December 5, 2014
This past week, the Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund distributed $65,000 in grants to eight organizations in Kirkland and Clinton. Hamilton College President and Town-Gown Committee Chair Joan Hinde Stewart stated, “The eight organizations invited to submit proposals presented us with more than $180,000 in need.” In its 14-year history, the Town-Gown Fund has distributed more than $570,000 in grants to organizations in the area.
According to a press release on the college websit, the fund distributed the largest grant in its history—$25,000—to the Clinton Central School District to create a modern language learning lab. CCSD received $22,000 last year to implement common core standards in the district and has received over $150,000 in the history of the Town-Gown Fund. When the fund was established, it was specified that it would keep education a priority.
The Clinton Central School Foundation received $6,500 to support district priorities, the Clinton Fire Department recieved $6,500 to refurbish its training facility, and the Clinton A Better Chance Program received $6,000 to offset transportation costs for prospective and current students.
Additionally, the Town-Gown Fund gifted the Kirkland Town Library $5,700 to upgrade technology and purchase sensory play materials, the Kirkland Police Department with $5,500 to construct a handicap ramp, the Clinton Historical Society with $5,000 for exterior painting and the Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps with $4,800 to upgrade its communications technology.
The agreement that created the Fund in 2001 stipulated that grants could only be given to agencies and organizations in the Village of Clinton and Town of Kirkland. Stewart stated, “The committee is pleased to support the priorities of these important public safety and community organizations that serve our friends and neighbors.”
The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund, established by a group of anonymous donors, has received more than $1 million and uses income earned from investing that money to make grants to local organizations. The fund was created to foster goodwill and communication among the college and residents of Kirkland and Clinton.
Along with Stewart, local businesspeople serve on the Town-Gown Committee, including Fran Alteri of Alteri’s Restaurant, Corrine Gachowski of Krizia Martin, Oneida County legislator George Joseph of North Star Orchards, Deli Rogers of Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service, Clinton Village Trustee Carrie Evans, Clinton Central Schools Superintendent Stephen Grimm, Hamilton Professor of French John O’Neal, Hamilton Point Investment Advisors President Andrew Burns and Hamilton College trustees Amy Owens Goodfriend and Jack Withiam.
Goodfriend and Burns, natives of Clinton, are graduates of Hamilton along with Gachowski and Withiam.
Hamilton Vice President for Communications and Development Dick Tantillo and Assistant Vice President for Communications Mike Debraggio are ex officio members of the committee. Contact Tantillo or Debraggio to make donations to the fund.
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