Rome Historical Society

The Rome Community Foundation has given a grant for $4289 from its Stevens Kingsley Fund to the Rome Historical Society to purchase a new, high-speed photocopier. This new equipment will enable the society to make more professional copies of their correspondence, newsletters, and membership requests. The new copier should also save the center maintenance expense, which had been increasing on the old equipment.

The Rome Community Foundation was formed in 1999 as a public community foundation for the purpose of benefiting the citizens of Rome and the immediate area. The Foundation encourages the growth of a permanent charitable endowment, which can make strategic grants as investments in the Rome community. The Foundation also provides citizens with the means to make giving easy, effective and lasting. Gifts to the Foundation may be established in connection with a person's estate plan or as a memorial, honor or remembrance.

The Rome Home

The Rome Community Foundation has given a $1900 grant to The Rome Home to help repair the cupola on the roof of their building. The two-story brick building, at 417 North Washington Street in Rome, was built in 1868. It is an excellent example of Italianate architecture and is well worth keeping in good repair.

The Rome Home has been in this location since 1916. Their goal is to provide a dignified and pleasant surrounding for older ladies. The home has individual rooms for 19 residents, and provides meals, personal care, housekeeping, limited health care, and a variety of recreational activities.

This grant was made possible from the income generated in the general endowment fund, which has been created by contributions from many persons in the Rome area.

First United Methodist Church

The Rome Community Foundation has made a $10,000 grant from its Stevens-Kingsley Fund to the First United Methodist Church to help with the purchase and installation of a new elevator. The church has been undergoing a major renovation begun about a year ago. There is a new entrance on North George Street, and the remodeling has resulted in handicapped accessibility for all areas of the church. Other improvements include new office and administrative space and a large community center for education, child care, and future youth and senior programs.

Formed in the 1960s by former Roman, Stoddard Stevens, the Stevens-Kingsley Foundation was dissolved in 2005, and its assets were transferred to the Rome Community Foundation. It is administrated as a separate fund with grants made each year in the late fall or early winter.

Rome Home

The Stevens-Kingsley Fund of the Rome Community Foundation has given a $4000 grant to the Rome Home to replace the dining room chairs. The accompanying picture shows five of the residents seated in the new chairs.

Today the Rome Home has individual rooms for 19 ladies, and provides them with meals, personal care, housekeeping, laundry service, limited health care, and a variety of recreational activities.

The Rome Home was established in 1909 originally to provide a dignified and serene surrounding for older ladies without families. The home started in a rented house on Elm Street, and then in 1916 moved to the present location at 417 North Washington Street in the historic district. The two-story brick house was built in 1868, and is an excellent example of Italianate architecture.

Rome Cemetery

At a recent meeting of the Rome Community Foundation, a $2400 grant was made to the Rome Cemetery Association to help with their ongoing project of 'mapping' of the cemetery. This project engages a licensed surveyor to accurately map the cemetery, identifying each individual lot by location, size, and by name. Roads, buildings and other cemetery property will also be recorded. With this data, detailed maps will be made, which will be invaluable for maintenance and for administrative purposes. Visitors will also be able to use these maps to easily find lots that they are interested in.

This grant was made possible from the income generated in the general endowment fund, which has been created by contributions from many persons in the Rome area.

Rome Police & Fire Memorial

The Rome Community Foundation has made a $3000 grant from the Stevens Kingsley Fund to Rome Up and Running, Inc. With the grant the Rome Police and Fireman's Memorial project has purchased a trailer to provide secure storage for support equipment and supplies for the memorial park at the corner of Black River Boulevard and Court Street. Cleaning and maintenance equipment, water treatment chemicals, filters, water pump, landscape tools and supplies will be housed in the trailer.

Welcome Home

The Rome Community Foundation recently made a $4000 grant to the Welcome Hall Community Center for equipment at the Rome facility. That equipment includes metal shelving for storage needs in the kitchen area, shelving for clothing and household items at the centerís donation site, an ice machine, and 14 new mattresses for their 7 new bunk beds.

For years, Welcome Hall Community Center has effectively met many of the needs of our communityís less fortunate men, women, and children. The Center prepares and serves hot meals, provides food baskets, distributes personal need items to children, and household items for some families. They also provide emergency shelter and care for women and children, and transitional housing for single parent families. The success of Welcome Hall is due to their dedicated staff, many loyal volunteers, and financial support of the community.

McKinstry Grant — Three Rome Organizations Benefit

The Rome Community Foundation has distributed $2400 from its Elizabeth McKinstry Designated Fund to the First United Methodist Church, the Jervis Public Library, and the Rome Family Y. This special fund was established in 2006 to support these three organizations from the interest earned. Distributions will be made annually in memory of the donor.

RFA Knight Times Camera

The grant was from the Rome Community Foundation's Stevens-Kingsley Fund to the Rome City School District for $1200 for the purchase of a new camera. The camera is currently in use by students and should enhance the publication of the RFA Knight Times newspaper.