The Ross Fund

Established in 1998, the Stephen David Ross University and Community Projects Fund is administered through the Center for Civic Engagement with the goal of fostering effective working partnerships between and the community.

Coordinating Committee

The Community Projects Fund coordinating committee is made up of five members: two from Broome County or the surrounding area, two University faculty and/or staff, and a chair. The coordinating committee implements the charitable purpose of the University and Community Projects Fund, and meets annually to review grant applications and make awards.

Donor Biography

Stephen David Ross — distinguished research professor emeritus of philosophy, interpretation, and culture (PIC) and comparative literature — founded the PIC doctoral program and is the author of many articles and books. His most recent titles include: The World as Aesthetic Phenomenon; Unforgetting: Recalling Time Lost; Enchanting: Beyond Disenchantment; Asking, for Telling, by Doing, As if Betraying; Unsettling: Asking, Telling, Doing, Betraying; and Betraying Derrida, for Life, Perhaps.

Guidelines

In 2024, the Ross Fund awarded approximately $28,300 in grants to nonprofit organizations in partnership with units of . Funds are available beginning July 1 of each grant year.

The application deadline for 2025 has not yet been announced.

All grant applications must include a partner and community partner, and must be signed by an authorized representative from each entity.

Examples of University partners include academic units, program units, administrative offices or faculty members. Individual students may apply only in conjunction with both a University and a community partner.

Grants are awarded based on the following priorities:
  • Promotion of collaboration and cooperation between University and community groups
  • Innovative and creative use of the talents and resources of project partners
    Demonstrated commitment to the use of existing funds or to obtaining matching funds
  • Significant, enduring and positive difference in the quality of life in the community

Special consideration is given to the initiation and development of new programs and to organizations that provide matching funds.

All projects must benefit and enhance Broome County and contiguous New York counties.
  • Grants in the range of $1,000 to $28,300 are encouraged, however, smaller requests with unique promise will be considered.
  • Grants to municipal or public agencies for specific projects are considered, provided such projects do not directly replace tax funds or other public funds.
  • Grant money may not be used for sectarian or political purposes, nor for operating support or deficit reduction.

Due to donor restrictions, no funds may be used for activities that include nuclear testing, the manufacture of defense products and equipment, cruelty to animals or the production and/or promotion of tobacco or alcoholic beverages.

All applicants will be notified in writing of grant awards around June 1. 

Awarded grant funds will be dispersed beginning July 1 of each grant year. Customarily, two payments are made. The first payment is issued upon receipt of a duly executed contract and supporting documentation. The remaining payment is made based upon a schedule outlined in the contract and receipt of satisfactory interim reports.

How to Apply

  • Preview the grant application
  • DO NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER MATERIALS with the application. Include only items requested in the application. Other materials will not be reviewed by the coordinating committee.
  • Proposal must be submitted by the deadline (to be announced). No extensions will be granted.

Grants will be submitted via . Questions can be directed to Sara Hall, Senior Assistant Director, Center for Civic Engagement, sarahall@binghamton.edu.

  • FAQ

    Can there be more than two partners who submit a grant proposal?

    Yes, the Fund encourages collaboration with multiple community groups and University units. The grant application asks for one of the partners to be designated as lead partner.

    How does a community organization find a University partner?

    If your organization has a project idea but does not have contact with an appropriate University unit, please contact Sara Hall, Assistant Director, Center for Civic Engagement, 607-777-4289 or sarahall@binghamton.edu. Referrals will be made to possible University units. The Fund cannot guarantee that a University partner will be available for each proposed project.

    What should be included in the proposal narrative?

    A successful grant proposal will describe clearly the need or opportunity the organizations seek to address, focus on a few objectives or goals that the project will accomplish, and spell out what activities or actions will be taken to achieve those objectives or goals. It is important that your proposal describe how you plan to monitor, document and measure your project's outcomes. Please complete all sections of the narrative form.

    Are grants limited to Broome County organizations?

