The College continues its tradition of giving this year through the Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund, awarding the John G. Karin Kirkland Town Park $16,000 for improvements and new equipment. The Kirkland Town Park was one of eight local recipients of the Town-Gown Fund’s yearly donation.
The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund was created in 2001 by two anonymous donors with a deep affection for the College and the local community. Since its founding, the Town-Gown Fund has donated over $843,000 to 23 different public service and non-profit organizations in the greater town of Kirkland. Additionally, the endowed fund has received more than $1 million in gifts. Each year, the income earned from investing those donations is used to make grants to local organizations in the town.
Mike Debraggio, the Associate Vice President for Communications, serves as an ex officio member on the Town-Gown Fund Committee. Speaking on the Fund he said, “[The founding donors] created the Fund to foster goodwill and communication between the College and the local community, and many others have contributed to the fund over the past 18 years.”
Hamilton Senior Philanthropy Advisor Dick Tantillo serves alongside Debraggio as an ex officio member. The Town-Gown Fund Committee members represent both the College and the local community, with local business owners such as Fran Alteri of Alteri’s Restaurant and Oneida County legislator George Joseph of North Star Orchards serving alongside College representatives like Associate Professor of Psychology Tara McKee and trustees Amy Owens Goodfriend and Jack Withiam.
The size of each grant depends on how much income is earned from the donations to the Fund after they are invested. In the year of its founding, the Town-Gown Fund granted $10,000 to the Town of Kirkland. Since then, the Fund has received nearly $1.1 million in donations, with this year’s grant of $70,000 representing another sizeable contribution from donors.
According to Debraggio, the grant for the renewal of the Kirkland Town Park falls under the Fund’s broader goal of serving the Village of Clinton and the Town of Kirkland, especially as it pertains to education. Each fall, a 12-member committee decides which local organizations may submit funding proposals.
Seven other organizations earned grants from the Town-Gown Fund. The Clinton Fire Department received $8,000 to purchase two complete sets of firefighting gear; the Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps received $8,000 for audiovisual equipment for the second phase of its distance learning project; the Clinton Central School District Foundation was granted $7,000 to purchase new equipment for the student fitness center at the high school; Clinton A Better Chance, which received $3,000 for new appliances; and the Clinton Youth Foundation, which was awarded a $2,500 grant to repair surfaces at the Boynton Pool.
President Wippman said the College is “pleased to support the important work being done by the organizations that make Clinton and Kirkland such desirable places to live, work, and raise a family.”
He added: “From education to public safety and recreation, this year’s grants from the Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund will significantly enhance the quality of life in our community.”
