Grants

Total Experience Learning

Albright University in Reading, PA runs a program known as Total Learning Experience, which gives students a chance to step outside their typical classroom experience in the Reading School District, and equips them with industry-level tools to complete research. This life-changing opportunity was something Visions wanted to partner with as we expanded our relationship with Albright University and the Reading community.

Paterson Public Schools

Visions presented a grant to the Paterson Public Schools Full-Service Community Center to help build a new clothing pantry. This community center is in the heart of Paterson’s Fifth Ward, and over the past few years the center has become a valuable resource in the community. They offer services such as English as a Second Language (ESL), parenting classes, job skills training, mental health support, emergency food/clothing distribution, and a dental clinic.

Leonia High School Wellness Products

Visions provided a grant to Leonia High School in New Jersey for wellness products. The high school utilized the grant funds to purchase five feminine product stations, as well as enough supplies to keep them stocked for one school year. Visions has an in-school branch located at the high school, and we are proud of our partnership with the Lions!

Saoirse Pastures

Visions provided a grant to Saoirse Pastures for rubber mats for their potbelly pig shelter. The rubber mats provided by this grant help cover the wooden floors of the shelter to protect against moisture and provide thermal insulation in the winter. Based out of Ithaca, NY, Saoirse Pastures rescues farm animals and provides them with sanctuary and care.

CARES Advocates for Families Backpacks

For the past seven years, CARES and the City of Binghamton in New York have partnered to provide Binghamton City School District students with new backpacks and school supplies. Visions helped fund their largest backpack giveaway to date, with over 1,000 backpacks provided to students. In addition to funding the backpack giveaway, Visions sent teams of volunteers to multiple locations across the city to help distribute them!

Clear Path for Veterans Americana Debit Card Donation

Through our Veterans Program, which has committed to donate $5 for each Americana-style debit card issued, Visions donated $9,785.00 to Clear Path for Veterans, based out of Chittenango, NY. Clear Path for Veterans helps service and connect with members, veterans, and community members through their various programs. Visions also presented a check to Clear Path for $1,103.50 from our Denim Days initiative, where employees donate $5.00 out of each paycheck to both support causes they care about, and for the opportunity to wear jeans on the first Monday and every Friday of the month.

Kids In Need of Diapers (KIND)

Visions had the opportunity to assist the First Baptist Church in Owego, NY with their Kids in Need of Diapers (KIND) project. This is a center that the church runs for families in need of diapers, supplies, and any other support services. Visions made a monetary donation to the program along with a donation of boxes of diapers and wipes.

Nichols Park Pond Trail

Visions helped the Nichols Park and Pond Beautification committee in Spencer, NY to restore the walking trail of the Nicholas Park Pond. The park has been a part of the Spencer community for 150 years and has been a recreational and environmental resource for the town, often hosting a range of events and activities. During the pandemic, trail and park usage increased due to people wanting to get outside and be active. The funds we donated were used to fix flood damage, constant usage of the trail, and to make the trail ADA compliant.

The Impact Project

Visions awarded the Impact Project with a $10,000 grant to continue their growth in Madison County. Founded in 2004, the Impact Project serves seven counties in New York by providing home repair and rehabilitation services to neighbors in need with the goal of maintaining a safe, stable home environment. The grant provided by Visions will help support necessary repairs on two homes in Madison County.

Binghamton University Youth Police Initiative

The Binghamton University Police Department and Johnson City Police Department host an annual Youth Police Initiative over the summer for kids age 13-18 to experience what college life is like, get a tour of the campus, and connect with local police officers. Visions had the opportunity to sponsor this program and attend the event’s dinner at the conclusion of the program.

Centro Hispano Daniel Torres

In our efforts to grow our Hispanic community outreach, Visions provided a $25,000 grant to the Centro Hispano Daniel Torres in Reading, PA. This grant was to support the “Abriendo Puertas” (Opening Doors) program. The grant provided a huge boost of support to their programs, as they serve roughly 300 residents of the City of Reading daily.

I Want to Mow Your Lawn

Visions partnered with I Want to Mow Your Lawn for a grant sponsorship to improve their lawn mowing triage response system. I Want to Mow Your Lawn is a non-profit organization that provides free yardwork services to senior citizens, veterans, and disabled individuals through a network of volunteers.

Brody’s Memorial Bench

Newark Valley graduate, Laine, wanted to build a bench in memory of classmate Brody Hines, who sadly passed away of cancer at the age of 17. Through the grant provided by Visions Cares, and with the assistance of his teachers and our in-school branch in Newark Valley, NY, he was able to complete a bench that will honor Brody’s memory.

