Press release:
Tompkins Bank of Castile has announced that Gilda’s Club Rochester is the winner of the fourth round of the quarterly Community Minute Challenge. Each quarterly winner is awarded $2,500, and through the program, a total of $10,000 has been provided in much-needed funds to local not-for-profit organizations.
Gilda’s Club Rochester was one of six organizations in the fourth and final round of the challenge. Gilda’s Club Rochester has been serving the Greater Rochester community since 1959, first as Cancer Action, Inc., and then in 2000 as Gilda’s Club. The organization’s mission is to create welcoming communities of no cost support to those living with cancer – men, women, teens and children – along with their families and friends. Gilda’s Club Rochester’s innovative program is an essential complement to medical care, providing networking and support groups, workshops, education and social activities.
The winning organization for each Community Minute Challenge is determined by public voting on the Tompkins Bank of Castile Facebook page, where visitors watch one-minute videos produced by participating non-profits and then vote for their favorite.
The other organizations that participated in round four included:
- Delphi Drug and Alcohol Council Inc. (Monroe County)
- Friends of Letchworth State Park (Wyoming County)
- Friends of the Richmond Memorial Library (Genesee County)
- Genesee Cancer Assistance (Genesee County)
- Geneseo Parish Outreach Center (Livingston County)
Launched in August 2016, the Community Minute Challenge has now awarded $10,000 to date.
“As proud members of the communities where we operate, we’re thankful for the important services that are provided by not-for-profit organizations in our area,” said John McKenna, Bank President and CEO. "We’re thrilled to be able to bring attention to their positive work.”
The program has helped organizations with much-needed funds, and has increased exposure within their communities. The first-round winner of the Community Minute Challenge was Going to the Dogs Rescue in Wyoming County, an organization dedicated to helping homeless pets find loving forever homes.
The second-round winner was Arc of Genesee Orleans, a resource of choice for people with disabilities and their families in both Genesee and Orleans counties.
“We used the proceeds to purchase new equipment for our family support group,” said Donna Saskowski, executive director, Arc of Genesee Orleans. “Our participation in the challenge was a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved in our organization to rally together, from our staff to the families of the individuals we support.”
