News
November 5th, 2025
Engage with Community Foundation of Tompkins County in a Nationwide Celebration to Recognize Local Impact
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2025
Contact: George Ferrari
607-272-9333
gferrari@cftompkins.org
Engage with Community Foundation of Tompkins County in a Nationwide Celebration to Recognize Local Impact
2025 Community Foundation Week
ITHACA, NY – October 23, 2025 – Community Foundation of Tompkins County is proud to participate in the nationwide celebration – Community Foundation Week (CF Week) – November 12-18, 2025, to recognize and acknowledge the increasingly important role that community foundations play in strengthening communities, fostering local collaboration, and mitigating social issues like childcare, food insecurity, and racial justice.
“CF Week is a time to honor, articulate, and raise awareness about the incredible work that community foundations do thanks to our donors and grantees, right here at home,” said Gloria Coicou, Chief Engagement, Equity & Grants Officer. “By celebrating your efforts, educating the community, and fostering a sense of shared responsibility, we can ensure the growth of powerful resources for positive change. Every day, we welcome donors to empower local organizations to take charge of our community’s development by offering support and resources.” She adds, “CF Week helps to inspire others to get involved. We advocate for a sustained commitment to philanthropy and promote the idea that everyone can contribute, whether through gift giving, volunteering, or sharing their expertise.”
“Thanks to so many generous donors, we express our gratitude for continuing to serve as the leading public charity in our area,” said George Ferrari, CEO. He adds, “All of our work is guided by our values of Community, Engagement, Integrity, Racial Equity, Relationships, and Social Justice.”
CF Week is a dedicated period of education designed to inform and engage our community in our mission, processes, and impact. Throughout the week, the Foundation will host a variety of online and in-person activities designed to deepen your understanding of our work. Activities include educational posts that explore the history and purpose of community foundations, updates on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives, and guidance on how to set up a fund. We’re also hosting a range of engaging events: a site visit to Kitchen Theatre, a fundraiser at Panera, and a volunteer opportunity at CSMA. The week will close with sharing stories that reflect how our community supports one another. CF Week serves as a unique opportunity to come together as a community. Click HERE to view full CF Week calendar.
This year also marks the Community Foundation’s 25th anniversary—a milestone that highlights a quarter-century of building partnerships and supporting local initiatives. To commemorate this special occasion, you are invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 13th at 2PM at the new mural on the exterior of the Foundation’s office building (200 E Buffalo St).
Visit www.cftompkins.org for more about how to engage and celebrate with us and be part of this enriching experience. We invite you to celebrate shared successes and inspire positive change in Tompkins County.
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About Community Foundation of Tompkins County
Community Foundation of Tompkins County is an independent, public entity that stewards philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits. Since inception in 2000 the Community Foundation has granted more than $26.8M, reinforcing our goal of bringing people and resources together to build a more equitable Tompkins County by inspiring diverse philanthropy, catalyzing collaborations and championing inclusion and justice. As community foundations find solutions for communities large and small, urban, and rural – it is the collective work of these organizations that will have the most profound impact. Learn more at www.cftompkins.org.