vol 2 issue 6: Scholarships, recipients, and upcoming events

The purpose of the Ripple Report so far this year has been to promote Community Betterment Weekend, highlight our volunteers, and call attention to our fundraising endeavors. This week’s article shines a spotlight on the reason for Betterment’s existence in our community – the recipients. This year alone, Betterment has given over $54,000 to local individuals and organizations in need. That money is raised here in our river community through charitable donations and event participation. The ripple effect is alive and well right here in the 1000 Islands and is evident in a few of the recipients that are featured in this week’s article.
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The Alexandria Bay Chapter of Community Betterment proudly offers two annual scholarships to graduating seniors at Alexandria Central School. The first is a Community Service Award recognizing outstanding volunteerism and impact. The second is a Technical Scholarship supporting students pursuing education in a trade or vocational program. Both awards honor local youth making a difference and investing in their future. The Community Service Award was established in 2021. The purpose of this award is to recognize and support high school seniors planning to continue their education whose good deeds and volunteer service show a positive contribution to our community. This year’s Community Betterment Scholarship Recipients are William Weldon, Harlee Bendle, Addisyn Dunn. The Technical Scholarship Award was established in 2024. This scholarship reflects the need for students to access support as they pursue technical, vocational and trade-oriented schools/programs after high school. This year’s Tech Scholarship winners are Austin Duerr and Ronan Amato.

Anyone who has ever visited the Alexandria Community Thrift Store (ACTS) and Food Pantry knows what a busy place it is. The parking lot is almost always full, as people stop by to shop, make donations and pick up food. In conversation with ACTS board members last year, Betterment board members were made aware of some projects that had been identified to meet growing needs, one being an expansion of the current parking lot. Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) was brought into the loop as well for this endeavor to create a three-way partnership. Betterment is donating $8,000 for this project, which is being matched by the NNYCF. ACTS is doing their own fundraising to cover the remaining costs, which will allow for more parking for this thriving, charitable organization. Betterment is thrilled to be able to help a staple of our community that does so much to help others – another example of the ripple effect in action.

​Thrift Store: The Alexandria Community Thrift Store and Food Pantry are in need of an expanded parking lot to better serve the public.

Hearts for Youth is a nonprofit organization in Alex Bay. According to their website, they provide “meaningful opportunities for youth through after-school, evening, weekend, and summer programs that promote learning, creativity, physical activity, and positive social connections.” Their mission is “to help young people become healthy, educated, respectful, and productive members of our community by offering engaging experiences in a safe and supportive environment.” Betterment has committed to underwriting the funding of nutritious snacks and beverages for Hearts for Youth programming for a year. They do so much to support and engage the children in our community. It’s a worthwhile endeavor to provide support for them.

Hearts for Youth: Hearts for Youth staff gather at an event at Alexandria Central School. From left to right – Caitlin Sherbino, Sarah MacPherson and Carolyn Patroni.

The recipients in this article and many others will be celebrated and honored at the Recipient Ceremony being held at 11:00 this Saturday, July 11th at the Scenic View Park Pavilion in Alexandria Bay. All are welcome to attend the Recipient Ceremony. It is free, and you do not need to have participated in any of the Betterment events to be there. It is inspiring to gather by the river that we all love to hear the stories of lives being changed for the better through acts of benevolence. We encourage you to come be a part of it and create some ripples of your own.

In other Betterment news, there is a bench project underway in the village of Alex Bay. There are a limited number of benches available for purchase. These sturdy, weather-proof benches will be placed around the village. Every purchase supports Betterment causes and will include a plaque that can be personalized to commemorate or memorialize an event or loved one. Benches are $500 each, including the plaque. With a limited number available, these benches are expected to sell quickly. Anyone interested can contact Court Rutherford at [email protected].
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For information about any of this weekend’s Betterment events, visit communitybetterment.org/AlexandriaBay. Golf registration is closed, as all of the spots have been filled, but tennis and the paddle are still open. Tennis begins at 9:00 on Friday, July 10th at the Alex Bay Municipal Tennis Courts, and the paddle begins on Saturday at 9:00 at Scenic View Park. Online registration for both events closes on Thursday, 7/9 at 5:00pm, but interested paddlers can register on the day of, beginning at 8:00am. We hope to see you at Community Betterment Weekend, where the river becomes a tradition.

Joe Russell: The late Joe Russell accepting a Community Betterment check from Trevor Garlock on behalf of River Hospital at a previous Recipient Ceremony. The Russell family generously donates to Betterment each year in Joe’s memory.