    All grant projects must include or benefit residents of Broome County. A proposal may benefit contiguous New York state counties.

  • Past Awards

    2024

    Food Rescue - $5,821

    Community Partner: NoMa
    University Partner: NoMa and Sustainable Communities

    This program will provide rescued food from local farmers’ markets and stores at no cost to individuals and organizations that would otherwise not have access to enough healthy, affordable food, all while keeping food out of landfills.

    Black Art @ BUAM - $4,115

    Community Partner: Philharmonic
    University Partner: Art Museum 

    This project aims to expose up to 3,000 school children and their chaperones and 900 Philharmonic patrons to works of art by Black creators.

    Empowering Caregiver and Child Connections Through the Power of Play and Storytime - $3,000

    Community Partner: Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network
    University Partner: Division of Speech and Language Pathology

    This project will empower parents and caregivers participating in the Mothers & Babies Parents as Leaders (PAL) program with the knowledge, abilities, and skills to promote speech, language, and literacy development in their young children through play and reading. 

    Evidence-Based Emergent Literacy Instruction: Teacher and Speech-Language Pathology - $4,809

    Community Partner: Mom's House of Endicott, NY
    University Partner: Division of Speech and Language Pathology

    This project will implement emergent literacy intervention that will effectively increase children’s alphabet knowledge, phonological awareness and emergent writing skills while increasing the knowledge of both preschool teachers and graduate speech-language pathology students relative to evidenced-based emergent literacy practices in a classroom setting.

    Greenhouse Project for CCCNY - $2,571

    Community Partner: Compassionate Care of Central NY
    University Partner: NuRhoPsi

    The greenhouse project will help Compassionate Care of Central NY expand its services through a partnership with and the Broome County community, offering individuals with traumatic brain injuries the opportunity to engage in gardening, promote healthy eating habits and improve their motor skills.

    Happy Healthy Lives - $3,000

    Community Partner: Rural Health Network of SCNY, Inc.
    University Partner: Department of Social Work

    This project will promote holistic well-being among rural older adults in Northern Broome County through a lending closet of enrichment supplies and leisure activities to share with clients during home visits. 

    Language Chef - $4,984

    Community Partner: Gigi's Playhouse of the Southern Tier
    University Partner: Division of Speech Language Pathology

    This project will provide a motivational, real-life applicable learning experience to adults with ID to foster expressive, receptive and pragmatic language growth through participation in an adult cooking class.

    2023

    AccELerate through VTS: Science, Language and Living Environments – $5,838

    Community Partner: Roberson Museum and Science Center
    University Partner: Department of Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership

    This program will promote language growth through science for English learners through Visual Thinking Strategies.

    CHOW Bus – $14,462

    Community Partner: Broome County Council of Churches and the Food Justice Working Group
    University Partner: Center for Civic Engagement

    This program will assist in evaluating the needs of our community to bring innovative programming to help support those who struggle with food insecurity in Broome County.  

    Kids Cultural Kaleidoscope – $5,000

    Community Partner: Discovery Center of the Southern Tier
    University Partner: Multicultural Resource Center

    This program will expose and enrich children and families throughout the community with , who might not otherwise be exposed to the rich composition of students and their cultures. Children will be able to see other members of the community with shared customs and beliefs as well as experience a wide range of new cultures and customs.

    Everyone Knows Someone – $3,000

    Community Partner: Reproductive Justice Project of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
    University Partner: Theatre Department

    This program is a theatrical performance designed to bring awareness to and destigmatize the process of having an abortion.

    2022
    American Civic Association and Human Rights Institute Internship Program — $11,750

    Community Partner: American Civic Association
    University Partner: Human Rights Institute 

    Interns from will learn about the immigration system by helping the American Civic Association provide direct legal services to migrants in Broome County.

    Making Early Coding Accessible — $7,250

    Community Partner: Helping Celebrate Abilities and Whitney Point School District
    University Partner: Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership        

    The purpose of this partnership is to extend a region and statewide initiative to promote computer science skills in young children. The project will involve creating freely accessible early coding materials for teachers, children and families in the Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) region.

