Tioga Downs’ owner, Jeff Gural, along with Jim Weed, Marketing Services manager and Roseann Cole, Regional Community Foundation executive director, welcomed guests to the resort on Jan. 4 to announce the recipients of the first $250,000 in funding via the Tioga Downs Regional Community Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit organization that reviews and selects applications for grant funding.
Attending the inaugural event were 16 grant award recipients from four counties surrounding Tioga Downs. More than 50 applications were received since November of 2018.
Cole shared, “The mission is to give back to the communities that surround Tioga Downs,” and explained those counties include Broome, Tioga and Chemung Counties in New York, along with Bradford County in Pennsylvania.
Gural commented, “This is something I’ve always wanted to do when we got to a point where we were profitable,” adding, “And I’m a big believer in giving back to the community.”
Gural also said that without community support Tioga Downs wouldn’t be where they are today.
“My mother was from Binghamton,” Gural remarked, and continued, “I fondly remember spending time here as a child and it’s a region I’ve grown to love, which is why I chose to do business here, and one I will always support.”
Several Tioga County organizations received grant funding, including the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club, Tioga Center Fire Department, the Open Door Mission, Apalachin’s Playyard Concepts, Camp Ahwaga, V.F.W. Post 1371, Camp Badger and the Tioga County Rural Economic Area Partnership.
With the monies received, the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club will use the funds towards general operating support, staffing, programs and facility improvements.
The Tioga Center Fire Department was approved funds for SCBA tanks and firehouse insulation for Tioga Center and Halsey Valley.
The Open Door Mission will use funds to purchase food and general support for the “3 Feed Tioga” food pantries and Playyard Concepts received funds to create an enrichment program for four to twelve-year-olds.
Funds for Camp Ahwaga include general operating support to cover budget deficits due to New York State minimum wage increases, and V.F.W. Post 1371 received funds to complete building roof repair.
Camp Badger in Spencer received funds toward safety and bathroom upgrades, and the Tioga County Rural Economic Partnership received funds toward the Tioga Theatre restoration and community event center.
The Animal Care Sanctuary in East Smithfield, Pa. received funds to buy a transport vehicle as well as to treat and return companion animals from rural Pennsylvania owners and rescuers to administer spay/neuter and rabies shots.
Roberson Museum and Science Center received funds for 35 educational school visits to Tioga County schools.
Other organizations receiving grant funding include A Room to Heal, Chemung County Meals on Wheels, WSKG, Binghamton American Legion Post 80, Triple Cities Maker Space and the Elmira Economic Opportunity Program.
The Tioga Downs Regional Community Foundation is now accepting applications for 2019. In 2019, $1 million will be paid out in two phases; the first phase will be in July and the second in January 2020.
For more information on Tioga Downs, visit www.tiogadowns.com.
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