Stand With Me Assistance Dog Team Training

Stand with Me Assistance Dog Team Training held a BBQ Fundraiser at the Vestal Elks club in Vestal, NY. Visions presented the organization with a check for $3,000 to assist with their dog training school. This intensive program for veteran and dog teams lasts 1-2 years and includes lifetime participation in follow-up training and mentoring programs. The most important factor in effective service dog work is a well-trained human handler.

Latin Fusion Baseball League

After their team bus got vandalized and their equipment was stolen, the Latin Fusion Baseball League reached out to Visions for assistance, and we responded with a donation of $1,500 to help the league to recoup their losses. This grant will ensure the team has equipment before the summer league starts.

Candor Emergency Squad

Visions provided a large grant to the Candor Emergency Squad, Inc. (CES) to fund the replacement of computers on two ambulances. This equipment will enhance and improve collaboration with the Tioga County Dispatch Center and improve patient care reporting and compliance with New York State regulations.

SUNY Oswego Scholarship

Casey was the 2023 recipient of a Visions-funded scholarship for non-traditional students at SUNY Oswego's Downtown Campus in Syracuse, NY. The scholarship provides $500 each semester to students at the Syracuse campus with a financial need.

First Presbyterian Church of Johnson City

Visions provided a grant for the This Day Program, hosted through the First Presbyterian Church of Johnson City, NY. The program helps individuals with food, clothes, and showers - no questions asked. They also offer a food pantry and a hot meal every Wednesday.

Chenango Ambulance Services

Chenango Ambulance Services, Inc. received a grant of $2,000 from Visions for the purchase of new uniforms. Chenango Ambulance Service was founded in 1976, and they serve the Town of Chenango as well as surrounding communities in Chenango County and the Greater Binghamton Area.

SPARKS Foundation

A grant provided by Visions Cares helped provide after-school science classes to three of the lowest funded schools in the Reading School District through the SPARKS Foundation! According to a survey conducted by the United Way of Berks County, extra after-school programming was among the most requested items by Reading parents. The SPARKS Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to promoting science literacy to elementary age children through hands-on programs.

Vets in Nature

Vets in Nature organizes free outings for veterans in Tompkins County and the surrounding counties, including various hunting and fishing trips throughout the year. Beyond offering a free, healthy activity for our vets to participate in, Vets in Nature provides a community for those veterans and works to connect them with a host of resources. Visions provided a grant for the second year in a row to support the Goose Hunt Program, which has expanded in 2023 and now features both a spring and fall hunt. Carol also presented several framed letters of appreciation from the veterans to our staff.

Rochester Crime Stoppers

Visions presented a $3,000 check to support Rochester Area Crime Stoppers and their 2023 initiatives. Visions proudly supports their work and partners with Crime Stoppers year-round. This grant will benefit their general fund and K-9 initiative.

Boys & Girls Club of Rochester

In November 2022 we presented the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester with a Visions Cares grant to support their Accelerated Reading program. Per the Boys and Girls Club, “The program helps children improve their reading skills and encourages the love of reading through daily reading practice.” To show their appreciation, the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester invited us to tour their facility and learn about all the programming that they offer in the community.

Cortland-Chenango Rural Services

Visions provided a $5,000 grant to Cortland-Chenango Rural Services to purchase a generator that will ensure the coolers and refrigerators can continue to operate in their food pantry during the event of power outages. As a result, food will be safely stored and the facility will be able to provide the community with access to food, water, heat, and safety in times of emergency. Cortland-Chenango Rural Services provides information, referrals, emergency services, advocacy, networking, and community action to individuals in the towns of South Otselic, Lincklaen, Pharsalia, Pitcher, German, McDonough, Taylor, Cincinnatus, Willet, Solon, and Freetown. This grant was also a great way for our branches and Community Development department to collaborate in support of an organization serving both Cortland and Chenango Counties.

Cortland Community Group ESL

Cortland Community Group ESL received a Visions Cares grant to purchase supplies for their students. The program is 100% volunteer run, operates out of the Cortland Community Center, and provides individual and small-group English classes for adult speakers of other languages. Services are completely free of charge and students get to keep the books and workbooks they are provided. Volunteers of Cortland Community Group ESL shared some wonderful stories with us about students from all over the world, including Cameroon and Turkey! They also shared several success stories of students who have gone on to study nursing, work at Price Chopper, a local pizzeria, and SUNY Cortland.

Allamuchy Board of Education

Visions recently awarded a grant to the Allamuchy Township Board of Education and Rutherfurd Hall in Allamuchy, NJ for a newly developed training program. The program provided important CPR and First Aid training for the staff of the Allamuchy Township School District, local fire and rescue personnel, and community members at large. The grant assisted with purchasing professional manikins with American Heart Association compliant feedback systems and AED training packets. These items are essential to provide instructors and students with a realistic learning experience to acquire the skills needed to perform high quality CPR. Visions is proud to support such a wonderful program that will have a life changing impact in the community.

