The Hamilton College Town- Gown Fund recently made grants totaling $109,600 to nine non-profit and public safety organizations serving the Town of Kirkland and the Village of Clinton.
It marks the first time more than $100,000 in grants was awarded in a single year. The Town- Gown Fund has invested $1,269,244 in the local community since 2001.
“This year’s grants reached a significant new milestone,” said Hamilton President David Wippman, who chairs the Hamilton College Town-Gown
Committee and is retiring at the end of the academic year. “I have enjoyed working with my fellow committee members to support local organizations’ efforts to enhance the quality of life for residents in the village and town. We were especially pleased to provide another grant to The Country Pantry, something we have done annually since the pandemic exacerbated food insecurity in our community.”
The Clinton Kirkland Improvement Corporation received $20,000 as part of a collaborative effort with other organizations to hire an executive director to facilitate economic planning for the community.
The executive director will look to expand business- related activity, enhance the community’s already attractive quality of life, and further encourage visitors. The grant was made in memory of longtime Clinton resident and original Town- Gown Committee member Andy Burns.
Town- Gown grants were also awarded to the Clinton Central School District, which received $16,500 to help with the establishment of a pre- kindergarten program; the Kirkland Senior Center, which