The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation has awarded 13 Service Learning Mini-Grants to six area schools for the 2021-2022 academic year. The grants, totaling $5,224, are awarded to support projects that combine education and public service.

One project receiving a grant is the GIS for CHQ Community Project, led by Mr. Adam Gollwitzer at Chautauqua Lake Central School. Chautauqua Lake students, working in conjunction with SUNY Fredonia, will collect data and construct Geographic Information System Maps (GIS) of sites for the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, The Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, and the Chautauqua Institution. The grant money will be used to purchase software needed to construct the maps from the students’ data. The finished maps will be publicly available in perpetuity.

Additional projects approved for the 2021-22 school year include:

¯ Cassadaga Valley Central School – Cassadaga Cares, Cougar Nation, and Caring Builds Connections;

¯ Chautauqua Lake Central School – Bridges to the Community, and Botanical Experts;

¯ Dunkirk High School – Kids Caring For Kids;

¯ Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES: Maple Avenue – Helping Disadvantaged Children Sleep Better;

¯ Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES: LoGuidice – Helping Disadvantaged Children Sleep Better;

¯ Fredonia High School – Charcuterie Board Fundraiser, and Crafts and Cans;

¯ Northern Chautauqua Catholic School – Holiday Card Making, and Veterans Service Project.

The Service Learning Mini-Grant program began in 2013 with a Pilot Program in the Fredonia Central School District. Since then, the NCCF has awarded 128 mini-grants totaling over $56,000. Program funding comes from Community Benefit Funds. The Service Learning program is open to all northern Chautauqua County middle and high school teachers.

Contact NCCF for more information on the NCCF Service Learning Mini-Grant Program at nccf@nccfoundation.org or 716-366-4892. More information is also available on the website at www.nccfoundation.org/service-learning.

Since its incorporation in 1986, the NCCF has invested more than $17 million in northern Chautauqua County through strategic grantmaking, targeted scholarships, and leadership and community collaborations.

The NCCF is a tax-exempt charitable organization inherently committed to enhancing the northern Chautauqua community and encouraging local philanthropy.

For more information on the NCCF, visit www.nccfoundation.org or call 716-366-4892.