The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Non-Profit Consortium celebrates six years
More than 40non-profits from Central New York collaborate on helping the local community.
ONEIDA, N.Y. >> The “Non-Profit Consortium” celebrated its sixth anniversary on Wednesday, April 6, highlighting collaboration between dozens of local non-profit and community service organizations.
Hank Leo, CEO of the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley, created the entity when he served as volunteer President of the Board of Directors of the Greater Oneida Chamber of Commerce and continues to chair the energetic group going forward.
“Back in 2011, when our cham- ber board was recruiting businesses to participate in the membership, I asked leaders from our local non-profits to come together and talk about how we could enhance the quality of life in the Oneida and surrounding communities; it has grown tremendously since then. We now have agencies coming fromthree counties,” said Leo.
The group originally had only six agencies involved and met by rotating locations, until the Gorman Foundation Community Center was purchased and operated by the Gorman Foundation in the former Northside Shopping Center in Oneida. “That move gave us a permanent home, and an appropriate one, as the Gorman Foundation has truly taken over a former plaza in desperate need of renovation, and turned it into a wonderful community asset,” Leo said. “On the first Thursday of each month, we get together, talk and share. There is no agenda, and we wanted to show that by working together, collaborating, and developing partner-
ships, we can make a difference. We ask all of the agencies to share upcoming special events, fundraisers, programs, workshops, conferences, and more.”
What started with just six has now grown to more than 40 agencies meeting monthly.
On the sixth anniversary, there were 47 representatives from more than 35 agencies in attendance. “We do not need to stop there, and we are open to all non-profits and agencies who assist in bettering our community,” said Leo.
Flyers and other notices for programs are shared among the attendees both in paper form for posting at each location in addition to electronically on the chamber’s website www. oneidachamberny. org/ page/page/8868157.htm.
The chamber then adds the events to the online Community Calendar to allow local chamber businesses and residents of the area to see what is happening in the community in the form of programs and services for those in need.
“Many, many natural partnerships have formed because of the meetings. We have found that where there may have been duplication of services, or common programs before, we now are working together as there is strength in collaboration,” said Leo.
Agencies in the NonProfit Consortium in- clude: BRiDGES, Greater Oneida Chamber of Commerce, Help Restore Hope Center, Senior Companion Program, Office for the Aging, Oneida Healthcare Foundation, The ARC, Madison County Motivators, Consumer Services Pros, Oneida Public Library, Madison County WIC, Community Action/ NOEP, The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Madison-Oneida BOCES, Madison County Youth Bureau, Southern Tier SNAP-ED, United Way of the Val- ley & Greater Utica, Franciscan Lifeline, City of Oneida ( Mayor’s Office), Pathways Wellness Center, Karing Kitchen, Catholic Charities, Kallet Civic Center, 4-H, Oneida First United Methodist Church, Great Swamp Conservancy, Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum, Fidelis Care, MCRA- Oneida & Canastota Literacy, HCRA & Dolly Parton Imagination Library, ARISE, Oneida Family YMCA, Liberty Resources, The Gorman Foundation, Cornell Coop- erative Extension, Carenet, Oneida County Health Department, Wanderer’s Rest, Volunteer Services Alliance, Madison Country Rural Health, and several more.
Meetings are held at the Gorman Foundation Community Center, 1081 Northside Shopping Center, Oneida, N.Y. at noon on the first Thursday of each month.
Lunch is provided. For more information, contact Hank Leo, chairman, hleo@ymcatrivalley.org.