    I Talk with Horses: Community, Communication and Collaboration — $5,000

    Community Partner: Kali's Klubhouse
    University Partner: Division of Speech-Language Pathology

    Families and their children will participate in a therapeutic riding program at Kali's Klubhouse, teaming up with horses, equine volunteers and a speech-language pathologist from the Division of Speech-Language Pathology at , to practice and develop speech, language and social communication skills.

    2021
    A Partnership to Offer Speech and Language Therapy to Individuals with Down’s Syndrome — $10,000

    Community Partner: Southern Tier GiGi’s Playhouse
    University Partner: Division of Speech and Language Pathology

    The purpose of this project is to establish speech and language therapy services at the Southern Tier GiGi’s Playhouse. The project partners will collaborate to provide free speech and language services to individuals with Down’s Syndrome.

    Grow Our Own Diversity Initiative — $9,050

    Community Partner: Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
    University Partner: Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership

    Educators from the region have been meeting to address local concerns regarding the lack of diversity in schools in both the ranks of teaching and education administrative personnel. This project will be the first step of building a pipeline of diverse educators by “growing our own,” beginning with regional high school students.

    2020
    Community HUBS for Racial Justice: Helping Us Build Successfully — $6,180

    Community Partner: CARES Advocates for Families Inc.
    University Partner: Department of Human Development/ Witnessing Whiteness Community

    The grant will be used to bring together two existing community-based projects involving the University and community: the Witnessing Whiteness Community and the CARES Parent Mentor Program.

    The partners will collaborate to strengthen the community-University partnership, use resources more efficiently across programs with compatible missions, and collaboratively work toward increased racial justice advocacy in the community.

    Ross Park Zoo Visitor Improvement Project (VIP) — $6,030

    Community Partner: The Southern Tier Zoological Society
    University Partner: Department of Teaching, Learning and Educational Leadership

    Through this project, the zoo and University will work to engage the community to provide feedback on ways to improve the presentation of conservation messaging at the zoo.

    The University will lead a needs assessment and the zoo will work with the University to implement improved messaging.

    Housing Rights Internship Program — $4,490

    Community Partner: Broome County Land Trust
    University Partner: Human Rights Institute 

    The Human Rights Institute will partner with the Broome Community Land Trust (BCLT) to create a competitive student internship. This internship will support BCLT’s goal of building an organization owned by community residents most impacted by housing insecurity in the area.

    The intern will receive training and hands-on experience in local regulations around housing rights and in community outreach. faculty and BCLT staff will work together to train and oversee the work of the student intern.

    2019
    Immigrant Legal Services Clinic Internship and Training Program — $10,500

    Community Partner: American Civic Association (ACA)
    University Partner: Human Rights Institute

    The grant will be used to create, train and sustain competitive student internships in the ACA’s immigrant legal services clinic. The Human Rights Institute and ACA will collaborate to select and train interns to support three attorneys serving people in Broome County who require assistance in accessing immigration services and legal protections.

    The Mansion Community Center — $4,000

    Community Partners: The Mansion Community Center, a resident-driven neighborhood improvement program, and the Safe Streets neighborhood group
    University Partner: The Neighborhood Heritage and Sustainability Project

    The grant will be used to upgrade the Mansion Community Center food pantry serving the north of Main Street neighborhood in .

    2018
    Into the Lyme Light: Raising Awareness and Education in Broome County — $7,500

    Community Partner: Southern Tier Lyme Support Inc.
    University Partner: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

    The partners will collaborate to bring Lyme disease awareness and education to the public and healthcare providers in Broome County. The goal of the project is to increase prevention and early detection, expand diagnostic testing and improve treatment of Lyme disease in Broome and surrounding counties.

    Projex Cinema — $7,500

    Community Partner: Spool Contemporary Art Space
    University Partner: Cinema Department

    The partners will collaborate to create a 100-seat Community Cinema Space in the heart of Johnson City's Health and Cultural District. Projex Cinema seeks to unite Broome County's diverse local and student populations in active and transformative experiences of cinema, to cultivate community connections that build social equity and economic health in our cities.

