CANTON – In February, the Board of Trustees of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association launched a three-year $500,000 capital campaign to increase its endowment to help ensure its financial survivability.

The Northern New York Community Foundation (NNYCF) was the first donor to The Campaign for the People of St. Lawrence County, pledging a $25,000 matching grant when SLCHA raised $250,000. On Nov. 1, the historical association met the challenge.

Now, any donations to SLCHA will be doubled by NNYCF, up to $25,000, and placed in a permanent endowment fund within the Community Foundation. SLCHA entered into a formal partnership with the Community Foundation in 2018 at which time NNYCF provided an initial $10,000 matching grant to help establish the fund within NNYCF.

To date, the campaign has raised $261,965 in pledges and gifts, with $94,074 received in cash gifts this year. Gifts have been received from individuals, corporations, small businesses, civic, service, fraternal, and veteran organizations as well as foundations.

Additional funding would help to expand educational outreach activities especially for children, fund new exhibits and programming, defray ever-increasing operating costs, and create greater awareness of this cultural treasure to drive tourism.

“This matching grant helps build upon the collaborative partnership between our two organizations and is a meaningful and lasting way that we can both multiply gifts today and have an enduring impact on SLCHA’s work and mission for generations to come,” NNYCF Executive Director Rande Richardson said.

“This is the second challenge grant from the NNYCF we have been awarded in just over a year. It is a pleasure to work with NNYCF to establish and enrich the SLCHA resources to provide more for our community,” said SLCHA President Lance W. Rudiger. “Thank you Rande Richardson and NNYCF for the opportunities and support,” he added.

To donate, send a contribution to: SLCHA, PO Box 8, Canton, NY 13617 or directly to NNYCF, 131 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601 with a note that designates it for SLCHA; email kathydg@slcha.org or call 315-386-8133. Donations of any amount are welcome and appreciated. More information about the campaign can be found at www.slcha.org/campaign.