MALONE — Youth in the St. Lawrence County area will be a little bit warmer this winter thanks to a donation from Adirondack for Kids to the St. Lawrence County Community Development Program.

At the end of the organization’s annual golf tournament, dinner, and live and silent auction held recently in Malone, Adirondack for Kids presented a check to Norma Cary of the LCCDP for $25,000 with a memo to "warm kids."

The St.Lawrence County Community Development Program – known as CDP, is a private, not-for-profit agency that serves St.Lawrence County.

CDP was incorporated in 1965 and operates programs and services for low-income families to assist them toward self-sufficiency. CDP encourages self-reliance and responsible community participation among those who are served.

Among the many programs spearheaded by CDP is the county-wide housing weatherization program.

"We're very proud of our St. Lawrence County community," said Eric LaVallee, general manager of the new Ogdensburg Adirondack Energy office. “We're extremely appreciative of people like Norma Cary who are dedicated to our community. She has spent over 30 years in community organizations and it feels great to be able to give back to an organization like hers. We look forward to being an integral part of the St. Lawrence community for years to come."

The $25,000 came from over $135,000 raised at the golf tournament. Held every year in September, the golf tournament is mostly a corporate event, which allows Adirondack for Kids to inject local and non-local funds into the community.

"We reach out to large companies that our Family of Businesses works with such as large banks and Exxon Mobil," said Nancy Monette, executive director of Adirondack for Kids. "We try to get these companies to not just invest in the businesses here, but the community and the kids.”

In addition to the check to the St. Lawrence County Program, Adirondack for Kids also picked a project that they work on directly.

"This year we announced our partnership with the University of Vermont - Alice Hyde Medical Center Camus to create a children's waiting room at the hospital," said Monette. "It's an idea we picked up from our travels and we're really excited about it. The waiting room allows kids to be themselves while they are visiting loved ones in the hospital. It's a relief for both the children and the parents during the difficult time they are sure to be going through."

The additional money raised from the tournament helps fund grants throughout the year for youth organizations. Adirondack for Kids accepts grant applications from youth organization in Northern New York. More information can be found at www.adirondackenergy.com/afk.

Adirondack for Kids is a component of the Adirondack Foundation, a tax exempt, public charity serving thousands of people in the Adirondack area. Adirondack for Kids is a non-profit organization that offers grants to youth establishments in the counties that the Adirondack Energy Family of Businesses serves: Franklin, Clinton, Essex, and St. Lawrence Counties.