Oneida Indian Nation Oneida Indian Nation
Nearly a Quarter of a Million Dollars Raised Through 2007 Initiative

One of the Oneida Indian Nation’s first steps when its Turning Stone Resort Championship became reality in 2006 was to create a means to assure that as many worthy causes as possible would benefit. That is how the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund first came into being as the event’s charitable component, and ultimately, how more than 100 organizations -- and the many thousands of children and families those groups assist across Upstate New York -- found an all-new source of support for their important missions.
   
This newly created charity opportunity, coupled with the leadership of the Nation’s representative and 19 distinguished Upstate business and civic leaders (the 2007 Empowerment Fund Honorary Host Committee), the enthusiasm and hard work of charity volunteers, and the true generosity of the region’s citizens combined to produce superb results. With the potential to earn back 100% of the face value of all tickets sold to the event, plus a Birdies for Charity pledge and donation program, the outcome was successful well beyond expectations. The 2007 programs raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars in the inaugural year, placing the Upstate New York Empowerment Fund in the top ranks of the region’s major fundraising events. The success of this endeavor, Empowerment Fund Chair Ray Halbritter said, aptly illustrates the difference that positive thinking, positive actions, and pulling together for the greater good can make to a region.      

From the earliest times, the Oneida people have believed in the concept of sharing their resources with their neighbors. As the Oneida Nation looks ahead to its second Turning Stone Resort Championship, it is with gratification at this initial success and with hope for another year of strong charity participation and community support.          

The 19 distinguished civic and community leaders who joined Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation Representative and Chief Executive Officer, as the members of the 2007 Honorary Host Committee were: Beth Baldwin; J. Patrick Barrett; Jim and Juli Boeheim; Maurice Bordell; Charlie Constantino; Patrick Costello; Christopher and RoAnn Destito; Michael J. Falcone; William Fitzpatrick; Maureen Green; John Kinsella; John F.X. Mannion; Dr. Cornelius B. Murphy Jr.; Nicholas J. Pirro; Greg Robinson; David R. Smith; and Melvin T. Stith

The 113 participating charities participating in 2007 fundraising programs were:

Onondaga County 
Adapt, Central New York
American Cancer Society
Baldwinsville Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School
Boy Scouts -Troop 62 Tully
Boys and Girls Club of Syracuse
Camp Good Days and Special Times
Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY, Inc.
Cathedral Emergency Services Center
Central New York Challenged Champions Fund
Central New York Roadhawks
Chadwick Residence, Inc.
Crouse Health Foundation, Inc.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Down Syndrome Association of CNY, Inc.
Eastwood Rotary Foundation, Inc.
Elmcrest Children’s Center
Erie Canal Museum
Everson Museum of Art of Syracuse and Onondaga County
Fayetteville-Manlius A Better Chance, Inc.
Felder-Syracuse Track & Field Stadium, Inc.
FM-JD Area Meals on Wheels, Inc.
Franciscan Collaborative Ministries
Friends of The Zoo/Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Hiawatha Seaway Council, Boy Scouts of America
Hope For Bereaved, Inc.
Huntington Family Centers, Inc.
It's About Childhood & Family, Inc.
Junior Achievement of CNY
K.A.R.E. Foundation, Inc.
La Festa Italiana
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, CNY Chapter
Make A Wish Foundation
McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site
Mental Health Association of Onondaga County
Mercy Works, Inc.
Multiple Sclerosis Resources of Central New York, Inc.
Onondaga Historical Association Museum & Research Center (OHA)
Ophelia’s Place
Person to Person: Citizen Advocacy Association, Inc.
Positively Pink Packages
Rescue Mission
Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY
Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area
Samaritan Center
St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center Foundation, Inc.
St. Lucy’s Church
SUNY Environmental Science & Forestry Alumni Association
Syracuse Community Health Center Foundation, Inc.
Syracuse Habitat For Humanity, Inc.
Syracuse Jewish Family Service
Syracuse Lions Club Charity Fund, Inc.
Syracuse Northeast Community Center
Transitional Living Services
United Cerebral Palsy & Handicapped Children’s Association of Syracuse Inc.
Upstate Medical University Foundation/Golisano Children’s Hospital
YMCA of Greater Syracuse

Oneida County
American Diabetes Association
ARC, Oneida-Lewis Chapter, NYSARC Inc.
Boonville Black River Canal Museum & NYS Woodsman’s Field Days Inc.
Boy Scouts of America, Revolutionary Trails Council
Central Association for the Blind, Inc.
Central New York Community Arts Council
Central New York Labor Agency
Church Of The Holy Family
Cornhill Community for Change
Cosmopolitan Center, Inc.
Clinton Swim Club, Inc.
Family Advocacy Center, Inc.
Family Services Of The Mohawk Valley, Inc.
Faxton-St. Luke’s Health Care Foundation
Genesis Group
Habitat for Humanity, Inc., Oneida County
Healing Hearts Animal Sanctuary
Holland Patent Chapter NSDAR
Humane Society of Rome, Inc.
Jewish Community Center
Kids Oneida, Inc.
Kirkland Art Center
Kirkland Town Library
Lupus Foundation of Mid and Northern NY, Inc.
Mid-York Child Care Coordinating Council
Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, Inc.
Mohawk Valley Performing Arts, Inc.
North Utica Senior Citizens Community Center, Inc.
Parkway Senior Center
Presbyterian Homes Foundation, Inc.
Rome Baseball Association, Inc.
Rome Catholic School
Rome Community Concert Band, Inc.
Rome Memorial Hospital Foundation
Rome Sports Hall of Fame
St. Elizabeth Medical Center Foundation
St. Mary’s School
Thea Bowman House, Inc.
Trinity United Methodist Church
Utica Zoological Society, Inc.
YMCA of The Greater Tri-Valley, Inc.

Madison County
Building Futures Foundation
Chittenango Landing Canal Boat Museum
Sullivan Free Library
Wanderer’s Rest Humane Association, Inc.

Other Areas
Herkimer County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc.
Cayuga County Arts Council
Cayuga Home For Children
Cortland County Chapter, American Red Cross
Cortland Memorial Foundation, Inc.
JM McDonald Sports Complex
YWCA of Cortland
Catholic Charities of Oswego County
Catholic Education Foundation of The Southern Tier
Pathfinder Village Foundation, Inc.
United Way of Greater Oswego County


Charity Initiatives at the Turning Stone Resort Championship Sep 29 - Oct 5, 2008