Education: Boy Scouts of America Leatherstocking Council

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is one of the nation’s largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides programs for young people that build character, train in the responsibilities of citizenship, and develop personal fitness. The Leatherstocking Council provides scouting to Herkimer, Oneida, and Madison counties, as well as part of Hamilton, Otsego, Delaware, and Lewis counties.

Funds awarded by The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation were used to update the Leatherstocking Council’s BSA van with graphic decals to proudly display the Boy Scouts of America logo and imagery. The transportation van is available to more than 4,000 scouts, primarily Utica’s Urban Unit (Troop 21, Troop 101, and Pack 16), which consists of approximately 50 youth from economically disadvantaged and/or refugee neighborhoods.

"Without this van and the matching BSA trailer that The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation made possible, our trained volunteer leaders simply would not be able to transport our Urban Unit members and their camping equipment to our Cub Scout camp near Rome, NY, or our Boy Scout camp near Cooperstown," said BSA Executive/CEO Raymond Eschenbach. "I wish we had a fleet of them!"

Support Services: Kenneth Young Center

The Kenneth Young Center in Elk Grove, Illinois, is dedicated to helping people of all ages overcome life’s challenges and achieve their goals through professional, personalized behavioral health and older adult services. The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation supported this organization with three contributions throughout 2015 and 2016, totaling $19,000.

The funds were used to support the greatest needs of the Kenneth Young Center, for services such as therapy, psychiatry, resource coordination, assessments, prevention, treatment, mentoring, in-home support, employment services, crisis interventions, and community-based older adult services.

It’s services like these, delivered through 25 teams and programs, that allow Kenneth Young Center’s 4,000 clients in behavioral health services and 9,000 older adults, the majority of whom are below the poverty line, receive wrap-around services to ensure their long-term recovery from mental illness, including stabilization support and senior services that maximize independence and health.

"Through the generosity of private donors and funders, Kenneth Young Center ensures the safety of our community and connects clients with personalized, compassionate care,” said Kate Garbarek, Director of Development and Communications. “Support from private donors is Kenneth Young Center’s most likely source of support to continue vital programs that keep clients out of nursing homes and institutions. We are deeply appreciative to The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation for their support."

Environment: Central New York Conservancy

The Central New York Conservancy’s mission is to preserve, restore, and maintain healthy, sustainable, public green spaces via comprehensive analysis, research, and site restoration. The Conservancy is also tasked to protect and restore Utica’s four Olmsted-designed parks—F.T. and T.R. Proctor Parks, Roscoe Conkling Park/Valley View, and the Memorial Parkway.

Funds provided by The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation have been used to support the organization’s efforts to create a free smartphone app called Utica’s Parks & Parkway System that provides details regarding the Olmsted-designed parks, as well as trail markers, descriptions, and information for walkers, cyclists, runners, skiers, and snowshoers to plan their outings.

"Created with the support of The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, our Utica Parks & Parkway System app is an important resource to help Utica’s residents and visitors find and access free outdoor excursions within these historical parks, and enjoy our region’s natural splendor," said Executive Director Peter Falzarine.

Education: Thea Bowman House

Since 1986, the Thea Bowman House has served low-income, at-risk children, and families by providing quality care to the community’s vulnerable populations in order to break the cycle of poverty through a structured program of educational and social enrichment.

The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation has supported this organization with contributions that enhanced the efforts of Thea Bowman House to provide child care expenses for low-income and at-risk children—something many single-parent households identify as a primary need.

As a result, the organization was able to assist 15 families with child care expenses, providing important peace of mind to parents that their children were well-cared for while they worked, thus improving their ability to retain their current jobs and increase their likelihood of long-term employment.

"Thea Bowman House is proud to partner with The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation to improve living conditions for families in our city," said Executive Director Jane Domingue. "It is apparent from our meetings and conversations with employees and leadership of these groups that involvement in community projects at the local level is an important priority to them. For that we are most grateful."

Food: Hope House

Hope House in Utica, New York, feeds hungry individuals in need three times a day, 363 days a year. Many of those in need of assistance have addictions, illnesses, low wage earnings, or have lost their homes. The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation believes in the Hope House mission and has supported this organization for many years.

In 2017, Hope House received $14,000 for their capital campaign, which enabled the organization to purchase a building and install a commercial kitchen, serving line, storage area, and walk-in cooler. The purchase resulted in a 48% increased seating capacity and allows volunteers to more efficiently serve around 300 meals per day.

"The people who come to us represent all faiths and are a diverse group," said John Madej, Executive Director of Hope House. "Some are working poor, others are elderly who have outlived the buying power of their pensions, some live where there are no cooking facilities, and many are veterans who served our country valiantly but now find themselves unable to function adequately. Of the funds we use to support the needs of these groups, less than 5% of our income comes from government sources. The remainder comes from the generosity of our community—private support from organizations such as The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation."

Shelter: YWCA Mohawk Valley

Since 1885, YWCA Mohawk Valley has been on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. As the only provider of domestic/sexual violence crisis services in Oneida County, the organization assisted nearly 20,000 times with essential services and residential programs in 2017.

