The F.F. Thompson Foundation recently awarded a total of $30,000 to 18 area not-for-profit organizations through its annual Mary Clark Thompson Grants, with individual awards ranging from $500 to $2,500.
The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of University of Rochester Medicine Thompson Health. Each year, members of its grants committee review applications from nonprofit organizations offering programs that improve the health and wellness of communities throughout Thompson Health’s service area.
This year’s grant recipients include:
- Bridges for Brain Injury, Inc. – To purchase adaptive and safety-focused tools for food preparation in its cooking and baking life-skills training program, and to provide ServSafe training and certification for staff.
- Canandaigua Emergency Squad – To purchase a new state-of-the-art transport ventilator to replace an aging unit used for critical care patient transport.
- Canandaigua Fire Department – To purchase an adult-sized training mannequin for use by the department and neighboring fire and EMS agencies.
- Clifton Springs YMCA – To buy equipment and supplies for strength, mobility and low-impact fitness classes, along with health education materials focused on chronic disease prevention.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County – To purchase activity kits, including Nine-Square in the Air, volleyball, pickleball, disc golf and cornhole equipment for 4-H Camp Bristol Hills.
- Family Promise of Ontario County – To help cover first-year operating costs for the new Shill Family Center shelter in Canandaigua.
- Friends of Newark Public Library – To purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED).
- Geneseo Parish Outreach – To help cover medical, dental, vision and prescription costs for uninsured and underinsured participants.
- Gleaners Community Kitchen – To purchase additional dining tables for its emergency meal program in Canandaigua.
- Groveland Food Pantry – To purchase food and personal care items for families in the Geneseo Central School District.
- Happiness House – To purchase an EasyStand therapeutic standing device for adult rehabilitation programs in Canandaigua.
- Mercy Flight Central – To support its whole blood program with specialized medical equipment for in-flight patient care.
- Middlesex Valley Volunteer Ambulance Service – To purchase video laryngoscope units and compatible blades for frontline ambulances.
- Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park – To purchase gardening supplies for vegetables, herbs and flowers that will be donated to Gleaners Community Kitchen.
- Spot Canandaigua, Inc. – To purchase nonperishable food and fresh produce for families and emergency school distribution.
- The Salvation Army – To support senior center programming in Canandaigua, including activities, outings and transportation.
- Thrive to Survive – To purchase art supplies and bring in local artists for its cancer support group.
- Wood Library – To purchase bus passes, hygiene kits, teen programming supplies and outreach materials supporting health and wellness services at The Hub.
The grants honor the legacy of local philanthropist Mary Clark Thompson, who founded F.F. Thompson Hospital in 1904 in memory of her husband, Frederick Ferris Thompson. Her commitment to community philanthropy continues through the Foundation’s annual grant program.
Organizations interested in applying for future Mary Clark Thompson Grants can find application guidelines, which are available each spring, on the Thompson Health website.
