The John G. Karin Kirkland Town Park has been awarded $16,000 from the Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund to purchase and install new playground equipment this spring. The grant allows the Town of Kirkland to replace outdated equipment that is, in some cases, more than 40 years old.
Seven other organizations in the Town of Kirkland also received a share of $70,000 from the Town-Gown Fund, which has invested $843,000 in the community since grants were first awarded in 2001.
“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,” said College President David Wippman. “We’re 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.”
Kirkland Trails, a grass-roots organization seeking to develop biking and hiking trails using existing canal and railroad paths in the town, was awarded $15,000, and the Clinton Central School District received $10,500 to purchase a Google Expedition Virtual Reality System for the elementary school.
Grants were also presented to:
- The Clinton Fire Department, which received $8,000 to purchase two complete sets of firefighting gear;
- The Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps, which was awarded $8,000 to purchase audiovisual equipment for the second phase of its distance learning project;
- The Clinton Central School District Foundation, which received $7,000 to purchase new equipment for the student fitness center at the high school;
- Clinton A Better Chance, which was the recipient of a $3000 grant for new appliances; and
- The Clinton Youth Foundation, which received $2,500 to patch and repair surfaces at the Boynton Pool.
The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund was created in 2001 by anonymous donors to foster goodwill and communication among the College and residents of the Town of Kirkland and the Village of Clinton. Since its founding, 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.
As stipulated in the agreement that established the Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund, grants can only be made to organizations and agencies serving the Town of Kirkland and the Village of Clinton, with a primary focus on education.
In addition to Wippman, members of the Town-Gown Committee include local business owners Fran Alteri of Alteri’s Restaurant, Corrine Gachowski of Krizia Martin, Oneida County legislator George Joseph of North Star Orchards, and Deli Rogers of Owens-Pavlot & Rogers Funeral Service; Clinton Village Trustee Carrie Evans; Clinton Central Schools Superintendent Stephen Grimm; Hamilton Associate Professor of Psychology Tara McKee; Hamilton Point Investment Advisors President Andrew Burns; and Hamilton College trustees Amy Owens Goodfriend and Jack Withiam. Goodfriend and Burns are natives of Clinton and graduates of Hamilton. Gachowski and Withiam are also Hamilton graduates.
Hamilton Senior Philanthropy Advisor Dick Tantillo and Associate Vice President for Communications Mike Debraggio serve the committee as ex officio members. Donations to the fund can be made by contacting Tantillo or Debraggio.
