MONTGOMERY, NY — More than 300 guests gathered on October 18 at the West Hills Country Club for the 2023 Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS) Annual Reception. This event not only fostered connections but also exceeded expectations by raising over $120,000 to advance the foundation’s mission of connecting people who care with causes that matter.

A highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony, when CFOS President and CEO Elizabeth Rowley provided an update on the foundation's achievements over the past year.

“44 new funds have been established, with over $5.5 million contributed to and through the Community Foundation,” Rowley said. “The ripple effect of your generosity and the Community Foundation’s structure has supported hundreds of scholarship recipients, thousands of organizations, and countless other worthy charitable and community projects since we were founded.”

To date, the foundation, through its generous donors and fund representatives, has awarded more than $30 million in grants and scholarships, including more than $3.3 million in the last fiscal year alone.

“This is due to the generosity of our many fund representatives who have made the ultimate commitment to the community through the establishment of a fund,” added Rowley. “They are genuinely dedicated to making our community a better place to live, work, play and raise a family.”

The David T. Cocks Award for Commitment to Community was presented to the Center for Discovery and Michele McKeon, recognizing their significant contributions to enrich the lives of others in Orange and Sullivan counties.

"Our 2023 honorees lead by example, making profound contributions for the betterment of their communities through their professional and personal dedication to service," said Rowley.

For an in-depth look at the exceptional achievements of these honorees, videos on the recipients can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@thecommunityfoundationofor9351

As the Community Foundation’s one and only major fundraiser of the year, all proceeds support the foundation’s operating budget and its work to provide trusted expertise and administrative support for hundreds of charitable funds that distribute grants and scholarships—now and forever.

Since 1999, the foundation has connected “people who care with causes that matter,” by helping people, businesses and organizations establish charitable funds to support animal welfare, arts & culture, community initiatives, education and scholarships, the environment, health & human services, recreation, veterans and youth, it said.