Berks County Department of Veteran Affairs

The Etchberger Veterans Service Center of Berks County, also known as the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs, is proud to announce a newly formed Berks County Veterans Temporary Assistance (BCVTA) Grant Program. The program will be used as a supplemental community resource in Berks County to support veterans and their families who are faced with financial hardships and need temporary support to overcome unexpected hurdles. As many must wait for funds from the state department, the BCVTA program acts as a buffer. In support of this program, Visions provided a grant of our own for $5,000.

Passaic County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Visions is a proud sponsor of Passaic County CASA. CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, is a non-profit organization that works to facilitate and influence life-changing decisions for children in the child welfare system. CASA recruits, trains, and empowers hundreds of volunteers to serve as advocates to speak up in the best interest of abused and neglected children in court. To show our support, Visions presented CASA with a grant to support their 15th Anniversary Storybook Gala.

Roxboro Road Elementary School

Visions provided a $500 grant in support of the food pantry started by Traci and Susan at Roxboro Road Elementary School in Syracuse, NY. Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, they received donations from nearby pantries but requested additional funds to supplement what they already have available. Traci and Susan, two extremely dedicated teachers, deliver the food to students' homes which not only helps with hunger needs, but also helps build the home-to-school connection.

Binghamton University Student-Athlete Academic Success Center

The Student-Athlete Success Center at Binghamton University is a resource center intended to nurture and enrich the overall success of the student-athlete. The university's student services staff is committed to “integrating the student-athlete fully into the college environment in order to maximize the educational benefit of the entire collegiate experience.”

New Jersey Education Association

Tim Strong, Public Relations & Community Engagement Manager, attended and presented at the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Convention in Atlantic City, NJ, along with one of our Community Development officers, Shari Leone. During the convention, he spoke about Project Education - Visions' commitment of $1 million over 10 years, $100,000 per year, for the NJEA. The Visions representatives also presented a Visions Loves Educators Classroom Funding Grant for a Virtual Community Garden.

SUNY Oswego Scholarships

Visions provided two $500 scholarships in the Fall and Spring semesters to non-traditional, independent SUNY Oswego students working towards an undergraduate degree while attending the Syracuse Campus.

Rochester Crime Stoppers

Visions employees attended a luncheon where a new K-9 Fundraiser was launched by the Rochester Area Crime Stoppers. Employees interacted with officers and their K-9 partners, as well as watched some demonstrations. Rochester Area CRIME STOPPERS' K-9 Initiative provides financial support for unexpected veterinary expenses for ill and injured K-9s. These highly trained and hardworking animals track lost children and the elderly; detect explosives and narcotics; and are beloved partners in law enforcement. They protect the police officer as well as the community. Crime Stoppers is one of our longest standing community partnerships in Rochester, and we are happy to continue supporting their efforts.

Clear Path for Veterans

As a result of the culmination of a season-long collaboration called “Veteran of the Game,” run by Syracuse Crunch, Visions donated $250 to Clear Path for Veterans at every game that this title was awarded. These donations totaled $4,000 at the end of the season!

Rochester Open Door Mission

Visions provided a grant in early January 2021 to the Open Door Mission in Rochester, NY, a Christian based rescue mission who has been addressing the needs of homelessness and food insecurity in the Rochester community since 1952. ODM provides shelter, food and guidance to homeless men, women and children and a path forward when people are at their most vulnerable. The funds will sponsor meals for one Open Door Mission guest for an entire year. Due to the pandemic, the demand for Open Door Mission's services has increased dramatically, and we are honored to provide support.

Reading Hospital Foundation

Screening mammography is the most effective tool for detecting breast cancer in women over 40, and in its early stages, yet many women from medically underserved communities do not have adequate access to screening mammograms. Visions provided the Reading Hospital Foundation in Reading, PA with a grant to purchase a Mobile Mammography Coach, which will be effective at reaching these communities in Berks County. Throughout the course of the year, the Mobile Mammography Coach team will work with other community organizations to host events focused on the uninsured and under insured to provide screening mammograms at no cost or low cost, and deliver services to women in their neighborhoods, eliminating cost and transportation barriers.

Café Esperanza

A novel pay-what-you-can café, Café Esperanza, received a grant from Visions Cares to purchase equipment and expand their efforts within the Reading, PA area. As a pay-what-you-can establishment, Café Esperanza helps alleviate some of the food insecurity that is experienced in many of our communities. The core values of Café Esperanza include pay-what-you-can pricing, volunteering your time in exchange for a meal, paid staff earning a living wage, and community volunteers working to run the organization. They have created a community gathering point in a restaurant setting, which provides space for art, music, education, and even job-training. They serve excellent, ethically grown coffee and locally sourced foods. Fresh, simple offerings, guest chefs from various styles of cooking, and sustainable practices such as recycling, composting, and low waste portions are central to Café Esperanza's expanding mission.

