CANTON -- The St. Lawrence Land Trust will receive $1,000 from a $5,000 grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation for its mission based work.

Officials say the non-profit seeks to protect privately owned open spaces through voluntary means within the watersheds of rivers that flow north out of the Adirondack Mountains to the St. Lawrence River.

SLLT works with landowners to conserve ecologically, culturally and recreationally important elements of the landscape, while maintaining private ownership of the land.

“It is both encouraging and inspiring to see these young adults explore the role they can and will play in leading our communities now and in the future,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “These grants are also a way for them to understand the responsibility of stewarding funds on behalf of others while gaining a greater understanding of the work and mission of local charitable organizations.”

This is the fourth year the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded mission-based grants to nonprofits serving tri-county residents, which is in addition to the Council’s annual grantmaking program.

Four other nonprofit organizations were also awarded a portion of the grant, which aims to support and strengthen each organization's missions through awards from the Youth Philanthropy Council of the North New York Committee Foundation.

The Council and its executive committee selected the five organizations based on each nonprofit’s mission, success in achieving goals, demonstration of fiscal responsibility, sustainability, and formal presentation. Each of the following tri-county organizations were awarded a $1,000 grant to help with a wide range of community programs and projects.