$20,000 in LeadSafeCNY Grants Distributed in June

June 18, 2021 - The Central New York Community Foundation distributed $20,000 in grants through its LeadSafeCNY initiative to support efforts to end childhood lead poisoning in Syracuse. 

Hopeprint received $10,000 to remodel vacant Syracuse Landbank properties to create lead-safe, affordable homes for local residents of the Northside of Syracuse.  The project will improve properties while  offering community members an opportunity at homeownership. 

WCNY received $10,000 to continue its public awareness campaign  on the dangers of lead poisoning.  The PSAs will encourage parents to get their children tested for lead poisoning and explain how to find resources to remove lead paint from their homes.

The Community Foundation established LeadSafeCNY in 2018, committing to invest $2 million to fund a variety of approaches to address the region’s high childhood lead poisoning rates. According to the Onondaga County Health Department, more than 10 percent of Syracuse children tested in 2019 were shown to have elevated blood lead levels. That rate is improved by nearly one percent from 2017.

LeadSafeCNY grants distributed in the community to date total nearly $1.2 million. Outcomes so far have included the replacement of 736 windows and 79 doors and the construction or renovation of 112 safe and affordable rental units. In addition, 135 individuals have ben trained on the appropriate removal of lead paint and thousands of individual contacts have been made to educate residents on the dangers of lead paint exposure. The Community Foundation also committed an additional $500,000 last year to form a loan loss reserve that will help Home HeadQuarters develop new lead-free homes in Syracuse neighborhoods.

About Central New York Community Foundation
The Central New York Community Foundation is a public charity established in 1927 that receives contributions from donors, manages them to grow over time and then distributes funding to local charities to help them thrive. It is the largest charitable foundation in Central New York with assets of more than $366 million and has invested more than $230 million in community improvement projects since its inception. As a grantmaker, civic leader, convener and sponsor of strategic initiatives, the Community Foundation strives to strengthen local nonprofits, encourage better understanding of the region and address the most critical issues of our time.  For more information, visit http://www.cnycf.org.