Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Community Impact Coordinator Liz Jones said the 24-hour fundraiser will feature 125 organizations that are located in or serve Chautauqua County, “The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation are sponsoring a pool of $35,000 that you can help organizations qualify for.”

Jones said each organization also is able to bring in its own match or challenge dollars.

She added while the last two years have generated around $350,000 in donations, Give Big CHQ has raised over $1.8 million since it started in 2018.

To learn more about organizations taking part in Give Big CHQ or to make a donation on June 8, visit https://www.givebigchq.org/

Bishop Leecroft Clarke

The formation of the Chautauqua County I.D.E.A. Coalition was announced at this weekend’s Juneteenth celebrations.

The coalition is made up of 17 organizations and businesses and is aimed at pursuing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.) strategies in the community. The I.D.E.A. Coalition’s goal is to make Chautauqua County a place where everyone belongs and has opportunities to thrive, especially those who have been historically marginalized. They are committed to addressing, prioritizing, and giving voice to those directly impacted by racism and social injustice in the community.

United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Executive Director Amy Rohler said in a press release, “After the George Floyd murder in 2020, we knew there was a need to proactively address racism in our community”

Rohler added that the incident prompted several informal conversations with individuals from educational institutions, law enforcement, local businesses, and nonprofits across the county.

The United Way is serving as the backbone agency for the I.D.E.A. Coalition. In May 2022, the United Way hired Bishop Leecroft Clarke to be the Project Director for the I.D.E.A. Coalition. He is currently the lead pastor of Healing Word Ministries. His extensive community service includes his roles as the chairperson of the Addiction Response Ministry of Chautauqua County, co-chairperson of the Racial Reconciliation Taskforce of Chautauqua County, past board member for the HOPE Chautauqua Coalition, and a past member of the ESPRI Taskforce.

The Coalition’s initial efforts would start with engaging the African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino communities, expanding efforts and conversations to other historically marginalized populations in the county.

Membership in the I.D.E.A. Coalition is open to any organization interested in supporting its initiatives and signing the membership agreement.

In addition to United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s investment, the I.D.E.A. Coalition has received grants to fund its work through Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, and the Cummins Foundation.

More information about the Coalition can be found at www.uwayscc.org/ideacoalition. Organizations and businesses interested in becoming a member can contact Leecroft Clarke at IDEA-Director@uwayscc.org.

WRFA Public Affairs Director Jason Sample, Public Affairs Director Julia Ciesla-Hanley, Arts & Entertainment Correspondent Anthony Merchant, and Programming Coordinator Gavin Paterniti.

JAMESTOWN, NY – WRFA-LP, Jamestown’s only noncommercial, nonreligious community radio station, was able to raise over $900 as part of the #GiveBigCHQ annual day of giving on Thursday, Jan. 9.

In all, the radio station received $799 from 25 donors. In addition, another $135 in bonus funding was raised through GiveBigCHQ’s “Rise and Shine Hour and and the $25 Match Hour. In all, $934 was raised. Additional bonus funding could also come by way of the GiveBigCHQ Stretch Pool.

“Thank you to all those who chose to give to WRFA-LP during the GiveBigCHQ campaign,” said WRFA-LP station manager Jason Sample. “It was great to see the community come out and support so many worthwhile organizations, including WRFA.”

WRFA’s parent organization, Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, also benefited from GiveBigCHQ, raising $2,270 from the community. In all, nearly $313,000 was raised for over 112 organization. The GiveBigCHQ campaign is organized annual by the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.

For those who were unable to give to WRFA-LP during GiveBigCHQ, there will be other opportunities to help the radio station, including later this month with WRFA holds its 2022 Great American Picnic at Southern Tier Brewing Co. in Lakewood. In addition, WRFA will hold its annual pledge drive in September, when the station celebrates its 18th year on the local airwaves.

WRFA-LP has three full-time and one part time staff positions – all of whom reside in the city of Jamestown – and all donations from the community go toward covering the cost of those positions. In addition, local contributions are used to leverage additional funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

“GiveBigCHQ has played a significant role in helping us raise money for the radio station and working to reach this year’s goal of $15,000 in individual contributions from our listening area,” Sample said. “A Community Radio Station can only be successful if it has support from the community it serves, and fundraisers like this help to show that we are appreciated and supported.”

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Community Impact Director Liz Jones said the CRCF and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation are again co-sponsoring the philanthropic day, “Once again, non-profit organizations across Chautauqua County have registered, creating a fundraising page where they can accept direct donations the day of. So we encourage people to follow their favorite non-profits and listen for instructions and ways they can help support them on June 9.”

CRCF Executive Director Tory Irgang said a record number of organizations from across Chautauqua County are taking part this year with over 100 non-profits signed up, including WRFA and the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

The Give Big CHQ day has raised over $1 million in the last four years for local non-profits.

Jones said the “716 Stretch Pool” is returning again with $25,000 sponsored by the CRCF and Northern Chautauqua Community foundation, “And so, organizations that are participating and registered can qualify to receive a portion of that $25,000. And the way that they qualify is that they receive 10 unique donors, that would be 10 different individual donors, and that is between the hours of 7:16 a.m. and 7:16 p.m.”

To take part in Give Big C-H-Q and to find more information about organizations taking part, including who is doing special match fundraising, visit givebigchq.org

Center Staff confirmed that Renee Freifeld, who began in the new position on January 10, 2022, has left the organization. No explanation was given for her departure. Freifeld had replaced Noah Goodling, who resigned from the Fenton in December.

