Sharing the Nation’s Commitment to the Community

One of the paradoxes of a poor economy, like the one Central New York and the rest of the country experienced in 2008, is that demand for charitable services goes up at the same time that resources for those services dwindle. Fortunately, 99 charities in the region were able to garner extra funds by selling tickets to the PGA TOUR’s® 2008 Turning Stone Resort Championship at Atunyote Golf Club.

The Upstate New York Empowerment Fund, the charitable arm of the annual golf tournament, returned more than $228,000 to the participating charities — the full amount those charities raised through ticket sales and other promotions for the event. The Empowerment Fund also helped the charities reduce administrative costs of their fund-raising activities by providing all sales forms and related materials.

The participating charities serve dozens of communities in eight counties, helping more than 200,000 Central New Yorkers every year. Among them was the United Way of Central New York, which raised money for Boys and Girls Clubs in the region.

“Thanks to your generosity, we will meet our mission to inspire and enable all young children to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens,” United Way Executive Director Duane Kinnon wrote. “This is thanks to people like you who want to make a difference in the lives of young people.”

Sixty percent of the charities earned at least $1,000 in 2008. Fourteen groups earned between $2,000 and $5,000, and 10 groups earned more than $5,000.

The Nation also continued its tradition of sharing its good fortune with its neighbors through the Oneida Nation Foundation. In 2008, the Foundation made grants totaling nearly $50,000 to charities working in the areas of children and youth, health and human services, veterans groups and military personnel, and the Central New York community.

The Oneida Nation Foundation focuses on organizations who share the same values as the Oneida people. Foundation Chairman and Wolf Clan Council Member Chuck Fougnier noted, “We’ve always shared our resources. It’s part of our history.”

Upstate New York Empowerment Fund 2008 Top Earners through Ticket Sales

•	Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of Central New York Inc. $40,315		•	Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York $22,070
•	Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum (teamed with Chittenango Rotary) (Madison County) $11,255		•	Friends of the ARC (Oneida County) $9,845
•	Everest Foundation (Syracuse) $7,325

Oneida Nation Foundation Grant Recipients:

The American Diabetes Association	Madison County’s Promise
American Indian College Fund	Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Central New York
American Legion #787 Ladies Auxiliary	Manlius Pebble Hill School
American Legion Fort Schuyler Post 1290	Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
ARC of Onondaga Foundation	Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology
ARC, Madison-Cortland Chapter	Mohawk Valley Frontiers Club
ARC, Oneida-Lewis Chapter	Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees
Boys & Girls Clubs of Syracuse	National Indian Child Welfare Association
Close-Up Foundation	Oglala Lakota College
Community General Foundation	Oneida County Historical Society
Crouse Health Foundation	Oneida Police Benevolent Association
Emerald City Marine Corps Detachment #877	Ophelia’s Place
Erie Canal School Boat Foundation	Present Company Productions, Inc.
Francis House	Resource Center for Independent Living
Friends of Saratoga Battlefield	Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York
The Genesis Group	Running Strong for American Indian Youth
Great Swamp Conservancy, Inc.	Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Program
Harry J. Snyder Memorial Scholarship Fund	Stockbridge Valley Central School
Herkimer County College Foundation, Inc.	SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Club
Herkimer County Community College	Syracuse Rescue Mission
Hiawatha Seaway Council, Inc./ Boy Scouts of America	Syracuse Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc.	Upstate Medical University Foundation
The House of the Good Shepherd	Utica Rescue Mission
Institute of American Indian Arts	Vera House, Incorporated
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 43	Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.— **Trach-Auringer VFW Post 7325
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Leadership Mohawk Valley	WCNY-TV, Public Broadcasting Council **of Central New York, Inc
Leatherstocking Ballet Company	YWCA of the Mohawk Valley
	Ziyara Shriners A.A.O.N.M.S.