    2017
    See Me, Hear Me, Treat Me — $7,000


    Community Partner: Truth Pharm Inc.
    University Partners: Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Department of Sociology, Harpur College of Arts and Sciences

    The project will produce an educational program for clinical personnel commonly involved in the treatment of people affected by addiction. The goals are to empower the user, the community and providers to create a cohesive unit to eliminate or reduce the harm caused by addiction.

    Engaging and Empowering ELLs — $4,000

    Community Partners: Johnson City Central School District
    University Partner: Graduate School of Education

    The goals of the project are to provide Johnson City Central School District's English Language Learners (ELLs) with the opportunity to enhance their understanding of English Language Arts reading materials and to develop and improve their writing skills.

    Professional Development Programming Series — $2,500

    Community Partner: Family Enrichment Network Inc.
    University Partner: Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development, Center for Civic Engagement, and Broome County HEARS

    The project will prepare Family Enrichment Network's Adult Literacy Program participants for the job search by providing sessions on general professionalism, resume and cover letter skills, interviewing tactics, and financial literacy, and will provide University student interns/volunteers with high impact learning opportunities.

    2016
    Mobile Culture and Out & with The Memory Maker Project — $5,000

    Community Partner: The Memory Maker Project
    University Partner: Center for Civic Engagement

    The project's goal is to offer programs to engage people with memory loss in meaningful cultural activities intended to lessen symptoms associated with memory loss and improve individuals' quality of life. An interdisciplinary team of students through the Center for Civic Engagement will assist with programs and data collection.

    Summer Zone! (Broome County Promise Zone, Summer STEAM Camps 2016) — $5,000
    Community Partners: Broome County School Districts of , Johnson City, Union-Endicott, Whitney Point and Windsor
    University Partner: Broome County Promise Zone (College of Community and Public Affairs)

    Summer Zone! provides STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) learning camps for students and families throughout Broom County Promise Zone. Summer Zone! addresses summer learning loss while giving students and families increased community, career and college engagement.

    A Room to Heal's Community Project at the PAL Family Resource Center — $3,500

    Community Partner: A Room to Heal Inc.
    University Partner: Hinman College's Public Service Learning Community

    A Room to Heal and Hinman College will partner to renovate the PAL (Parents as Leaders) Family Resource Center of the Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network. The PAL Family Resource Center serves on average 500 families a year which includes 600 adults and 800 children. Renovations will include painting, installing new flooring, assembling new furniture and accessories and hanging pictures and lights. 

    2015
    AR Magic Book Outreach Program — $6,000

    Community Partner: Center for Technology & Innovation
    University Partner: University Libraries

    The project's goal is to enable outreach through interactive exhibits and programs, utilizing equipment, mobile Augmented Reality Magic Book (ARMB) and permanent ARMB, developed by the University Libraries.

    Engage, Connect, Impact ... Go Liberty! — $5,000


    Community Partner: Windsor Central School District
    University Partner: Liberty Partnerships Program

    Liberty Partnerships Program will work in collaboration with the Graduate School of Education, Undergraduate Minor Program, and the Windsor Central School District to provide an after school program for middle school students focused on achieving district goals.

    2014
    Johnson Classroom Elements and Teacher Workshops — $6,500

    Community Partner: WSKG Public Telecommunications Council
    University Partner: Graduate School of Education at

    The project's goal is to share the local history with younger generations of Broome County, offer free, on-demand educational resources to Broome County teachers, strengthen existing partnership between WSKG and Graduate School of Education and provide University students with real-life experience.

    Center for Civic Engagement/Broome County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) — $3,500

    Community Partner: Broome County Office of Emergency Services
    University Partner: Center for Civic Engagement at

    The project will increase the number of active young members on the CERT to enable the more mature team to better accomplish its mission and offer funding required for newly expanded CERT to continue providing its essential trainings, uniforms, and safety equipment for its members. 

