Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation, Inc. awards grants for youth-oriented service projects

On May 17, Robert Clarke Bassett, president of the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation, presented four Youth Volunteer Grants to support four projects that engage youth in service.

Receiving grants were the Historic Owego Marketplace, Catholic Charities-Tioga for their YES Program in Newark Valley, the YES Program in Spencer, and to Playyard Concepts in Apalachin. 

Each of the organizations was awarded a grant for $500 that will assist with funding current and ongoing projects. Bassett shared that years ago the grant amount was $250, and now they are able to award $500.

The Historic Owego Marketplace grant will help fund Scout Troop 36’s service project during the annual Strawberry Festival, coming up on June 14 and 15 in downtown Owego. Each year, the scouts from Troop 36 in Owego assist with setup, trash collection throughout two days, and clean up of the event. The scouts perform this work as a service project, and are compensated; the funds are used for camp in the Adirondacks, as well as other community projects. 

Catholic Charities-Tioga Outreach will utilize their grant to help fund the Y.E.S. (Youth Engagement Services) program in Newark Valley; and Sean Lanning for programs in Spencer, N.Y.

Lanning stated that the program in Spencer is in its infancy, but they already have close to a dozen members.

According to the Catholic Charities Tompkins / Tioga website, “YES Club is an academic support program in Newark Valley and Spencer-Van Etten High Schools whose goal is to maximize high school graduation rates and minimize drop out rates. Students are referred to the program through their principals, guidance counselors and teaching staff at the high school.”

Playyard Concepts, Inc. of Apalachin also received a $500 grant. The non-profit provides childcare programs, and has been serving families in the local communities since 2000. 

To learn more about the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation, Inc., email to chbyouthfoundation37@gmail.com or visit them at 34 1/2 Lake St. in Owego.