Annual Report 2008

TheJohn Ben SnowMemorial Trust

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com2

John Ben SnowTHE DONOR

John Ben Snow was born and raised in Pulaski,

New York, a small village north of Syracuse. He

graduated from New York University in 1904

and soon thereafter entered F. W. Woolworth & Company.

A man of vision, he was attracted to mass market sales and

introduced innovative retailing techniques. He rose rapidly

through the ranks from stock boy to corporate director, ini-

tially in New York, and finally in Great Britain, where he

accumulated a small fortune through hard work, savings and

wise investments. After retiring from Woolworth in 1939,

Mr. Snow devoted the remainder of his life to building the

Speidel chain of newspapers and publishing the Western

Horseman. He was fond of animals, especially horses, enjoyed

racing, fox hunting, polo and range riding. Throughout his

life, John Ben Snow shared his wealth with relatives, friends,

business associates and fellow Pulaskians. He gave generously

and freely to those persons and causes he cherished. He pre-

ferred to “invest” in people, especially the young, by making

available financial assistance, primarily for education. He also

believed in improving the quality of life in Pulaski and

its environs.

To further these and other philanthropic causes, he

established The John Ben Snow Foundation in 1948. The

Foundation continues to operate under the terms of its

original charter. The charter, granted by the State of New

York, authorizes the Foundation to grant funds for education-

al and humanitarian purposes to qualified organizations. The

present membership of its Board, seven in number, includes

persons of diverse occupational backgrounds and geographical

areas. The Board meets once a year, usually in June, to approve

new grants and review previously funded projects.

The John Ben SnowMemorial Trust

FUNDING POLICIES

The mission of the Memorial Trust is to make grants withinspecific focus areas to enhance the quality of life in manygeographic regions. Historically, the Memorial Trust hasmade grants in the following program areas:

✔Arts and Culture✔Community Development✔Education✔Environment✔Historic Preservation✔Journalism

The Memorial Trust responds to the ever-changing needs ofvarious segments of the population, especially to the needsof young people and people who are disadvantaged eitherphysically or economically.

It is the Memorial Trust’s general policy to give preference toproposals seeking funds for new or enhanced programs, one-time, short-term grants to sustain a program until funding isstabilized, matching grants used to encourage the participa-tion of other donors, and “last dollars” towards a capitalcampaign.

The Memorial Trust will not accept proposals from individ-uals or for-profit organizations. Additionally, the MemorialTrust does not encourage proposals from religious organiza-tions or proposals for endowments, contingency funding, ordebt reduction. There are no minimums or maximum grantamounts; however, most grants range from $10,000 to$25,000.

GRANT APPLICATION PROCEDURES

The Memorial Trust is pro-active in seeking grant proposalsfrom qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations. Additionally, theMemorial Trust accepts unsolicited proposals from qualify-ing organizations.

An initial letter of inquiry must be submitted on organiza-tion letterhead and received by January 1st of the year inwhich a grant is requested. The initial letter of inquiryshould include the background of the organization, adescription of the proposed project detailing the time frameand anticipated outcomes, and a high-level project budget.The letter of inquiry should be addressed to one of the fol-lowing regional offices:

The Snow Memorial TrustC/O Jonathan L. Snow, Trustee50 Presidential Plaza, Suite 106Syracuse, NY 13202

The Snow Memorial TrustC/O Allen R. Malcolm, Trustee104 Church AlleyChestertown, MD 21620

The Snow Memorial TrustC/O Emelie M. Williams, Trustee 2975 Knight RoadReno, NV 89509

If the proposal meets the stated guidelines and priorities ofthe Memorial Trust, a grant application will be forwarded.

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com3

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

All grant applications must be submitted using theMemorial Trust grant application form and must be receivedby April 1st of the year in which a grant is requested. Thefollowing information must also be included with the formalgrant application:

✔Executive summary (not to exceed one page)✔Detailed project budget including itemized expenses

and sources of income✔Listing of the Board of Directors including names

and board positions held✔A copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) determination

letter from the IRS✔Most recent audited financial statement✔Organization budget

Failure to provide all of the required information will resultin the rejection of the grant application.