    2013
    Half a Loaf Project — $8,500

    Community Partner: Regional Sustainability Coalition
    University Partner: Geography Department

    The project seeks to address neighborhood disparities in food access in the community in an effort to reduce childhood obesity and other food related health problems. Through data compilation, civic engagement, and the media, the project will strengthen the community's capacity to address the nutritional needs of at-risk population groups. 

    The Poetry Project — $1,500

    Community Partner: Broome County Public Library
    University Partner: Center for Writing

    The project is a literary outreach program that educates youth and adults on how to write and read creatively through poetry workshops for Broome County residents at the Broome County Public Library, YWCA, and Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome. The goal is to enhance art awareness and literacy, and to connect the University with the community through poetry.

    2012
    The Little Read Initiative — $4,000

    Community Partner: Family Enrichment Network
    University Partner: Graduate School of Education 

    The Family Enrichment Network will partner with faculty and graduate student interns to implement an early childhood education project based on a classic work of literature, designed to improve children's literacy skills, social-emotional development, family-school connection and school readiness.

    The Poetry Project — $3,000

    Community Partner: Broome County Public Library
    University Partner: Center for Writing 

    The project is a literary outreach program that educates youth and adults on how to write and read creatively through poetry workshops for Broome County residents at the Broome County Public Library, YWCA, and Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome. The goal is to enhance art awareness and literacy, and to connect the University with the community through poetry. 

    The Evaluation of the Broome County Sexual Assault Response Team — $3,000

    Community Partner: Crimes Victims Assistance Center
    University Partner: Department of Public Administration

    The project will collect data and evaluate the sexual assault response in Broome County through anonymous feedback from victim survivors.  The data will be used to steer the growth and improvement of trauma informed care throughout the county.

    2011
    US-Chinese Student Exchange — $6,500

    Community Partner: Union-Endicott Central School District
    University Partner: Confucius Institute of Chinese Opera at

    The purpose of the project is to create a cultural exchange program between high school students in the Union-Endicott School District and students in a high school in China. The project will enable U-E students to be lifelong learners and to become part of the global community. The exchange program will build a connection and interest in the Chinese language and culture while creating a network of support and learning between the Chinese and American students.

    Community Literacy Program — $3,000

    Community Partner: Boys & Girls Club of Western Broome Family Center
    University Partner: Student United Way of

    The Community Literacy Program will inspire children to develop literacy skills and a love of reading by providing a place and opportunities to read together with an adult or individual on a daily basis. The program will also offer opportunities for children and teens to work one-on-one with a literacy tutor; increase reading comprehension and retention; foster imagination in our youth through reading; and encourage families to read together.

    2010
    Community Compost Initiative — $4,000

    Community Partner: Amelia LoDolce, Sustainable Development Planner, City of
    University Partner: Dr. Juliet Berling, Environmental Resource Manager for Facilities Management (Organic Garden Project co-managed by BU Office of Recycling & Resource and Biology Dept’s Agricultural Education Course)

    A composting collaboration between and Sodexo Dining Services has resulted in the collection of 350 tons of compost since 2008. On average University collects from campus alone 2500 pounds of compostable material with a range of 1750 to 5100 pounds six days per week during the academic month year. To expand this program and to support compost needs for the City of ’s Urban Farming project, the University has begun the collection of additional material from the following companies – Behlog & Son Produce, From Seeds to Entrees and Best Bagels.

    This joint effort has created the added benefit of providing an educational opportunity through teaching sustainable waste recycling practices via four student internship per academic year. It also provides students with real world opportunities for learning and leadership, as well as being able to provide a value to the City of residents through the Urban Farming Project.

