Arc of Onondaga Hosts Annual ADVANS Dinner

Arc of Onondaga hosted The Gifford Foundation’s Annual ADVANS Dinner this past June.  In 2007 Arc of Onondaga, along with eight other local non-profits, received either a three-year (up to $120,000) or one-year ($25,000) Advancing and Developing the Assets and Value of Nonprofits in Syracuse (ADVANS) grant.  Arc of Onondaga was one of the five agencies awarded a three-year $120,000 grant  to strengthen the durability and sustainability of its programs.  As a result of the ADVANS process and funding, Arc created a Community Outreach program which increased Medicaid Service Coordination by 16.6 % and created a marketing/business plan for what was formerly known as Monarch Enterprises.  Currently in the final year of the granting process, Monarch, as it is known today, has undergone an entire rebranding. In 2010, sales increased by 11%.   

The dinner is held annually for the five non-profits awarded the three year grants to share their stories of success through the ADVANS funding process.  Among the organizations present were the Center for Nature Education at Baltimore Woods, Huntington Family Center, La Liga (Spanish Action League) and Literacy Volunteers of Greater Syracuse.  In October, the three year granting process will come to an end and The Gifford Foundation will hold its 2010 closure party at Dinosaur Barbecue.  The one-year grantees, Red House, Dunbar Association and Hiscock Legal Aid will also attend.                                                  

Pictured above, Arc Executive Director Stanfort Perry speaks with Board member Mary Salibrici and Gifford Foundation's ADVANS consultant Dr. Kenny Stevens.