Community Foundation gives $19K for art show, makes first quarter grants

Photo Caption:  Members of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation and Cattaraugus County Arts Council recently met to discuss the Southern Tier Biennial funded by the F. Donald Kenney Endowment at CRCF. Participants included, from left, Karen Fohl, CRCF board member; Courtney Blackmon, CCAC program and grants manager; Karen Niemic Buchheit, CRCF Executive Director; Jeff McMullen, CCAC Vice President; Anne Conroy-Baiter, CCAC Executive Director; Barbara Chew, CRCF board member; and Heather Carroll, CCAC outreach coordinator.

The board of directors of the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently awarded $19,483 from the F. Donald Kenney Endowment at the Foundation to support the Cattaraugus County Arts Council’s Southern Tier Biennial solo art show.

           

            According to Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit the fund established by the F. Donald Kenney Foundation supports artists in the Southern Tier through the Cattaraugus County Arts Council.

           

“The Cattaraugus County Arts Council is very grateful to receive funds from the F. Donald Kenney Endowment that will enable us, in collaboration with the Olean Public Library Gallery, to produce a solo show for the 2011 STB Best of Show winner, David Higgins,” said Anne Conroy-Baiter, CCAC Executive Director.

“Along with an honorarium for winning the best of show, David will also receive funds to help cover the costs of producing the show, funds for professional development to further develop his craft, and a catalog of the exhibition,” she noted, adding “David's solo show, which will open October 6, promises to be vibrant, beautiful, and thought provoking. We're very excited for the community to experience his body of work.”

           

The board also approved several grants to other organizations as part of its first quarter grants cycle.

From the Olean City School District Foundation Fund, the board approved $2,050 for transportation for elementary band/orchestra students to attend ensemble practices and $3,896.20 for the Summer STAR program, a summer performing arts program for students in grades 6-12 in conjunction with the Olean Youth Bureau.

            Allegany Nordic received a grant of $886.36 from the Allegany Nordic Fund to pay for repairs to Allegany State Park trail grooming equipment.

            A grant of $400 from the Rose Pappas Fund was given to the American Red Cross for a blood drive incentive program.

            “The Foundation is pleased to provide this round of grants to a varied group of organizations,” Ms. Buchheit said.

Established in 1995, The Community Foundation is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in our region. Grants from the foundation support many areas including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service and youth development. To learn more, call, email or visit us online at www.cattfoundation.org.

For more information, contact the Community Foundation at (716) 372-4433, email foundation@cattfoundation.org or visit www.cattfoundation.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cattfoundation.