    2010-11 BackPack Program — $1,500

    Community Partner: Food Bank of the Southern Tier
    University Partner: Geography Department

    The Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s BackPack Program provides bags of healthy food to hungry children for consumption on weekends and holiday breaks. One of the greatest unmet needs for children in the Southern Tier is adequate access to food programs on a consistent basis. Approximately 35,000 of these children are eligible for free/reduced price meal programs provided at school. The purpose of the BackPack Program is to fill the gap left on weekends and holidays when children cannot access meal programs.

    The Geography Department has supported the Food Bank by providing assistance in the mapping, analysis, and visualization of areas where children are most vulnerable to hunger. Specifically, previous collaboration has entailed the use of geostatistical methodologies to inventory and map hunger statistics, along with school districts and census data to identify the districts where children are most vulnerable. Additionally, individuals from the University would be invited to participate in a volunteer repack activity, whereby food in bulk containers is repacked into the bags that are distributed to program participants.

    2009
    In Motion — $4,750

    Community Partner: Jennifer O'Brien, Executive Director, The Magic Paintbrush Project
    University Partner: Jennifer Marshall, Director of Field Education, CCPA - Departments of Human Development and Social Work, and the Graduate School of Education

    The grant will be used to establish new workshops that are needed to better support those with physical challenges, and caregivers, to engage in therapeutic goals and interventions. The new workshops will develop appropriate activities, adaptive tools, facilitation specifications and training that will enable motor impaired individuals to benefit from The Magic Paintbrush's many advantages. The project will provide University students with the opportunity to actively participate as student learners in the development and practice of these new tools and techniques.

    Story Garden's "Green" Learning Initiative — $2,836

    Community Partner: Nancy Hargrave, The Junior League of
    University Partner: S.G. Grant, Dean, Graduate School of Education

    This grant will be used to develop an interactive garden that promotes literacy and nature, seeks to expand the green learning component of the garden, inspire visitors, and promote environmental awareness by installing plant identification data, composting directions and an alphabet hunt. students working with the Junior League and collaborators will research plants and composting, and develop educational materials and signage.

    History Works! Music CDs — $1,000

    Community Partner: Susan Sherwood, Executive Director, Center for Technology & Innovation Inc.
    University Partner: Professor Melvyn Dubofsky, Harpur College of Arts and Sciences Department of History

    This grant will be given to explore the role of music in the workplace and labor-management relations while capturing the lyrical spirit and musical traditions of the mid-20th century Southern Tier for future generations.

    2008
    Big Ideas in Science Institute (BISI) — $7,500

    Community Partner: Joseph Busch, Superintendent, Broome-Tioga 
    University Partner: Thomas O'Brien, Associate Professor of Science Education, Graduate School of Education

    The BISI is a seven-day professional development institute for 48 science teachers (grades five through eight) drawn from 14 districts within the local Broome-Tioga BOCES region. The institute will enhance the teachers' content and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) related to the big ideas or unifying principles and theories as outlined in the NYSED Intermediate Level Science Core Curriculum Guide. BISI will also model research-informed, best practice instructional strategies including Hands-On Explorations and discrepant event demonstrations that can be used by the teacher-participants with their own students.

    BOCES will help recruit teachers and provide a project evaluator. The two parallel track instructional teams consist of highly qualified professors from , Broome Community College and local "master teachers"/leaders of the local and statewide Science Teachers Association of New York State.

    Healthy Haven - Nutrition and Garden Project — $2,500

    Community Partner: Susan Sherwood, Admin. Director, Healthy Haven After School Program
    University Partner: Mary X. Britten, Associate Professor, Decker School of Nursing

    The project promotes nutritional awareness and life skills in Haven teens, as it transforms an abandoned lot into a green oasis with an organic vegetable garden. Teens learn to plan and implement, to harvest and market vegetables, and to avoid unhealthy dietary patterns. The garden will beautify Oak Street, making a long-term, positive difference in the quality of neighborhood life.

    2007None

    2006
    Broome County Syringe Exchange Program (BCSEP) — $5,000

    Community Partner: Southern Tier AIDS Program Inc.
    University Partner: 's Public Administration Program.

