ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – The Ithaca Rotary Club has announced the 2025 Community Grant award winners.

Nearly $15,000 is headed to 11 non-profit groups for proposed projects. The Rotary Club received a total of 41 applications requesting over $57,000. The awards were made from the Rotary Club’s donor-advised fund, which is held at the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.

Winners and Projects 

  • Community Science Institute -$1,500 – to provide discounted water testing through the newly launched Water Testing Assistance Fund Program
  • Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center – $1,000 – for rechargeable two-way radios to increase organizational safety and emergency support
  • Enfield Food Distribution – $1,500 – to offset the sudden 50% reduction in funding from The Emergency Food Assistance Program
  • Family & Children’s Service – $1,500 – to purchase thirty $50 food gift cards for homeless youth supported by the Open Doors Program
  • Foodnet Meals on Wheels – $875 – to purchase a picnic table and bike rack for staff use
  • Friends of Stewart Park – $1,500 – to match Wegmans’ donation to complete construction of one new accessible picnic table near the Stewart Park playground
  • Ithaca Children’s Garden – $1,500 – to install a pond liner, replace deteriorating dock decking, and mount interpretive watercolor panels at its Tadpole Pond Habitat
  • Ithaca Community Childcare Center – $1,500 – to purchase weather-resistant play materials that support physical development and integrate into the natural playscape
  • Lansing Center Trail – $1,423 – to create a volunteer tool library stocked with gardening and outdoor tools
  • Loaves & Fishes – $1,500 – to purchase an ice machine that will help support daily meal service and enhance food safety
  • New Roots Charter School – $1,000 – to expand the free personal care product pantry and add basic school supplies