POTSDAM — The Northern New York Community Foundation’s LEAD Council will award $2,000 to the Potsdam Holiday Fund.

The Potsdam Holiday Fund was one of three programs that received the money from the council’s Holiday Giving Fund.

Potsdam Holiday Fund is a nonprofit which provides annual support to St. Lawrence County individuals and families in need with gifts, food baskets, and winter clothing.

Funding from the LEAD Council’s matching challenge will strengthen the Potsdam Holiday Fund’s voucher program this year.

The advisory committee of young professionals established the LEAD Holiday Giving Fund at the Community Foundation in 2020 to help brighten the season for tri-county residents in need.

“The LEAD Council’s work helps support our region broadly and has been a powerful way to extend community engagement and stewardship across the generations,” said Rande Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “The members of the Council are deeply committed to the betterment of communities broadly across the North Country and each grant touches lives in meaningful ways in the true spirit of the season.”

Tim Sweeney, TUNES 92.5 & 104.5 FM vice president, said support from the LEAD Holiday Giving Fund is the “cherry on top” for the Christmas Crusade for Kids and will extend its giving to dozens more local families.

“North Country residents came through in a special way to support the 15th Annual ‘Christmas Crusade for Kids.’ The gracious generosity of so many will help bring joy to more than 1,000 local families,” Mr. Sweeney said. “We are grateful for the warm-hearted compassion of all who remembered their neighbors this time of year as well as the leadership of the Community Foundation and its LEAD Council. Together, we are NNY.”

As pandemic-related challenges evolve, LEAD members continue to prioritize additional support to help vulnerable individuals, children, and families through these well-established initiatives.

“The Holiday Giving Challenge has become a holiday staple for the LEAD Council. We were lucky to have another successful year of gifts from generous donors that allowed us to award a total of $6,000 to three very deserving organizations,” LEAD Council Chair Andrew Boulter said. “The holiday challenge is just one more way donors enable our support of vital community organizations during the season. Thank you to all who support LEAD and make these challenges a success.”

The Community Foundation’s LEAD Council is comprised of 18 young professionals who live and work in Northern New York. LEAD was created to engage and empower the next generation of community leaders in meaningful and strategic work in collaboration with the Northern New York Community Foundation.