SUMMER FUN

Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Camp Hollis offers a week-long summer vacation for children in need. Each season, over 800 Oswego County youth aged 9-12 get the chance to experience the joys of summer camp. However, with dwindling financial support from Oswego County, reductions in the camp's budget have made it nearly impossible for 65% of economically disadvantaged campers to attend. The Gifford Foundation has granted $15,000 to the Friends of Camp Hollis to contribute to a newly established scholarship fund designed to ensure that no child in need misses the chance to get away and discover their own talents and abilities in a fun and nurturing environment.

LEADING THE WAY

In an effort to attract young African American males to the church and off the streets, members of the Bellegrove Missionary Baptist Church created the Bellegrove Missionary Baptist Church Mentoring Program. As part of the program, a team of church volunteers provides sessions on conflict resolution, substance abuse, relationship building, leadership and more. The group also sponsors road trips and recreational outings designed to promote positive interaction between participants and members of other communities. A $6,500 grant from the Gifford Foundation allows the Bellegrove Missionary Baptist Church Mentoring Program to continue funding services and initiatives designed to mentor these young people, and help shape them into tomorrow's role models. There are currently some 60 young men taking part in the program, and the numbers grow each year.

SOUTH SIDE INITIATIVE

In spring 2002, a convergence of city residents, leaders and professionals led by a team of national consultants convened to spark innovative thought about how the city of Syracuse could begin to take its best step forward. Among many topics of discussion, the team observed that "the city of Syracuse offers some of the starkest disparities, quick shifts from comfortable middle-class existence to deep poverty, from orderly safe environments to rundown and palpably unsafe places we have seen anywhere on the continent. The stark contrast, neighborhood to neighborhood, even block to block, shocks and dismays."

This observation provided the impetus to act upon what we are well aware. The Foundation made the formal determination to join forces and welcome like-minded partners in the development of a neighborhood initiative that would be substantially more than a scaled-down version of existing initiatives in larger communities. This neighborhood effort would be focused, achievable and, most importantly, resident driven. It would be, in the words of the residents of the neighborhood chosen, "a chance to do something for ouselves rather than having folks coming in here and doing things to us. That's been happening for years and it isn't what we want."

The Neighborhood Initiative as it evolved commenced with inclusive dialogs and resulted in the creation of an organization called Southside Neighborhood Action Group (SNAG). SNAG is led by project coordinator Steven Muhammad and an advisory committee comprised of neighborhood residents and members of the Southside Neighborhood Association, Interfaith Housing, and the Southeast Gateway Community Development Corporation, among others. They identified a 30 block area in one of the poorest sections of inner city Syracuse, an area disenfranchised both physically and fiscally, as their focus for revitalization.

In its initial year, we have brought residents together, nurtured their vision, helped them see their capacities and strengths, built community partnerships with institutional leaders, and identified new resources from those partners that will strengthen the south side community. By bringing new partners together, we are confident that over time, new leaders will surface and residents will increase their capacity for growth. Gifford will engage these new relationships and productivity to focus on improving two additional community outcomes - increasing economic development opportunities for residents and improving affordable housing for low-wealth families.

Community builder consultant Henry Moore joined our team, bringing over 25 years of experience in local government management and community capacity building. His efforts have mobilized citizen action and commenced to bolster nonprofit capacity while creating community partnerships and building consensus. His deep understanding of asset-based community development teaches us all the skills necessary for strengthening communities.

With the work of this initiative commencing in 2003, to date we have expended $190,000 and project commitment with either continued funding or other Foundation resources for the next five years. Neighbors like Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Sabir and Ms. Gardner report that with Gifford assistance, their homes are now safe and comfortable. And, with the assistance of the CNY Community Foundation, we generated summer employment for neighborhood youth. However, this is just the beginning of our work.

We believe that it is critical for funders to understand the need to build self-respect among residents, value the opinions of those who made a commitment to their homes and build on the strength of those we work with. If we as funders are to truly point to success in revitalizing a neighborhood, it will be because we can point to our understanding that our funding provides us access to the discovery of a solution, not just to the creation of one. We hope that you, our readers of this annual report, will join us in these efforts.

HARVEST TIME

New York State's seasonal and migrant farm workers are a marginalized and underrepresented group. Due in part to the effects of international competition on local growers, most of these workers live in abject poverty with few, if any, benefits. In response, the Gifford Foundation has donated $5,000 to the Eastern Farm Workers Association (EFWA), a voluntary independent association dedicated to uniting farm workers in the common goal of improving their conditions. In addition to lobbying for enhanced living and working conditions, the EFWA provides food, clothing, medical and dental care, and legal advice to its members, while encouraging involvement in EFWA's membership council. The grant from the Gifford Foundation was used to expand the group's benefits program and renovate their Syracuse headquarters.

FAMILY WELL-BEING

Families of children with multiple disabilities often experience the joys, sorrows and responsibilities of caretaking in isolation and without respite. As an organization started by parents of disabled children. Familycapped, Inc. understands the pressures of constant caretaking. The brainchild of real families facing these challenges, Casey's Place was built to respond to the need for respite by offering a getaway for disabled children. With the help of a $25,000 grant from the Gifford Foundation, Casey's Place is a fully equipped facility, ensuring that visitors experience the same level of care they receive at home, while socializing with their peers and enjoying different surroundings. Parents and children alike get a stress-free break and can experience a healthy renewal.

50th ANNIVERSARY DINNER

In 1953, Rosamond Gifford willed her estate to a foundation for "the benefit of humanity which I desire and intend." Over the past 50 years, the Foundation, which was created with a $5 million gift, has given away over $30 million, assisted some 350 organizations, and has a remaining endowment of $26 million to continue the wishes of Rosamond Gifford.

Since its inception, the Gifford Foundation maintains a commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in our community. We believe that our community cannot succeed until we all have an equal voice in creating an environment that honors and respects our diversity and creativity and allows all of us to share in the benefits of participatory citizenship.

It is with this spirit and intent in mind that we were pleased to give a total of $100,000 in grants to 12 recipient agencies and organizations at our 50th Anniversary celebration to honor and acknowledge the work they do toward this measure. We are proud to stand at the podium together to help further their efforts and to encourage all who might follow in their footsteps.

ANNIVERSARY AWARDS DISTRIBUTED

Gifford Educational Awards in Honor of the Gifford Scholars*

Cathedral School & On Point for College

Gifford 50th Anniversary Awards:

AIDS Community Resources
Bellegrove Missionary Baptist Church Mentoring Program
Camillus Towne Shop
CANOPY
Eastern Farm Workers Association
Hillbrook Detention Home
Preservation Association of Central New York
Spanish Action League

Joanne Reddick Memorial Awards:

Booker T. Washington Community Center & Shea Middle School

*Between 1957 and 1980, the Gifford Foundation supported 184 graduating high school students with annual scholarships while they worked toward achieving their undergraduate degrees. Many Gifford Scholars went on to become leaders and positive role models who continue to play a vital role in their communities.