The grant was one of nine made to local nonprofits and public service agencies that serve residents in the Town of Kirkland and Village of Clinton. Funding was also provided for a grant writer to work directly with two organizations to pursue larger funding opportunities. All told, the Town-Gown Fund invested $120,000 in the community.
“The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund is honored to support the needs and aspirations of our local organizations so they can continue serving our community to their fullest potential,” said Hamilton President Steven Tepper, who chairs the Town-Gown Fund Committee. “They all do amazing work and contribute immensely to making Kirkland and Clinton such a desirable community in which to live and work.”
The Kirkland Art Center received the largest grant this year, $20,000 to improve accessibility to instructional and entertainment spaces in the facility. The Clinton Central School District was awarded $19,950 for eight different enhancements – mostly in the form of equipment -- spread throughout the elementary, middle and high schools. In addition, the Clinton Central School District Foundation was presented with $15,000, to continue funding the Elementary School Summer Program.
Grants were also awarded to the Kirkland Town Library ($12,000 to replace the fire alarm system and offset expenses for the kitchen renovation in the Bristol Room) and St. Mary’s Preschool ($10,890 to fence the play yard on Chestnut Street). A grant writer will be paid by the Town-Gown Fund to work directly with the Village of Clinton and the Clinton Symphony to pursue funding for projects whose costs would likely exceed $100,000.
Finally, the Town-Gown Fund provided The Country Pantry with an additional $4,000 in December, bringing the total awarded in 2025 to $14,000 for general operations.
The Hamilton College Town-Gown Fund was created in 2001 by anonymous donors to foster goodwill and communication among the College and residents of the Town of Kirkland and the Village of Clinton. Since its founding, the endowed fund has awarded more than $1.5 million to organizations and nonprofits that serve residents in the community where Hamilton College is located.
In addition to the Hamilton president, Town-Gown Committee members are: Hamilton College Associate Professor of Geosciences Cat Beck; Hamilton College Trustees Phyllis Breland and Amy Owens Goodfriend (formerly of Clinton); Clinton Fire Department Chief Bob Burns; Clinton School Superintendent Chris Clancy; Oneida County Legislator Chad Davis; former Village Trustee Carrie Evans; and M3 Director of Operations Jackie Walters. Hamilton Senior Philanthropy Advisor Dick Tantillo and Executive Writer and Director of Community Relations Mike Debraggio serve the committee as ex officio members. Donations to the fund can be made by contacting Tantillo or Debraggio.
Posted January 6, 2026
