During the week of November 12-18, 2016, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) celebrates Community Foundation Week along with over 780 community foundations in the United States. Community foundations take advantage of this yearly celebration to raise awareness about the importance of fostering local collaboration in communities and innovation to address local civic and economic opportunities and challenges. As NCCF celebrates 30 years of community enrichment, staff and volunteers strive to meet the ever-changing needs of northern Chautauqua County.
Your charitably-minded clients certainly have no shortage of options for their philanthropic dollars. Many clients support favorite charities across the country, including alma maters, organizations in the communities where they’ve lived in the past or have a second home, or charities in communities where their grown children are now living.
Many clients, though, are also deeply committed to the local community where they’re living now, where they’ve raised their children, and where they’ve built a business. That’s why it’s helpful to remind clients that they can reach out to NCCF when they want to make sure their dollars are making the biggest difference possible, right here in our community.
Local events bring joy. Especially during the glorious warm weather months, a seemingly endless stream of festivals, fresh air concerts, and farmers’ markets operate in northern Chautauqua County. It’s easy to find something exciting and fun to go to almost every day of the week. Some days there are so many things happening locally that it’s hard to choose between them.
These events draw local people and many from neighboring communities and nearby regions, including more than a few willing to travel great distances to participate in events they come to love and anticipate. Events bring people together, encourage positive social interactions and a stronger sense of belonging, and promote community engagement.
While enjoying local events, few of us consider the economic impact events have on the communities hosting them. When people go to festivals, concerts, farmers’ markets, or other events like county fairs, golf tournaments, or car shows, they usually spend money, even when the events have no entrance fees. Many people also spend money on goods and services outside of the event they attended, including in restaurants and on accommodations. When people patronize local merchants and have a positive experience, they’re more likely to visit again, further growing the economy.