    The goal is to implement a syringe exchange program in Broome County utilizing a community-based collaboration. Collaboration to be developed with community service organizations, human services organizations, faculty and students, local politicians, law enforcement officials, faith community representatives and concerned citizens.

    Catalysts for Intellectual Capital Leadership Initiative — $5,000

    Community Partner: Southern Tier Opportunity Coalition
    University Partner: 's Graduate School of Education.

    Goal is to help bridge the gap between and the surrounding community, educate students about opportunities in the Greater area, provide a forum for discussion about economic progress, enhance integrated university/community investment in human capital development and develop ways to expand career opportunities to retain students in .

    2005
    Ecological Investigations at the BU Nature Preserve — $6,200

    Community Partner: City School District
    University Partner: Environmental Studies Program

    The purpose of this grant is to provide opportunities for hands-on experiences at the campus nature preserve for seventh-grade students in the City School District. Many of these young men and women are urban students who have had limited to no experience in nature. It will also target Environmental Studies students (two student interns and nature preserve guides) who will also gain experience working in environmental education.

    The Story Garden at Discovery Center of the Southern Tier — $3,800

    Community Partner: Junior League of
    University Partner: Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

    The purpose of this grant is to develop a literary based children's interactive garden that will be located on the grounds of the Discovery Center. The Story Garden will reflect themes of exemplary children's stories through 12 vignettes. The garden will serve the community of children, families and students as a site to promote literacy in our community. It will be an ideal location for elementary school field trips related to literature and science. It will also offer an off campus site for University students to pursue field experience including research, observations and interactive opportunities with young children.

    2004
    Geography of Technology: An oral history of industry in the Southern Tier 1930-1980 — $5,625

    Community Partner: Center for Technology & Innovation Inc.
    University Partners: anthropology and history departments, Watson School 

    The Center for Technology & Innovation Inc. and anthropology and history departments will create a digital archive on The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier. The Watson School will partner with a local sculptor to create an original interactive sculpture for the "Southern Tier Technology" by conducting oral history interviews with local high-tech retirees. This oral technology timeline will place local manufacturing and technological advances in the context of national innovations and industrial trends. The recordings are to be housed at the University and local historical societies.

    Brother-To-Brother Mentorship Program — $5,625

    Community Partner: City School District 
    University Partner: Division of Human Development at

    Develop a mentoring program for racially and ethnically diverse ninth-grade male students from High School who are at risk of attrition. student mentors will work with the high school students in a series forums, designed to increase retention rates by promoting attendance, improving academic performance and develop a cultural awareness of this target population. A quantitative and qualitative assessment will be conducted to assess the efficacy of the mentorship and will look at variables such as self-esteem, life satisfaction, adjustment to school, sense of belonging, stressors, social support and ethnic identity.

    2003
    Don’t Pass Me By: Creating an interactive outdoor sculpture for the Discovery Center — $25,000

    Community Partner: The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier,
    University Partner: Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science,

    The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier and Watson College of Engineering will partner with a local sculptor to create an original interactive sculpture for the entrance to the Discovery Center. The sculpture will be an introduction to the "please touch me" experiences that exist throughout the museum. Engineering students will design and conduct analyses of the structure to insure that the support of the sculpture is capable of sustaining weight loads, environment and use; and an art student will work with the sculptor to learn the techniques and reflect on the connection between artist and engineer roles.

    2002
    Equity in Children’s Access to Healthcare: Utilizing Telehealth Technology — $17,000

    Community Partner: United Health Services
    University Partner: Institute for Child Development,

    The telehealth project is a collaborative effort between United Health Services (UHS) and the Institute for Child Development, (ICD), to develop and implement video teleconferencing technology in an innovative way to provide equitable access to expert healthcare to children in the Southern Tier.

    Healing Our City Through Expressive Arts — $8,000

    Community Partner: Mental Health Association of the Southern Tier Inc.,
    University Partner: Graduate School of Education and Human Development,

    A collaborative effort of SEHD and the Art Department faculty and students along with human service agencies of downtown to provide access to expressive arts healing process for residents with special needs and weekend healing programs for the population at large.

