New Lebanon Foundation Receives $100,000 Gift, Joins Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
October 6, 2006
Great Barrington, MA — The New Lebanon Foundation, the educational enrichment fund for the two public schools of New Lebanon, NY, today announced that it has received a $100,000 gift from an anonymous local donor for its arts and humanities programs. The foundation also announced that it has moved its operations under the financial and administrative umbrella of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
The goal of the New Lebanon Foundation is to provide children with educational enrichment opportunities that are outside of the school curriculum and not covered by tax dollars. The $100,000 gift will be divided into three components: $10,000 a year for the next five years for grantmaking; a $45,000 5-year matching challenge grant for the foundation's endowment; and $5,000 to pay for a brochure and expenses related to fundraising.
"Thanks to our donor’s extraordinary generosity, we have a remarkable opportunity to create an endowment of close to $100,000,” stated Judith Sharp, president of the board of the New Lebanon Foundation. "This will ensure funding for grantmaking now and in years to come, making the foundation a permanent resource for public school children in the community."
The New Lebanon Foundation began in 2002 with a grant from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Over the past four years, the foundation has provided more than $15,000 to support enrichment programs selected by students.
“We’re very pleased to serve as steward for the New Lebanon Foundation,” said Jennifer Dowley, president of Berkshire Taconic. “Building educational enrichment funds is a vital part of our work; these resources can truly make the difference between a good education and an excellent one.”
The deadline for grant applications for the New Lebanon Foundation is January 31, 2007. Guidelines for the grants will be available by the end of November 2006. Information and applications are available through the schools, at www.berkshiretaconic.org, and at www.newlebanonfoundation.com.
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that cultivates philanthropy in ways that have a direct positive impact in Berkshire County, MA; Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY; and northwest Litchfield County, CT. For more information please contact Berkshire Taconic at 271 Main Street, Suite 3, Great Barrington, MA, 800-969-2823, info@berkshiretaconic.org or visit www.berkshiretaconic.org.
###