In 2018, The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation invested $13,000 to further the organization’s mission and increase its capacity, enabling the YWCA to relocate its administrative offices from their over 100-year-old facility to an updated, safe, and welcoming space.

Client services offered out of the new facility at 7 Rutger Park include free, confidential domestic/sexual violence crisis hotline, support group, counseling, client intake into its shelter programs, and violence prevention education and awareness.

"YWCA Mohawk Valley’s move has resulted in a more professional, warm, welcoming central hub that invites and encourages our staff to come together," said Kari Procopio, Chief Advancement Officer. "Thanks to The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, our new location provides ample room for meeting areas where we can provide free and confidential direct-care services for our clients."

Education: Midtown Utica Community Center

The Midtown Utica Community Center supports the refugee and low-income population of Midtown Utica by providing educational and cultural programs, solving problems by connecting community members with other agencies and resources, and promoting a safe community environment for people of all ages and cultures.

Their work, conducted in partnership with local nonprofits, organizations, and schools, includes enhancing opportunities, community building, community service, and education, as well as hosting holiday meals, neighborhood meetings, job training, and ethnic celebrations.

The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation has supported this organization with funds to purchase a passenger van. The van has enabled the number of participants in the Midtown Utica Community Center’s outreach excursions to double amid an overall increase in events.

"There is a certain pride that the community feels when we obtained the van as a result of The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation’s support," said Executive Director Chris Sunderlin. "Not only can we support a larger number of activity participants with the vehicle, but the logo on it conveys to the broader community that we are a permanent fixture here and that our cultural identities matter."

Education: MVCC Math Corps Summer Camp Program

Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) Math Corps is a four-week long intensive math enrichment and mentoring program designed to help 6th and 7th grade students in the Utica area develop a love for learning in a safe, family-like environment.

The program features a self-perpetuating crop of successful program graduates who return to MVCC to assist current students and prepare them for academic success at all levels by instilling them with gained knowledge and values.

With the help of The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, MVCC Math Corps was able to support the essential work of this program and help area children attain educational success.

"The sustainability of this program is due in large part to caring organizations like The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation that want to see generational student success," said Frank B. DuRoss, Vice President of Community Development, Executive Director of the MVCC Foundation Inc., MVCC. "This generous assistance has enabled us to continue to instill a love of learning and success in area children, which they will be able to gift, in turn, to others."

Education: On Point for College

Since 1999, On Point for College has helped students access education and attain careers by providing individual and ongoing non-academic support. This includes supporting students through the transition from high school to a successful academic life to post-graduation employment. Many of these students are first-generation college students, refugees, children of single parents, and homeless youth.

The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation awarded On Point for College a grant to assist more than 1,200 Utica-area low-income youths overcome obstacles to access college, find academic success, and get linked to quality employment.

As a result of this funding, On Point for College increased the number of low-income, first-generation student access to education. In addition, two students, Oghenekovie (Kovie) Parker and Shania Barton, received paid internships that enabled them to gain real-world experience and prosper academically.

"The Foundation’s support was absolutely instrumental in empowering both students with Indium Corporation internships and amazing staff support to help improve their chances of post-academic success," said Kevin Marken, Utica Director, On Point for College. "Kovie graduated among the top of her class from SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Shania won numerous awards at LeMoyne College for her tireless work helping other students. She graduated with highest honors."

Education: Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program, LLC

The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation sponsored paid internships for ten students from the Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program (YSLPP).

Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program is a multi-year collaborative project between Utica College and the Utica City School District. It is designed to motivate diverse and talented students to stay in school, earn a New York State Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation, graduate college, and be career-ready.

The internship program allowed Young Scholars graduates to receive a paid internship with a local area business for the summer.

"The summer before college or the start of a first career is an especially important time for our graduates,” said Pamela Matt, executive director, YSLPP. “A paid internship offers so much – leadership, career possibilities, community connections, networking, and the finances to bridge the gaps found with college expenses."

Kwayvon Midget, who interned for the YWCA, said that the opportunity gave him a step ahead and helped him prepare for his career.

"One of the tasks given to me was to help work on a strategic plan, which involved planning, decision making and organizing,” Midget said. “This internship definitely helped me prepare for my future career in psychology. It gave me a feel for ‘office life.’ Although I was somewhat familiar with most of the things I learned here, I wasn’t aware that all of it goes into a job like this."

Education: The House of the Good Shepherd Tilton School

The House of the Good Shepherd's Tilton School is a New York State Education Department certified Special Education K-12 residential school providing programs for students with disabilities, and instructs over 200 students every year. Both residential and day service students attend Tilton School to complete the mandated New York State curriculum.

With the help of the Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, Tilton School students now have access to iPads that are used to support and enhance learning opportunities in their science and math classrooms.

"It is critical to expose the children at The House of the Good Shepherd to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) so that they have better chances of moving on to higher education,” said Shannon Perri, Tilton School principal. “The iPads help us accomplish this by assisting students in researching for special classroom projects, obtaining books electronically, encouraging logical thinking, enhancing science experiments, and improving the classroom dynamics to work as a team."

