SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)- Upon passing, an anonymous donor left 2.2 million to the Central New York Community Foundation. The gift includes an endowed fund to support local nonprofits providing healthcare and animal care.
The Community Foundation will give a percentage of the funds each year to programs who apply and are approved for the grant. The remaining balance will be invested and grow. Overtime, the gift is expected to exceed its original amount.
“We are just really glad to be stewards of her legacy moving forward”, says Thomas Griffith, Vice President of Development at the Community Foundation.
The timing of this grant could not be more urgent.
Dee Schaefer, Humane Director at CNYSPCA says if they are awarded a portion of the grant, it will go to new animal transportation vehicles.
“Our dog control vehicle bit the dust, and one of our cruelty vehicles bit the dust… and if we don’t have a cruelty vehicle, we can get animals out of bad situations”.
Schaefer says CNYSPCA is especially grateful this year because of the lack of donations. CNYSPCA also cannot hold fund raising events, one raising up to $20,000 for the program.
The donor’s financial advisor J. Daniel Pluff of Morgan Stanley Wealth Managment says she worked in healthcare all her life and lived alone. The companionship of animals was important to her.
“There is no doubt in my mind she would be very please with this fund and all that it will do” Pluff stated.
The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity that collects, manages and distributes donations. It is the largest foundation in Central New York with assets of $260 million and has invested more than $200 million into the community.
