POTSDAM — The Potsdam Holiday Fund has launched a campaign to build its endowment, a permanent fund generating some interest income every year for the program.

The Northern New York Community Foundation, where the endowment fund is located, will match all new gifts to the Potsdam Holiday Fund Endowment up to a total of $10,000 – effectively doubling donations.

"We are very grateful to the Northern New York Community Foundation for their continued support of our program," said Potsdam Holiday Fund President Traci Giffin. "Their generosity and that of our donors will enable us to continue to help families in need well into the future. This will help us build a larger endowment that will provide ongoing support for the program."

The Potsdam Holiday Fund provides new gifts, warm clothing and food to families and senior citizens in need in the communities of Potsdam, Madrid, Hopkinton, Nicholville, Brasher Falls, Chase Mills, Fort Jackson, West Stockholm and Winthrop, during the December holiday season.The Fund is asking area residents to make a gift to its endowment to ensure the program will be able to continue to make a difference in the lives of its neighbors in need for many years to come.

To contribute to the endowment, donors can go to potsdamholidayfund.org/endowment to give online or print out a donation form. Or they can simply mail a check with "Endowment Fund" in the subject line to Potsdam Holiday Fund, PO Box 827 Potsdam, NY 13676.

Potsdam Holiday Fund Board Members Nancy and Michael Griffin are serving as the co-chairs of the endowment campaign. Nancy and Michael were both founding board members of the Potsdam Holiday Fund Inc. when it was incorporated in 2003. Nancy was a co-founder of the Fund in 1989.

The Fund's “cost to raise a dollar” is roughly 4 cents, which means 96 cents of every dollar it raises goes to help those in need. It has no paid staff or permanent office. Each December it uses the basement of a church in Potsdam to distribute gifts and vouchers to families in need.

Both the Potsdam Holiday Fund Inc. and Northern New York Community Foundation are recognized as 501(c)(3) organizations by the IRS. Donations to the Fund and its endowment are tax-deductible as allowed by law.