MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT GREEN

2003 was a year to look back, a year in which the Foundation began to celebrate its 50th anniversary. It was also a year to look forward, as the Foundation began its first major initiative, a neighborhood initiative in partnership with Syracuse 20/20, the CNY Community Foundation and many neighborhood organizations, all working to promote improvement on the south side of our city.

In many ways, the retrospective look in celebration of 50 years of philanthropy showed us how logical was our move to grantmaking that focused on a specific area of investment (neighborhoods) and also retained the Foundation's commitment to serve the needs of the larger community. In reviewing our past, we rediscovered the seeds of our future. While it was true that for many years the Foundation supported capital projects almost to the exclusion of all else, it was also true that its early board was well known for making decisions to fund projects that were, at the time, on the cutting edge of known social science and were designed to ease a pressing community need. The founding of the Syracuse University Graduate School of Social Work, the creation of a fund that provided full-tuition scholarships to 184 individuals, as well as the funding of the first ever county-wide study of the rising costs of welfare are just three examples of early work by the Foundation. Across this half century of philanthropic work, the Gifford Foundation has shown time and again that its commitment to the CNY community is unwavering and that support for the community reaches all areas of need.

Now, in 2003, while we work to alleviate symptoms, more than ever we are emphasizing the need to understand the root causes of community problems. Indeed, the Foundation has planted itself firmly behind a philosophy of community empowerment in order to achieve sustainable community improvement. Ultimately, we believe that the story of our community must be about its people. For this reason, 2003 found the Foundation working hand in hand with residents of the south side neighborhood, our community partners and city government to create partnerships that cross traditional boundaries. Our role as a creative catalyst, as well as a provider of funding, is on that the Foundation must successfully fill. It is this role that served our past activities and defines our future plans.

As we close this year, and as my successor takes over the presidency, I know that the Gifford Foundation remains committed to ensuring that residents have a voice in determining the future of their community and that our work will go on as it has for 50 years and as it will for many more years to come.

Edward S. Green