wellness;
- $111,625 to Hudson Headwaters Health Network for an Urgent Care location;
- $110,000 to the Essex Food Hub Inc for Food Hub Facilities Purchase;
- $100,000 to The Hyde Collection Trust for “Songs of the Horizon: David Smith, Song, and Dance;”
- $100,000 to the United Way of the Adirondack Region Inc for YMCA of Plattsburgh, Inc.;
- $100,000 to Pride of Ticonderoga Inc for The Adirondack Performing Arts Center;
- $100,000 to Ticonderoga Revitalization Alliance Inc for Ticonderoga Community Childcare;
- $100,000 to the Warren-Washington County Homeless Youth Coalition Inc for APPRECIATE WAIT Capital Campaign;
- $115,500 to Charles R. Wood Theater Inc. for HVAC system replacement;
- $85,000 to Adirondack Community College Foundation Inc. for Community Health and Wellness at SUNY Adirondack;
- $50,000 to Pendragon Inc. for Relocation of Pendragon Theatre in Saranac Lake;
- $50,000 to Fort Hudson Nursing Center Inc for Resident Living Space Improvement;
- $25,000 to Adirondack Foundation for SUN Fund – Central Adirondack flooding
- $25,000 to St. Johns Episcopal Church for One Church Street Project;
- $25,000 to Craigardan Inc. for The Studio Barn;
- $21,000 to Glens Falls Area Youth Center Inc for Health and Wellness Program;
- $20,000 to Salem Ecumenical Food Pantry Inc for Salem Food Pantry Utility Van;
- $20,000 to Adirondack Medical Center Foundation for Cornerstone Campaign;
- $20,000 to Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center Inc. for Arts Access Initiative at SPAC School of the Arts;
- $20,000 to the Center For Disability Services Inc. for Workout Equipment for Students with Disabilities;
- $19,800 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks Inc. for Group Mentoring;
- $16,200 to Caffe Lena Inc. for Music for a Healthy Community: Folk Club Kids Performer Fees;
- $15,555 to Tannery Pond Center for Arts Education & Community Gatherings for Auditorium Upgrades – new screen purchase;
- $15,000 to Rebuilding Together-Saratoga County for Repairs for Homes of Low-Income Families with Children in Warren County;
- $13,360 to Artistry Community Theatre Corp for A Light in the Dark: Supporting Artists and Student Artists through Lighting;
- $13,201 to Elizabethtown Community Hospital for Training Equipment for the Next Generation of Emergency Medical Professionals;
- $12,000 to Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra Inc for 2024 Children’s Concerts;
- $10,000 to X-Quest Inc. for a Children’s School for Music and Art;
- $10,000 to North Country Cultural Center for the Arts for Strand Center for the Arts Theatre Lighting Upgrade Project;
- $10,000 to Saranac Lake Artworks Inc. for Arts Programs During Transition From Volunteer-Led to Staffed;
- $10,000 to Seagle Music Colony Inc. for Dragon’s Breath – A New Children’s Opera by Evan Mack and Joshua McGuire;
- $10,000 to Appleby Foundation Inc. for ADA-compliant Entryway, part of the renovations of Tahawus Center Basement MakerSpace;
- $10,000 to We Are Instrumental Inc. for Allegro Initiative: Making Instrument Inventories Younger and Livelier;
- $10,000 to Springfield Area Parent Child Center for Dolly Parton Imagination Library;
- $8,600 to Silver Bay Association for Christian Conference and Training for Silver Bay YMCA Teen Center training supplies;
- $7,500 to Springfield Family Center Inc for Food as Medicine;
- $7,500 to Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area for No More Learning Gap Summer Program;
- $7,500 to Lake George Music Festival for ARKAI in Lake George;
- $7,500 to Junior Achievement of Northeastern New York for Financial Literacy and Career Readiness K-12 Student Programs;
- $7,500 to Upper Valley Haven Inc for Children’s Services Program;
- $7,196 to Fort Ann Volunteer Fire Co Inc for AED equipment;
- $5,500 to Small Tales Day Care Center Inc for Expanding Child Care Services to Neighbors in the North;
- $5,000 to Lake George Opera Festival Association Inc for Opera Saratoga Summer Festival;
- $5,000 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Odgensburg for Essential Medical Transportation;
- $5,000 to South Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company Inc for AED equipment;
- $5,000 to Camp Abilities Saratoga Inc to support 2 regional campers;
- $5,000 to Champlain Childrens Learning Center Inc for Gross Motor Activity Room;
- $5,000 to Tri-County United Way Inc. for the Kids With Packs Program;
- $5,000 to AIM Services Inc. for Enhanced Respite Program for School-Aged Youth with Disabilities;
- $5,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region Inc for Ronald McDonald Family Retreat at Krantz Cottage in Lake George;
- $5,000 to Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association Inc for Lunch, Learn & Play – Greater Community Collaboration Grant;
- $5,000 to Mercy Care for the Adirondacks Inc for Age-friendly Communities Initiative in the Adirondacks Tri-Lakes Region;
- $5,000 to Green Mountain Mobile Therapy Inc. for Youth Mental Health;
- $5,000 to The Bus Stop Club for Programming.
In addition, $68,000 was granted in smaller denominations to benefit various other regional not-for-profit organizations.