July 2011

Over the last year, the Cornwall Foundation, Inc. has continued its mission to give grants to not-for-profits that benefit Cornwall residents. Founded in 2002, we are a young foundation but have already made a mark in the community. Due to the generosity of all who give of their time and through donations, we have had the opportunity to give over 40 grants totaling more than $30,000. to organizations like the Cornwall Child Center, Chore Services, the Cornwall Library, the Food and Fuel Bank, Cornwall Housing Corporation and dozens more. The non-profits that benefit Cornwall residents are of vital importance to our town, our neighbors and ourselves. The Cornwall Foundation, Inc. is one of the many funding sources they depend on to stay viable, allowing a small village like Cornwall to thrive. One of our recent commitments was a matching grant of $1,000 to the Higher Order Writing (HOW) initiative of the Cornwall Consolidated School for the 2011-2012 year. In support of this grant it was written, "It is the mission of the Cornwall Foundation to enhance the quality of life in Cornwall, and to maintain it’s unique beauty and character. One of the ways we can help do this is to support the strong tradition of the arts, in its many forms, here in our town. A home and haven to writers, editors, publishers and illustrators, Cornwall has the ability to help create a new generation of these artists. Bringing the HOW program to Cornwall Consolidated School and supporting our children in the development of their writing skills from an early age is helping to do just that."

We encourage all Cornwallians to continue to give generously to local organizations and programs. Whether you give financial support or of your time, directly to your favorite organization or through the Cornwall Foundation, everyone benefits. Let your children know how you give! They will continue this great tradition.

Letter to the Editor, Printed in the Cornwall Chronicle

July 2011

I have just joined the Board of the Cornwall Foundation. After more than 35 years as a Cornwall "resident" that is I am still a weekender, I am happy to get to know better all the non-profit organizations that operate in Cornwall. This is because the mandate of the Foundation is to give grants to non-profits that will help to improve the lives of Cornwall residents. Last year the Foundation gave grants to entities like the Library, the Cornwall Child Center, HVA and several others. I am happy to be part of a similar effort this year. But the real question in my mind is: when I go to the Dump would I be viewed as a "real" resident now? Maybe in another 20 years?

Andrea Geisser

Annual Appeal Letter

December 2010

Dear Friends,

At this festive time of year, we hope that you are enjoying time with family and loved ones. As the New Year approaches, the board members of the Cornwall Foundation reflect upon what we have done to fulfill our mission to enhance the quality of life in Cornwall. In only seven years since the Foundation was established, our endowment has grown to over $175,000 with over 45 grants awarded to a broad spectrum of Cornwall organizations. These grants have allowed the Cornwall Consolidated School, the Fire Department, the Child Center, the Food and Fuel Bank, the Housing Corporation and others to undertake new projects and offer more services to the community than their budgets would have allowed.

We are proud of the support the Foundation has been able to give so far, but we want to do even better. As our endowment grows, we look forward to making a substantial impact in those important areas where funding may be insufficient. While continuing to respond to those organizations that request our help, we will make a concerted effort to identify and reach out to non-profit groups that assist Cornwall residents particularly hard-hit in these economic times.

To accomplish this, we need your continued help and hope that you will consider making a generous donation to the Cornwall Foundation, Inc. this year. By supporting the Foundation, your gift will benefit Cornwall groups and organizations today and in the years to come.

Please take a moment to read through our enclosed brochure that highlights some of our more recent grants, and explains a variety of ways in which you can contribute. We ask you to help spread the word of our grant program to area organizations who work benefits Cornwall residents and, one again, we would like to thank you for including the Cornwall Foundation, Inc. in your annual giving.

Thank you,

Darilyn F. Woods
President

Article for the Cornwall Chronicle written by Larry Zuckerman

December 2009

In mid-November, Howard Dean, chairman of the Helston Town Band, emailed the Cornwall Foundation inquiring whether we offer grants for the refurbishment of old buildings. We had contributed to the renovation of the Historical Society, but who exactly was Mr. Dean and what is the Helston Town Band? Nobody knew. It turned out that Mr. Dean (not the former presidential candidate) is from Helston, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. He was in need of a large sum of money to refurbish the town band room there. We informed him that England is slightly out of the Foundation’s jurisdiction, but it is nice to know that our reputation is spreading internationally.
Indeed, the CF has good news to report. Thanks to generous contributions and a stock market rebound, its endowment has bounced back to $150,000, about where it was before the crash. On the Saturday following Thanksgiving we held our annual meeting, electing a new set of officers. Darilyn Woods is now president, taking over from Paul Baren.  Jim Fishman remains vice president while Stacey Marcin and Jon Old stepped in as treasurer and secretary, respectively. We also voted new grants to the Child Center and the Historical Society and a $2,000 grant to the town’s food and energy fund.
Though $150,000 may seem like a lot in these lean times, it pales in comparison to the multimillion-dollar assets of many other community foundations. However it allows the Foundation to give several grants a year, generally ranging from about $500 to $1,000. The Cornwall Foundation was established in 2003, but it’s asset base has substantially grown just in the last few years. Because of that growth, they have been able to distribute about $21,000 since inception. The more they receive in donations, the more they can give in grants to a variety of causes throughout the Cornwalls. The Cornwall Foundation would be a worthy addition to your Holiday giving list, and a way to remember the citizens of Cornwall through a bequest to the Foundation.
They will do the rest.
--Larry Zuckerman, outgoing secretary