The Kia Foundation

Visions Cares awarded The Kia Foundation with a grant to support their Furry Kisses Fund. This fund was started for low-income pet owners to assist with veterinary and spay and neuter costs. The grant funds will be used for their $100 monthly giveaways as part of this fund. In addition to the funding provided by Visions FCU, part of the proceeds from the local Pet Thrift Store and Pet Food Pantry are donated to The Furry Kisses Fund.

Flags of Gratitude

One of our dear members from Morris County, NJ has been spreading kindness to healthcare workers and first responders with her Flags of Gratitude. We were so inspired that we funded a grant to help her out with her project. In return, she gave us our very own flag. This goes to show that our members are truly what Make Visions Matter!

Center for Prevention and Counseling

Each year Visions awards the Center for Prevention and Counseling of Newton, NJ a grant for their Taking Flight to Change Summit. This event allows middle and high school students to develop coping skills and emotional management strategies to assist in improving their school climate and reduce bullying. Now more than ever, social-emotional learning opportunities focused on empathy and resiliency are critical, as teachers and students transition back to school after experiencing the collective trauma brought on by COVID-19.

Jewish Community Center of Lehigh Valley

Visions awarded the Jewish Community Center of Lehigh Valley, PA with a grant for new outdoor recreational space that will be known as Camp JCC. Camps play an important role in encouraging young people to increase movement and physical activity. The goal of Camp JCC is to provide campers with new opportunities to learn about and develop active, healthy lifestyles that they can carry with them into adulthood.

Centro Hispano Daniel Torres

Centro Hispano received a Visions Cares grant to support a nutritional breakfast program for senior citizens of Reading, PA. Their novel program, Healthy Start Senior Food Initiative, is the only breakfast program offered for free to senior citizens in the city of Reading that assures access to a nutritional breakfast five days a week. For some, the meals that are provided may be the only meals they have for the day.

Rochester Jewels

Visions presented a grant to Rochester Jewels Inc. for their year-end cotillion and the purchase of laptops for graduating seniors. The organization's mission is to provide mentoring services to school-age girls in the Rochester, NY area to help them grow, learn, and become successful and independent young women. This grant will also aid in preparing these women for their academic careers in college.

Girls Who Code at Binghamton University

Our partnership with Girls Who Code at Binghamton University began with support of their 2019 Spring Graduation. We have since provided a grant to cover the $1,260 transportation cost to bring Binghamton High School female students to classes designed to teach the computing skills needed to pursue 21st century opportunities in technology and engineering sectors.

United Way of Northern New Jersey

Visions presented a $3,000 grant to the United Way of Northern New Jersey. The Northern New Jersey chapter supports education programs and ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households which support community programs that prepare children to be successful citizens, employees, and adults.

Operation Homefront

When a Visions member chooses the Americana debit card design, Visions donates $5 to Operation Homefront. In 2019 that totaled to a grant of $25,135. Operation Homefront serves Veterans and their families by providing access to programs that aid with financial assistance, housing, support groups, meals, scholarships, school supplies, programs for new and expecting parents, and more.

Student-Athlete Academic Success Center

Being the official on-campus partner for Binghamton University isn't enough for us - we want to give back to the students and faculty, too. Our donation to renovate the Student-Athlete Academic Success Center will impact all current and future student-athletes at Binghamton University.

Abilities in Motion

We gave $10,000 to support Abilities in Motion's STARS Program in Reading, PA. The STARS program is a summer work readiness program that serves 45 individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Downs Syndrome, Mental Illness, and other disabilities.

John Mack Foundation

Our donation partner for the annual 4 on the 4th Road Race is the John Mack Foundation. They work to provide life-saving AEDs to community-based organizations throughout the Southern Tier region in Upstate New York.

Canstruction of the Southern Tier

We're not only the title sponsor of “Canstruction of the Southern Tier”, but we also provide Broome-Tioga BOCES students with a grant to purchase the cans needed to create their structure. Our grant enables them to purchase and donate over $3,000 worth of canned goods for local food pantries.

Montrose Mobile Food Pantry

Our $3,000 grant to the Montrose Mobile food pantry provided much-needed relief to those suffering from food insecurity in Susquehanna County, PA.

Annual Visions Cup

Each year, we hold the annual Visions Cup between our regions' two baseball teams - the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and the Reading Fightin' Phils. The Phils took the second series, resulting in a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice - Baseballtown Charities, an organization dedicated to keeping baseball alive for youth in Reading, PA.