Terrance A. King was born in the South Bronx and raised in Mount Vernon, NY. Terrance has been an educator for over eight years with experience teaching general/special education at the Elementary and Middle School levels. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, the world's first African American collegiate Greek-lettered organization.

In August 2020, he began his Ph.D. studies in special education through a full-ride scholarship at Syracuse University. In July 2020, he was appointed his first pastorate to serve the city of Ithaca, NY, and the Historic St. James A.M.E. Zion Church congregation. A nationally recognized site for being a stop on the underground railroad and was frequently visited by historical icons like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.

Mr. King strives daily to ensure that his work in academia, among friends, family, organizations, and the church, will create an unforgettable legacy.

CLICK HERE to read bios of more board members

It was a delightful morning, filled with art, culture, and lots of learning. Members of the community and friends gathered for a tour through the picturesque cityscape of downtown Ithaca. Leading our expedition was Caleb Thomas, the visionary behind Ithaca Murals, who shared exclusive insights into the myriad murals and creatively adorned electrical boxes, the masterpieces crafted by talented artists from both near and far. Our journey commenced at the Community Foundation and culminated at Press Bay Alley, coinciding with a vibrant Pride Day event. Along our path, we encountered a remarkable surprise—the artist who is working on the mural paying homage to Ukraine! We got to hear from her directly. 

For a full 90 minutes, we delved into Caleb's wealth of knowledge, immersing ourselves in the profound significance and captivating narratives behind the vibrant murals. Art serves as a unifying force, forging connections among people and fortifying the bonds within our community. Ithaca Murals, in particular, embodies this essence, fostering creative expression, safeguarding our cultural heritage, cultivating community identity and pride, igniting social discourse and advocacy, and nurturing community engagement and cohesion. 

For the first time since at least 2010, Tompkins County will be represented with an equestrian team in the Special Olympics Fall Games in October 2023! The team this year will be hosted by Stablework. Stablework is a small, local 501(c)3 organization in Newfield offering vocational training in routine horse care. Their goal is to provide underserved and individuals with disabilities an opportunity to learn prevocational and vocational skills in horse care that otherwise they would not have access to. The state wide Special Olympics event will be October 21-22 in Saratoga, NY. Read news coverage about this, HERE and HERE.

Stablework has put out a call for volunteers for the new Tompkins County Special Olympics Equestrian Team to help with the main event in October, training sessions and practices, and behind the scenes promotions for fundraising events. Event dates are TBD. Training is well underway, Lisa Krizman, Founder, shared THIS video with us capturing moments during the first training. Training will be held at the Ithaca Equestrian Center. To apply, go to https://stablework.org/volunteers 

On August 15, Community Foundation offers you a one hour charitable gift planning webinar. Join our annual event with presenter, Jason Tripp!

REGISTER TODAY.

He will help you determine how to plan your charitable giving keeping in mind the right asset, the right amount, at the right time, for the right purpose.

You can find past webinars and additional gift planning information HERE.

Is there someone you know who has made a lasting difference in the lives of other women living in Tompkins County?

2023 Nominations are now open until August 31!

The Laura Holmberg Award will be presented at this year’s Women’s Fund Fall Luncheon on October 16

at Emerson Suites on Ithaca College campus. Please save the date.

Details and Nomination form:

CLICK HERE

Pamela Tan shares, as a new board member, what she has learned about the Community Foundation is impressive.

"The Unity event compelled me to make a monthly donation, so that my contribution joins forces with those of other donors to make the greatest possible impact in my beloved local community, as I trust the Community Foundation to ameliorate Tompkins County's most urgent needs and foster its most promising opportunities."

People helping people. You can help as an individual, business, foundation and family, even former residents give to keep Tompkins County thriving. Thank you to Pamela and to each donor!

Friday, June 16th marked the 3rd Annual Juneteenth celebration hosted by the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights, the City of Ithaca, and Business Leaders of Colors. The Community Foundation had to jump on the opportunity to serve on the planning committee because Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in American history and it aligns with our mission to catalyze collaborations and champion DEI efforts. Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the progress made towards equality and justice, highlighting the resilience and contributions of African Americans throughout history and within Tompkins County. 

Community members gathered from near and far to support minority-owned businesses, attend the career fair, listen to Dr. Sean Eversley Bradwell talk about black history, resilience, and shared experiences. We wrapped up our celebration with sharing a meal of heart-warming chili and cornbread. This event and other celebrations bring our community together to promote unity, solidarity, and understanding.

As I stand outside the 100 year old building, I admire the view of 4 young ladies engaging in a discussion about where to get their braids done-one had faux locs and one had box braids with her baby hairs slicked down just perfectly, one running after a toddler, another waving hello to an elderly woman walking across the street. Also, taking in the bustling of the after school program children making their way into the building. It was familiar, it felt like home.

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