POTSDAM — Four nonprofit organizations serving more Potsdam residents continue to strengthen the community they love with $16,000 grants thanks to the generosity of the late John S. and Dorotha T. VanNess We decided to share.
John and Dorotha’s commitment to the community continues through a series of new grants impacting the Potsdam area. The John and Dorotha Van Ness Family Foundation of the Northern New York Community Foundation recently approved $16,000 in support to four nonprofit organizations that provide arts, culture, history, and health-based programs.
The Family Heritage Fund is a permanent grant fund that supports programs, activities and initiatives that improve the quality of life in the Potsdam area. The Van Ness’ daughter, Susan J. Sewall, established an endowment at the Community Foundation in 2018 as a lasting tribute to her parents’ service.
“The VanNess Family Fund’s enduring gift continues to impact residents of all ages,” said Community Foundation Assistant Director Max DelSignore. “By supporting children and families and promoting community health and beautification, these programs and projects will give the greater Potsdam region a lasting and meaningful boost.” This year’s grants The target audience is as follows.
Children’s Museum of the North Country — $10,000 to support the museum’s continued expansion with a custom-made transparent piano exhibit as part of the Music and Sound Lab, which promotes playful, interactive, arts-based learning. Visitors learn about the technology behind music production through interpretive signage, play, and exploration. The grant money will be used to build and install a clear piano.
Potsdam Snack Pack Program — $2,500 helps you purchase a double-sided refrigerator or freezer unit, allowing you to expand your offerings to include fresh produce and vegetables. The new equipment is expected to reduce weekly grocery costs by 10%. Storage and packaging facilities have also recently been relocated within the school to streamline packaging operations and increase visibility.
Bayside Cemetery Association — $2,500 to support ongoing efforts to restore the structural integrity of the plaque tower. The next stage of the restoration will include completing the tower containing the urn and the wall adjacent to the gatehouse.
North Country Center for Yoga and Health — $1,000 to support the “Yoga in Schools” program started last year at Potsdam Central School. It is implemented in a series of enrichment classes for fourth and fifth graders and in high school physical education classes. The grant will go toward instructor fees to make the program available for additional classes this school year.
Since it began making grants in 2019, the John and Dorotha Van Ness Family Foundation has supported 17 organizations serving the greater Potsdam area through $56,000 in grants.
Mrs. Sewall established a family foundation as part of her charitable estate planning. After her sudden passing in 2017, the Van Ness Family Fund was established to recognize the family’s longstanding commitment to improving the quality of life in the greater Potsdam area. Mrs. Sewall believed that a strong, healthy community helps provide the backdrop for many other aspects of community vitality and development.
The Community Foundation plans to announce the next round of applications in late spring 2025. For more information, please contact Kraig Everard, Director of Administration and Programs, at 315-782-7110 or kraig@nnycf.org.
John S. Van Ness was active in the Potsdam government and served as village mayor from 1955 to 1961. He also held leadership positions with the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce, the Potsdam Rotary Club, and served on the board of Paul Smith College.
Dorotha (Tickner) Van Ness began teaching at Potsdam High School in 1939 and later became involved in the management of the Sunshine Store with her husband. She served as president of the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Association and was an active member of the Potsdam United Methodist Church.
Daughter Susan J. Sewall praised her parents’ public service and efforts to improve the places they love. Before her untimely death in 2017, she planned to establish this fund to forever honor them.