Education / Shelter: A Better Chance (ABC) Clinton

Since 1972, A Better Chance (ABC) Clinton has helped more than 90 students enter college and live fulfilling lives as doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and businessmen.

ABC Clinton hosts up to eight male students who live together on the edge of the Hamilton College campus. Students attend nationally-recognized Clinton High School and are enrolled in a challenging college preparatory program. While resident directors provide parental-type support, students from Hamilton College provide tutoring assistance on school nights to help the ABC scholars excel academically.

The assistance provided by The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation accounted for six percent of the program’s annual budget in 2016. This support enabled students to receive free tuition, room, board and weekly allowance for completing weekly chores or honor roll placement. Foundation support also provides other advantages, such as college counseling from Hamilton College admissions officers.

Healthcare / Shelter: Abraham House

Abraham House provides a secure, loving home without charge for individuals who have reached the end of curative therapy options, are seeking comfort care at the end of life, and need around-the-clock loving care.

Abraham House does not collect insurance reimbursements nor receive state or federal funding. The organization, which is sustainable through donations, grants and fundraising, focuses on creating an experience that is customized to each guest with the goal of making each guest’s final days as comfortable and meaningful as possible.

"Our sustainability is due in large part to gifts such as those given to us by The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation,” said Gina Ciaccia, Abraham House Executive Director. “These generous awards allow us to continue to make our services available to those in need of high quality, loving, end-of-life care. Since Abraham House is based on the model of a family caring for their loved one at home, we offer residential placement along with 24-hour caregiving. This allows us to care for their loved ones so families and friends can concentrate on simply caring about them. The quality of life this adds to someone’s final days is priceless, and the responsibility is taken off the family so they are free to focus on spending this precious time with their loved one. In addition, we open the home and encourage those we serve to use it as if it were their own. They fix lunch in the kitchen, help themselves to a cup of coffee, and can use the living quarters upstairs to spend the night and shower, or to just seek solace in a quiet space."

Food: Hope House

Hope House is a soup kitchen that is open 363 days a year, serving three meals a day. The organization’s sole purpose is to feed the hungry and serve visitors who come from all walks of life. Many have addictions, illnesses, low wage earnings, or lost homes.

Hope House is a non-referral agency. Anyone who walks through its doors is welcomed with open arms to share in a meal.

With the help of The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, Hope House was able to serve an additional 13,600 meals within a four-year period.

"We have found that when people are not experiencing hunger, their spirits remain high and they are not turning to illegal activities to try and get money for food,” said John Madej, Executive Director of the Hope House.

Food: The Country Pantry

The Country Pantry is a community food bank that distributes uncooked food once a month to families and individuals in Clinton, Clark Mills, and Westmoreland, New York. Each month the pantry serves 264 families, which is the equivalent of approximately 1,000 people and 10,000 meals.

With help from The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, The Country Pantry established and supports a fresh fruits and vegetables program, which provides a wide range of fresh produce each month to Pantry families.

"The families that we serve are used to going to the store and buying produce,” said Mary Zimbler, The Country Pantry volunteer. “When these families fall on hard times, fresh produce helps to improve the quality of life and helps to remove the stigma of pantry food. People don’t feel second rate."

"I couldn’t run the fresh fruit and vegetable program without that donation. We haven’t missed one month in three years and that’s because of the donations from organizations like The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation."

Transportation: The Center

The Center, formerly known as the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, assists refugees, immigrants, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals throughout the integration process and helps them achieve independence and self-sufficiency by developing products and services that enables the Center to build community with many cultures.

In 2019, the Center received a grant of $14,000 from the Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation that was applied toward the purchase of a new 8-passenger agency van. The van is used on a daily basis to transport clients for a variety of services, including medical and specialist appointments in the region, as well as appointments for education, employment, and other community services.

“Transportation is often a barrier to a client receiving services, as the majority of new arrivals do not have the ability or the financial means to drive or own a car,” said Jennifer VanWagoner, Manager of Grants & Community Engagement. “Thanks to the donation from The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation and other supporters, we’re able to help our clients make it safely to important appointments that ensure their integration into the community.”

Education: Compassion Coalition

For nearly two decades, Compassion Coalition has served communities lacking opportunities and basic life necessities, such as affordable food, clothing, housing, transportation, employment, and finances.

In 2019, the Compassion Coalition’s Equipped 2 Teach program received a grant of $10,000 from the Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation to provide area teachers and students with much-needed classroom supplies and products. From September to December of 2019, Equipped to Teach served about 32,000 local students with outreach at schools, snack distribution, and clothing distribution. Additionally, 607 full-time teachers shopped for their students at our Equipped 2 Teach location. Equipped 2 Teach is currently serving 60 schools across three counties and continues to add more each year.

“Compassion Coalition really wanted to focus on providing support in the area of educational justice, and who knows the needs of students more than the teachers who see them day in and day out,” said Rachel Daughtry, Director of Agency Relations. “The national average that teachers spend out of pocket is $495, but at Equipped 2 Teach, everything is completely free! Thanks to The Indium Corporation & Macartney Family Foundation, we’ve been able to continue our mission and serve area teachers and students.”