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Your gift helps manY

Residents of the greater Hamilton NY area benefit from services provided by local nonprofit organizations. Each year, Hamilton Community Chest supports many of these outstanding agencies by raising funds that are then distributed among them so that they can further their own missions. Each of these agencies is critical to our community’s vitality and quality of life. Please give to Hamilton Community Chest and help us help local agencies.

What your donations bring to the community

Food and clothing for the needy

Activities for the elderly

Counseling for the troubled

Services for victims of domestic violence

Day services for those with developmental disabilities

Health and safety services to our community

Learning and reading programs for local children and adults

Theater, dance, art, and music to  add to our quality of life.

About Us

Hamilton Community Chest (HCC) is a 501C3 charitable organization that provides much needed funds to area nonprofits serving the greater Hamilton, NY area. The efforts of the HCC are 100% volunteer driven.

MISSION STATEMENT:

The mission of Hamilton Community Chest is to collect monies from the community and distribute them to non-profit organizations which are determined by the Board to have a significant positive impact on the general well being of the community.

How Funding Works:

The board of directors meets to review agency applications each fall. This process includes interviews with representatives of different select agencies each year.  Once the review process is complete, a budget is approved and the campaign goal is announced. From October through December, solicitations for donations are made by mail,  by internet, and by other public messaging.  In February, the board meets to allocate funding based on campaign success and checks are distributed to our supported agencies along with an application form for the following year.

Why Donate?

Donations to Hamilton Community Chest reach many not for profit organizations that are vital to the well-being of the residents of the greater Hamilton/Southern Madison County region. Your gift helps these organizations carry out their missions. All donations are given directly to these organizations.

The organizations served by Hamilton Community Chest are very appreciative of your support. Below are statements from a selection of agency representatives indicating how this support makes a huge difference in their ability to carry out their missions.

Your donations are so important to the local agencies that Hamilton Community Chest serves. Please help us to help these organizations that are so vital to the well-being of our community.

“I would like to thank the Hamilton Community Chest for, once again, providing support for Village programs and projects. They have generously awarded grants for both our Recreation Program and the Hamilton Library Garden Project. Many thanks to all of you who support the HCC, which provides financial resources for so many of our local organizations!”
— Mayor RuthAnn Loveless, Hamilton Village Mayor
“On behalf of Camp Fiver’s board, staff, and the youth we serve, thank you for your continued support of Fiver’s mission and programs.”
— Kenya Reeves, Development Manager at Fiver's Children's Foundation
“We want to thank you for your continued support to our organization which will go to help with new stairs and railings leading to the Chenango Canal for the public to have easier access to the water and 5-mile trail.”
— Mary Bikowsky, Treasure, CCA
“Thank you again for the support you are providing our library with funds to fix our gardens!
”
— Travis Olivera, Director, Hamilton Public Library
“Grassroots advocacy is how The Arc Madison Cortland began as founding parents realized their children not only needed but deserved a fair chance to succeed in life. Your donation will support many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and will help sustain quality programs, services, and opportunities.”
— Sue Litera, Director of Development and Communications, The Arc Madison Cortland
“The Chenango Water Exercise Group would like to thank the Hamilton Community Chest for your support and generosity. It’s greatly appreciated and will help us update equipment and to continue to market our valuable, award-winning program of over 43 years.
”
— Carol Krehel, Program Director, CWEG
“Thank you so much for the continued support from the Hamilton Community Chest. Your donation has provided scholarships for campers to attend Madison County Children’s Camp free of charge this summer.”
— Jamie Dygert, Executive Director, Camp Lookout
“On behalf of Community Bikes, thanks so much to the Hamilton Community Chest for your very generous grant! Thanks to support like yours, Community Bikes has provided a bike, helmet, and lock to more than 5,000 children and adults from families of low income in our community. You’ve also helped us expand our In Tandem program to provide even more tandem bike rides for adults with disabilities in our community. Your grant makes it possible for us to serve more families in the year ahead.”
— Chuck Fox, Founder and Chair of Community Bikes
“Thank you for making a difference in patient care at Community Memorial. Every dollar raised impacts patients directly, whether through employee education, technology upgrades, physician recruitment, or programmatic development. On behalf of the entire Community Memorial team, thank you for continuing to consider your local rural hospital each year. ”
— Meghan Dougherty, Director of Marketing and Development, Community Memorial Hospital
“It is only due to support like yours that the Opera House can continue its legacy of providing quality arts and cultural programming as it has for over 50 years in rural Central New York. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and aids our mission to support a growing artistic community while preserving the longevity of the Opera House for generations to come.”
— Michelle Connelly
“Thanks to support like yours, Community Bikes has provided a bike, helmet and lock to more than 4,000 children and adults from families of low income in our community. ”
— Chuck Fox, Founder & Chair. Community Bikes
“The Friends of Rogers Board of Directors and staff wish to thank you for your generous donation that will be used to continue to provide outstanding educational opportunities that excite, inspire, and motivate people of all ages to enjoy, understand, appreciate, and protect our natural environment.”
— David W. Carson, Executive Director, Friends of Rogers
“We appreciate your kind gesture and support for our community efforts in Roots Nursery School!”
— Nancy Morgan, Member of the Bell Tree Board

Apply Now

Interested in funding from Hamilton Community Chest for your not-for-profit organization serving the greater Hamilton area?

Click on "Apply Now"

Deadline extended to Sept. 15. Payment is made after the first of the year.

Contact Us

Mailing Address: PO Box 121, Hamilton, NY 13346   |   hcc13346@gmail.com

Who We Help

Hamilton Community Chest serves over two dozen agencies. Here are links to a few of them:

Board of Directors

Dan Nelson, President

Cory Duclos, Vice President

Andy Goeller, Treasurer

Laura Caughlan, Secretary

Cris Amann

Katie Child

Heather Dunshee

Amy Jerome

Michael Jones

History of Hamilton Community Chest:

Hamilton Community Chest was among the earliest community chests formed in the United States having been founded in 1928 and is one of the oldest organizations of its type in the Central New York area. The goal of the first campaign, which began on June 4th of that year, was to raise $2,100. The funds raised were distributed to only seven organizations-Boy Scouts, Health Camp, Hamilton Public Library, Red Cross, Old Ladies Home, Salvation Army and YMCA Boy’s Work. The director of the first campaign was Fred Piotrow with Philip T. Smith serving as treasurer. The headquarters for the Hamilton Community Chest were located in the Smith Block of downtown Hamilton. Hamilton Community Chest was founded with the mission of providing support for local community services. Go to the Photo Gallery for more on the history of Hamilton Community Chest.