The Trustees may require additional information and possi-bly an interview or site visit. Any discussions or indicationsof interest should not be construed as a commitment by theTrustees. All complete grant applications are carefully con-sidered and evaluated by the Trustees. Applicants are noti-fied in writing of the Trustees decision by July 1st. Allapproved grant applicants are required to sign and return aGrant Acceptance Agreement prior to any funds beingreleased by the Memorial Trust.

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

Because the Trustees assume that the grantee has a moral andlegal obligation to account for all funds received, eachgrantee is required to submit a formal report accounting forthe expenditures of the grant funds by March 1st of the yearafter the approval of the grant. This report should include:

✔Executive summary (not to exceed one page)✔Detailed narrative✔Financial accounting ✔Relevant attachments

All grant reports are reviewed by the Trustees. Any changein plans must be approved by the Trustees. If a grantee failsto submit a formal report, the Trustees reserve the right torequest that the grant funds be returned. Additionally, fur-ther grants will not be considered until a final report isreceived.

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com4

Bank of New York Mellon

Allen R. Malcolm

Jonathan L. Snow

Emelie M. Williams

TRUSTEES

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

GRANTS APPROVED AT THE2008 ANNUAL MEETING

*Denotes matching grant

ARTS AND CULTURE

Artown – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 4,0002009 Festival

Chenango County Council of the Arts – Norwich, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 13,000Security system

Churchill Arts Council – Fallon, NV . . . . .$ 10,000Oats Park Center renovation

Friends of Washoe County Library – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 10,000Public Space Art at SW Truckee Meadows Library

Partners for Arts Education – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,000Funding for conferences with arts partners

Reno Chamber Orchestra – Reno, NV . . . .$ 2,500Student Voucher System Program

Reno Philharmonic Association, Inc. – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 8,000Celebrate Strings

St. John’s College – Annapolis, MD . . . . . .$ 10,000Mitchell Gallery renovation

Strathmore Hall Foundation, Inc. – North Bethesda, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Multi-disciplinary arts programming

Syracuse Children’s Chorus – Syracuse, NY $ 10,000Support for 2008-2009 concerts

$87,500

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

The Children’s Cabinet of Reno – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 7,500Family Counseling Program

Committee to Aid Abused Women – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,000Expansion of emergency housing facilities

Contact We Care – Westfield, NJ . . . . . . . .$ 4,000Suicide Awareness & Prevention Training

Family Promise of Reno/Sparks – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 7,500Transportation for homeless families

Food Bank of Northern Nevada – Sparks, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 20,000Support for computers/servers

Greater Pulaski Community Fund – Pulaski, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,000Greater Pulaski Community Fund Challenge

Annapolis Area Ministries – Annapolis, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Homelessness prevention and support center

Marcellus Free Library – Marcellus, NY . . .$ 15,000Teen Tutor Room

Nevada Diabetes Association for Children & Adults – Reno, NV . . . . . .$ 6,000Small Steps Big Rewards

Nevada Discovery Museum – Reno, NV . .$ 25,000Roof on new facility

Saint Martin's Ministries – Ridgley, MD . .$ 20,000Expand services to homeless women and children

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com5

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Year Ending: 31 December 2007Total Assets: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 27,988,031Excise Taxes: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 23,984Total Investment Revenue: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1,868,823Grants Paid: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1,289,500

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THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com6

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

Saint Mary's Health Network – Reno, NV .$ 10,000Van programs for dental care

Sultana Projects, Inc. – Chestertown, MD .$ 20,000John Smith Trail Expeditions

Village of Pulaski – Pulaski, NY . . . . . . . . .$ 50,000Replace roof of Snow Municipal Building

YMCA/YWCA - Westfield Area – Westfield, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,000Baur Branch Enhancement