He took a job as Project Director for Capacity Lab, a new shared non-profit capacity building initiative housed at both Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.

United Way of Northern Chautauqua County Executive Director Diane Hannum, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Executive Director Amy Rohler, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation Executive Director Adam Dolce, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Executive Director Tory Irgang

The Chautauqua Chamber of Commerce has presented the 2021 Pam Lydic Coalition Builder Award to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, United Way of Northern Chautauqua County and United Way of Southern Chautauqua County.

The organizations were recognized for creating the Chautauqua County Response Fund. This centralized funding pool was used to quickly deploy resources to community-based organizations to address the dramatic economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Since its inception, the Chautauqua County Response Fund has raised more than $1 million from individuals, community organizations, and local foundations.

Each year the Chamber of Commerce presents an honorarium to a charity chosen by the award recipient. This year, the stipend will go to the Capacity Lab, a new shared nonprofit capacity building initiative to be housed at both Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation.

Noah Goodling

Fenton History Center Executive Director Noah Goodling is stepping down this week.

City Council member and Fenton History Center Board Member Marie Carrubba told City Council on Monday that Goodling has taken another job within Chautauqua County, “It was with deep regret that the board accepted his resignation about a month ago but this is his last week and they’ll be holding an open house for him on Friday to acknowledge his accomplishments over the past four years. He’s really turned the Fenton around and got it in a much better financial position. And he was very dedicated, very committed, and put a lot of time and energy into the Fenton.”

Goodling said he has taken a position as Project Director for the Capacity Lab, “Which is a brand new initiative. It’s being conducted by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the United Ways from the north and south part of the county, the Sheldon Foundation, and the Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation. And basically it’s an initiative to strengthen the non-profit sector across Chautauqua County.”

Goodling said one of the projects he’s most proud of following his four years at the Fenton include making the center more accessible, “Opening up the ADA accessible entry at the end of 2019, that was a huge improvement, I think, to let people know that anybody no matter what your capacity to walk or move is… if you want to come see our programs or see our seasonal exhibits we’re open to you.”

He added the opening of the LGBTQ+ exhibit earlier this year was a major step forward in representing that community’s voice and including them as part of the center’s historical archives.

In addition to dollars raised by individuals, the Chautauqua Region and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundations sponsored The 716 Stretch, a pool of $45,000 that was awarded to 84 qualifying non-profits.

Give Big CHQ is a 24-hour online fundraising event hosted by the Chautauqua Region and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundations to raise dollars and awareness for nonprofit organizations in Chautauqua County. Both the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts and WRFA participated in this year’s fundraiser

CRCF Executive Director Tory Irgang said nearly half a million dollars has been raised locally under Give Big CHQ, with over 75% of donations being under $50.

The Chautauqua Region Community Foundation and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation are sponsoring a $30,000 dollar pool of stretch dollars to help support participating nonprofits’ fundraising efforts. The Stretch Pool funds are shared by all qualifying nonprofits that receive online donations between now and 7:16 pm today.

You can donate to WRFA and other local organizations by visiting GiveBigCHQ.com.

Last year’s Give Big CHQ event raised more than $180,000 from 1,626 donors to support 97 local nonprofit organizations.

JAMESTOWN – (MEDIA RELEASE) – Recently, the Chautauqua Region and Northern Chautauqua Community Foundations announced Give Big CHQ 2020 will take place once again this year from June 1 to June 11. Give Big CHQ is an online fundraising event to raise awareness and funds to support local nonprofits.

“The goal of Give Big CHQ is to inspire people to work together, show pride in their community and help support local causes they care about,” said Tory Irgang, CRCF executive director. “This year we are extending the dates to more than just a 24-hour event. We hope to encourage more people to come together to celebrate Chautauqua County virtually.”

Last year, the online fundraising event generated over $180,000 from 1,626 donors to support 97 local organizations.

In the two months since the COVID-19 outbreak reached Chautauqua County, many nonprofit organizations have found themselves in difficult positions. Service-based nonprofits have stepped onto the front lines assisting vulnerable populations in our community. In contrast, other organizations have had to adapt and change their programs and service delivery quickly. Nonprofits in the arts, culture, and attraction sector have been forced to close their doors during this time.

“The need is great; nonprofits, like many organizations across our community, are struggling right now,” explained Diane Hannum, NCCF executive director. “This event is an opportunity for individuals to connect with our nonprofit organizations to show their support for the important work they do every day.”

Nonprofit 501c3 organizations in Chautauqua County are invited to visit the Give Big CHQ website, givebigchq.org, to register and create a fundraising page to share their current needs. Starting on June 1, interested donors can make a gift of any size to nonprofits of their choice with each donation going directly to support those organizations.

To guarantee that every dollar that is given benefits the organizations directly, the Community Foundations will cover the usual 2% platform fee on the website for all donations during June 1-11; standard credit card fees will still apply for each transaction.

As our community looks towards re-opening and entering the recovery phase of this crisis, our nonprofits are needed now more than ever. These partners will ensure that our region is a strong and vibrant community for all, far into the future. The public can help by giving back during Give Big CHQ by following and sharing posts about causes and nonprofits they care about and donating to support their work.

For more information, visit www.givebigchq.org and follow Give Big CHQ on Facebook. Registration for nonprofits to participate in this year’s event will remain open until May 22.