    2001
    Communication Technology Assessment Center — $11,000

    Community Partner: Southern Tier Independence Center (STIC),
    University Partner: Graduate School of Education and Human Development (SEHD),

    Create a Communication Technology Assessment Center (CTAC) for people with communication disabilities. This program will augment the existing STIC loan program that offers other technology devices such as power wheelchairs and computers. CTAC will coordinate all aspects of communication assessments, assist clients to acquire communication technology, and provide experiential learning for University SEHD students in the availability, applicability, and use of these devices. Given appropriate communication devices, children and adults can actively participate in social conversation, education, and all aspects of community life.

    Student Mentors for Adolescents — $8,550

    Community Partner: Family and Children’s Society,
    University Partner: Counseling Center

    Expand a pilot program, begun in 2000 under a grant from the Rose/Ross Fund, designed to engage adolescent sexual abuse survivors in a mentoring relationship with University students. The Mentoring Project will be a for-credit, yearlong internship for seniors or Masters level students. Student mentors will provide positive role models, acquaint adolescents with university and community resources and engender hope and encouragement for the adolescent’s future goals.

    Campus - Community Mediation Project — $5,000

    Community Partner: ACCORD Inc.,
    University Partner: Office of University Ombudsman,

    Train student mediators will encourage cooperative and constructive resolution of conflict within and between the University and local communities. Mediation, as a voluntary process of conflict resolution, helps parties develop mutually acceptable solutions. This program will create a mediator pool that more closely resembles Broome County’s diverse population with respect to race and ethnicity, and provide much needed assistance with youth services programs.

    Vestal School Foundation Summer Enrichment Program — $1,750

    Community Partner: Vestal School Foundation Inc., Vestal
    University Partner: Continuing Education and Summer Programs,

    Provide 10 scholarships for low-income students to participate in a pilot summer science enrichment program to be conducted by teams of University faculty, graduate students and Vestal science teachers. This science immersion curriculum will help students make connections between science process and science content, including laboratory and fieldwork related to real world applications. The course will be a prototype for a countywide program to be offered in future summers.

    2000
    Restoration: Harry L. Johnson Fountain and Sculpture — $10,000

    Community Partner: City of , Department of Planning, Housing & Community Development,
    University Partner: Public Archeology Facility and Art/Art History Department,

    To research, repair, and document the fountain's bronze sculpture, "Boy with Fish", designed by Charles Keck, located in Recreation Park, . The City of , Susquehanna Heritage Area, and the West Side Coalition will restore the reflecting pool and plumbing mechanisms.

    Refugee Orientation Booklet — $10,000

    Community Partner: Refugee Resettlement Office, InterReligious Council,
    University Partner: Translation Research and Instruction Program (TRIP),

    To research and translate an orientation booklet for new refugees and secondary migrants to help them adjust to life in our community and become self-sufficient . The booklet will include information about local community and government services in Broome and surrounding counties. Two pilot booklets in Russian and Ukrainian will be produced and distributed.

    Student Mentors for Adolescents (SiMBA) — $5,000

    Community Partner: Family & Children's Society of Broome County,
    University Partner: University Counseling Center

    Pilot a program to train and supervise University students as mentors for adolescent victims of sexual and other abuse. The student mentors will promote positive outcomes, acting as role models for these teens at a very important time in their development.

    1999
    Curriculum of Acceptance and Respect, Grades K-3 — $15,000

    Community Partner: Roberson Museum & Science Center,
    University Partner: Graduate School of Education and Human Development,

    To develop and pilot a curriculum on acceptance and respect for grades K-3 in collaboration with the City School District that is interdisciplinary, hands-on and experiential.

    PC Xchange — $10,000

    Community Partner: Catholic Charities of Broome County,
    University Partner: School of Management,

    To provide children of low-income families the opportunity to access computer technology by upgrading donated, outdated computers and training these children and their families to use the computer, Internet, and basic word processing software.