Home / News and Events / In Celebration of its 50th Year, Wyoming Foundation Announces Grants to Support Arts and Youth in Wyoming County

In Celebration of its 50th Year, Wyoming Foundation Announces Grants to Support Arts and Youth in Wyoming County

Wyoming County Residents Making Positive Change Also Honored at Anniversary Event
 
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Wyoming Foundation, a geographic division of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, awarded nearly $64,000 in grants to 15 Wyoming County nonprofit organizations for its 2026 grant cycle. The awards were announced at an event at the Glen Iris Inn on Thursday, July 23, highlighting the Wyoming Foundation’s long history of community support over the last five decades. In addition to the grant awards, the Wyoming Foundation also honored Wyoming County supporters and highlighted the artwork of local students at the event.
Several of the grants were funded or co-funded by Wyoming Foundation clients to increase the overall impact. Grants were awarded to support programs in Wyoming County with a preference for requests that either provide educational opportunities or connect residents to Wyoming County’s arts and cultural organizations.
 
2026 Wyoming Foundation grant recipients include:
  • Arts Council for Wyoming County – $5,000
  • Project Stork Inc. – $5,000
  • Shake on the Lake – $5,000
  • WNY Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc. – $5,000
Grant recipients that were co-funded by both the Wyoming Foundation and a Wyoming Foundation client include:

  • Arts for Learning WNY – $5,000
  • GLOW YMCA – $5,000
  • Horses Healing Hearts, Inc. – $5,000
  • Insightful Strides – $5,000
  • Wyoming County Business Education Council– $5,000
Additional projects that were supported by Wyoming Foundation clients include:

  • Attica Presbyterian Church – Attica Area Community Choral – $1,000
  • Cordelia A. Greene Library – $4,825
  • Eagle Free Library – $1,364
  • Project Read of Wyoming County, Inc.- $2,000
  • Wyoming Free Circulating Library Association –$4,787
  • Wyoming County Business Center, Inc. – $5,000
In addition to the grant awards, the Wyoming Foundation also honored three other individuals including:
  • Loren Penman for the Dr. James MacCallum Community Leadership Award, named after the Wyoming Foundation’s founder, recognizes anyone 21 years of age and older in Wyoming County who exemplifies a commitment to creating positive change in their community through community service, civic engagement or volunteerism outside of their professional position.
  • Shake on the Lake for the Nonprofit Award in recognition of their work in bringing professional theatrical engagement to underserved rural populations. They are recognized for making measurable change and helping transform Wyoming County, leading to a stronger, more successful community.
  • Baylee Hoffmeister for the Youth Leadership Award, recognizing a remarkable youth between the ages of 13 and 20 from Wyoming County who exemplifies leadership qualities and a commitment to creating positive change through community service, civic engagement, or volunteerism.
Local students in grades K – 12 also submitted artwork in honor of the anniversary themed in three areas including Hands that Help, Seeds of Giving, and Open Hearts, Open Hands. Four young artists were honored including: Carter Pietrzykowski of Warsaw Central High School for the Judge’s Award, Natalie Marsh from Perry Elementary School in the grade K – 4 age group, Mer Kelly from Perry Central Middle School in the grade 5 – 8 age group and Anna Phillips from Perry Central High School in the grade 9 – 12 age group.
For 50 years, the Wyoming Foundation has been a force for good by creating positive community impact through the generosity of individuals and families who are passionate about giving back to support the needs of our Wyoming County residents. The Wyoming Foundation serves as a trusted partner for those who wish to support meaningful causes and organizations today and in the future. Guided by a group of dedicated local volunteers and community leaders, the Wyoming Foundation is committed to bringing people together, connecting partners and sparking collaboration to respond to the County’s changing needs.
With nearly $5.7 million in assets, the Wyoming Foundation has supported a wide variety of cultural, educational and human services organizations that specialize in enhancing the County’s arts and cultural institutions, improving literacy and strengthening the County’s cradle-to-career pipeline.

For more information about the Wyoming Foundation and its annual grant process, please visit www.wyomingfoundation.org.
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About the Wyoming Foundation
The Wyoming Foundation was established in 1976 and is a division of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Guided by a group of dedicated local residents, the Wyoming Foundation is committed to bringing people together, connecting partners and sparking collaboration to respond to our community’s changing needs. The Wyoming Foundation actively supports a wide variety of cultural, educational and human services organizations in Wyoming County. Learn more at wyomingfoundation.org.
About the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
For more than a century, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo has enhanced and encouraged long-term philanthropy in the Western New York community. A 501 (c)(3) organization, the Community Foundation’s mission is: Connecting people, ideas and resources to improve lives in Western New York. Established in 1919, the Community Foundation has made the most of the generosity of individuals, families, foundations and organizations who entrust charitable assets to the Community Foundation’s care. Learn more at cfgb.org.