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, 2025, for consideration at the spring meeting of Trustees or by September 1, 2025, for consideration at the fall meeting.
Over the past five years, the Foundation has awarded over $10.3 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.
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 nearly $2.0 million were awarded in 2024:
- $500,000 to Albany Medical System-Glens Falls Hospital for the Sheridan Emergency Department;
- $150,000 to the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area for the Capital Project: Building A Better Future for the Glens Falls Area;
- $150,000 to The Hyde Collection Trust for The Hyde Center for Arts Education – Hoopes House;
- $110,000 to Dollywood Foundation for the Imagination Library Program in the New York counties of Essex, Clinton, Franklin and Hamilton;
- $100,000 to Double H – Hole in the Woods Ranch Inc. for the Capital Campaign-Ray-Max Camp-a-Theater;
- $50,000 to CVPH Foundation Inc. for CVPH Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation;
- $50,000 to Lake Placid Association for Music, Drama & Art Inc. for Renovation of the Lake Placid Center for the Arts’ Education Space;
- $50,000 to Pendragon Inc. for the Pendragon Theatre relocation project;
- $40,000 to the Adirondack Medical Center Foundation for the Cornerstone Campaign;
- $40,000 to Hudson Headwaters Health Network for Expanded Women’s Health Services in the Greater Glens Falls and Southern Adirondack Regions;
- $32,500 to Foundation of Fulton-Montgomery Community College Inc. for Enhancing Healthcare Education and Training at SUNY Fulton-Montgomery;
- $25,000 to St. Johns Episcopal Church for the One Church Street Project;
- $25,000 to Craigardan Inc. for the Main House Capital Project;
- $25,000 to YWCA of Schenectady for the Early Learning Expansion Project;
- $25,000 to St. Lawrence County Arts Center for the SLC Arts Creative Spirit Community Arts Center Capital Campaign;
- $25,000 to Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts for the Potters Resort Project;
- $25,000 to Adirondack Folk School Inc. for Building Expansion;
- $20,000 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks for the Group Mentoring program;
- $19,000 to Fort Ann Rescue Squad for a LUCAS system;
- $18,000 to Glens Falls Area Youth Center for the Health and Wellness Program;
- $16,500 to Town of Lake George for a Stryker Lucas 3 Chest Compression Device purchase;
- $16,500 to Moreau Emergency Squad for a Stryker PhysioControl LUCAS 3 Mechanical Chest Compression System;
- $15,845 to Sunnyview Hospital Rehabilitation Center Foundation for the Stabilizing Care Program;
- $15,000 to Granville Engine & Hose Co. No. 1 Inc. for the purchase of extrication tools;
- $15,000 to the Depot Theatre for the Depot Theatre Academy: Year Round Arts-In-Education Expansion;
- $15,000 to the Historic Salem Courthouse Preservation Association Inc. for Ensuring Safety and Fostering Community program;
- $15,000 to Rebuilding Saratoga County for Repairs for Low-Income Families with Children in Warren County;
- $10,000 to Town of Lake George for the Lake George Historical Museum ADA Compliant Ramp;
- $10,000 Special Olympics New York Inc. for the Lake George Region Young Athletes and Unified Program Support and Expansion;
- $10,000 to North Country Cultural Center for the Arts for the Strand Center for the Arts Theatre Lighting Upgrade Project;
- $8,250 to Keene Valley Neighborhood Services for Walk-in Cooler & Freezer Upgrade;
- $7,230 to Center for Disability Services for the Renovation of the Kitchenette Serving Individuals with Disabilities at Prospect Center -cabinets and countertops;
- $6,280 to Corinth Aims to Reach Everyone for Combating Food Insecurity Among Students in Corinth, NY;
- $6,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region Inc for the purchase of a generator for the Krantz House;
- $5,000 to Thera-Pets Inc. for the Pole Barn /Handicap Accessibility project;
- $5,000 to Seagle Music Colony Inc. for Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers – A Children’s Opera;
- $5,000 to Town of Lake Luzerne for the Destination Playground;
- $5,000 to Justice for Orphans for the Expansion of CarePortal to Serve Warren and Washington County Children in Crisis;
- $5,000 to Caldwell Lake George Library for Children’s Enrichment Programming & Materials;
- $5,000 to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Ogdensburg for the Medical Transportation Program;
- $5,000 to Saratoga Children’s Literacy League Inc. for Clifford and Ollie’s Traveling Book Bus;
- $5,000 to Camp Abilities Saratoga Inc. for Saratoga programming;
- $5,000 to Silver Bay Association for Christian Conference and Training for the Silver Bay YMCA Teen Center;
- $5,000 to Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area for No More Learning Gap Summer Program;
- $5,000 to Lake George Music Festival for Jesse Montgomery in Lake George;
- $5,000 to Lake George Arts Project Inc. for Jazz at the Lake – 40 Years program;
- $5,000 to Glens Falls Operetta Club Inc. for Wireless Microphone System Upgrade for use in the Wood Theatre;
- $5,000 to Lake George Opera Festival Association Inc for Opera Saratoga Summer Festival 2024
- $5,000 to Caroga Arts Collective Inc. for the Gloversville String Project & Arts Collaborative Education Program;
- $5,000 to Tri-County United Way Inc. for the Kids With Packs Program;
In addition, $68,000 was granted in smaller denominations to benefit various other regional not-for-profit organizations. Furthermore, in recognition of the continuing challenges of food insecurity, especially in the North Country, the Foundation directed funding of over $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.