The Konosioni Senior Honor Society will host its 19th annual charity auction on April 8 at 8 p.m. in the Hall of Presidents. Proceeds from the auction will benefit nonprofit organizations in upstate New York via Madison County Gives.
Konosioni is excited to welcome alumni, Colgate community members, and residents from the area to this event. Items of all kinds, from vacation escapes in Jackson Hole, Wyo., to baseball tickets and home-cooked meals, are available for bidding. The $25,000 raised during last year’s auction benefited a diverse group of seven charitable organizations, reaching a wide group of needs and populations throughout Madison County.
Community Bikes, run by Konosioni alumnus Robert Fox ’70, works to provide bikes, locks, and helmets to low-income families in Madison County. Supplying more than 1,700 bikes to date, Community Bikes was able to provide another 100 bikes to families in 2015 thanks to the funds from last year’s auction.
The Friends of Rogers organization provides educational opportunities about the natural environment at the Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne, N.Y. Friends of Rogers was able to expand its school field trip program through funds allocated by Konosioni.
The Food Bank of Central New York has worked since 1985 to provide food to the 11 percent of Madison County that is food insecure. With funding from last year’s auction, they were able to provide 16,000 meals to Madison County families and individuals.
The Fiver’s Children Foundation works to mentor economically underprivileged students by making a 10-year commitment to their families. Since 2000, the organization has supported more than 200 Madison County students, with funding from Madison County Gives supporting their Camp Fiver summer programs. This year’s hackathon, powered by Colgate’s professional networks, also helped Camp Fiver.
The Community Action Partnership (CAP) works to create a social network of mentors for struggling youth in our community. With the support of Madison County Gives, CAP is working to expand its mentoring program by recruiting more members for the more than 100 children on the waiting list.
The Hamilton Food Cupboard works to provide healthy food and other necessities to Hamilton residents struggling to make ends meet. The funds from last year’s auction have helped the Food Cupboard secure essential items that are not often donated.
The Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees has resettled more than 15,000 refugees since its establishment in 1979. With the support of Madison County Gives, the center is able to support its program addressing the health needs of newly arriving refugees.
The funds raised at the auction on April 8 will be allocated by the Konosioni Class of 2017 to a new set of deserving charitable organizations.