The Northern New York Community Foundation is starting 2015 with a $10,000 challenge to help build a grant fund named for the last St. Lawrence University director Peter Van De Water.

Van de Water served as St. Lawrence University’s Director of Student Activities, Financial Aid, Admissions and Vice President of Student Affairs for many years. Van de Water ran for the NY State Assembly in 1990, wrote articles about the North Country and fought to preserve the environment as chair of Citizens to Save the Adirondack Park and the Coalition on Low Altitude Flights.

The Community Foundation will match each gift made, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, through the end of 2015. “This is a great way to honor Peter, build a permanent fund for the benefit of St. Lawrence County, and also have the impact of each charitable gift doubled,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director.

Established in 2014 in honor of its first St. Lawrence county board member, the fund is designed as a permanent endowment to provide grants to enhance the quality of life for the residents of St. Lawrence County. The first grants from this fund are scheduled to be made by the end of this year, and will continue, in perpetuity.

The Peter Van de Water Fund for St. Lawrence County was initially seeded with a $25,000 gift from the Community Foundation and a $5,000 gift from Canton residents Peter and Katherine Wyckoff. Since that time, the fund has grown to over $80,000 through additional gifts from donors across Northern New York. Additional gifts are being accepted with the goal of reaching $100,000 by year’s end.

The Community Foundation will match each gift made, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000, through the end of 2015. “This is a great way to honor Peter, build a permanent fund for the benefit of St. Lawrence County, and also have the impact of each charitable gift doubled,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation director.

Those wishing to join in honoring Mr. Van de Water and his efforts to expand the Community Foundation’s grant making and donor services in St. Lawrence county communities can direct a gift to the Northern New York Community Foundation, 120 Washington St., Suite 400, Watertown, NY 13601, with a notation for the “Peter Van de Water Fund” on the memo line.

Since 2008, the Community Foundation has made over $1 million in grants and scholarship awards in St. Lawrence County and currently administers endowment funds for 20 nonprofit organizations and school districts in the county. The Foundation has also established Youth Philanthropy Councils in partnership with Potsdam Central School and Ogdensburg Free Academy.

The Foundation has been built and added to from gifts (both while living and through their legacy plans) by individuals and organizations committed to meeting the changing needs of Northern New York, as well as supporting specific charitable interests, organizations and passions, within specific geographic regions.