$235,000

DISABILITIES AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS

Aurora Free Library – Aurora, NY . . . . . . .$ 10,000Universal access at main entrance

Best Buddies of Maryland – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Best Buddies Middle School Program

Blind Industries & Services of Maryland – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000New training center

Downtown Sailing Center, Inc. – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Purchase access dinghy

Kennedy Krieger Institute, Inc. – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Autistic Education Programs

Maryland Society for Sight, Inc. – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Renovation & repair of building

Pathfinder Village Foundation – Edmeston, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 10,000Expansion of dining facilities

Providence Center, Inc. – Glen Burnie, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Wheelchair lift equipped vans

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, Inc. – Princeton, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,000Mainstream Audio Project

The Seeing Eye, Inc. – Morristown, NJ . . .$ 4,000Seminars for Youth

Special Recreation Services, Inc. – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 7,000Camp Lotsafun

$76,000

EDUCATION

Bucknell University – Lewisburg, PA . . . . .$ 16,000Cultures at the Confluence

The Cooper Union – New York, NY . . . . .$ 10,000Engineering Research Internship

Cumberland College – Williamsburg, KY . .$ 7,500Health & Wellness facility at Student Center

Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture – Doylestown, PA . . . . . . .$ 10,000Replace Equine Arena flooring

Gathering Genius, Inc. – Reno, NV . . . . . .$ 10,000Science Teacher Mentoring and Training

Living Classrooms Foundation – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 20,000Education and job skill training for at risk youth

McDaniel College – Westminster, MD . . . .$ 10,000Deaf Education Programs

Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 25,000Development of new science education exhibits

New York State Historical Association – Cooperstown, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 20,000Graduate Fellowships in Museum Studies

Pulaski Academy & Central School – Pulaski, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 40,000Academic Achievement Scholarships

Pulaski Academy & Central School Alumni Assoc. – Pulaski, NY . . . . . . . . . . .$ 2,000Scholarships for graduating high school students

Stevenson University – Stevenson, MD . . .$ 5,000Library archive collection area

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THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

Syracuse University - Maxwell School – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 250,000John Ben Snow & Vernon F. Snow Fellowship

University of Connecticut Foundation – Storrs, CT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 20,000Fellowship for Not-for-Profit MBA students

University of Nevada - School of Medicine – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 50,000Health Sciences Education building

Washington College – Chestertown, MD . .$ 25,000Support for new performing arts center

$520,500

ENVIRONMENT

Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, Inc. – Easton, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Creation, restoration, and protection of wetlands habitat

Conservancy of Southwest Florida – Naples, FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 7,500Estuaries Report Card 2008

Cornell Cooperative Extension - Warren County – Warrensburg, NY . . . . . .$ 2,000Environmental Club

Irvine Nature Center – Stevenson, MD . . .$ 25,000Schoolyard Discovery Program

Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 8,000Awareness Campaign on Illegal Dumping

National Parks Conservation Association – Washington, DC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 10,000Appalachian Trail Assessment

Nature Conservancy of Nevada – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,000Public access and outreach at McCarran Ranch

The Student Conservation Association Inc. – Charlestown, NH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Conservation Service Projects

Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Ithaca, NY . . .$ 10,000Ithaca Waterfront Trail guide & brochure

$87,500

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Sagamore Institute – Raquette Lake, NY . .$ 15,000Expand Sagamore Website Content

$15,000

JOURNALISM

College of Southern Nevada – Las Vegas, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 12,000Computers for College Review

Horizons Student Enrichment Program – Chestertown, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 25,000Young Authors Program

Modoc Forum, Inc. – Cedarville, CA . . . . .$ 5,000Writer's Conference 2008

Nevada Humanities, Inc. – Reno, NV . . . .$ 25,000Online Nevada Encyclopedia (ONE)

$67,000

SPECIAL GRANTS

University of Nevada-Oral History Program – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 13,500Oral history of Snow Foundation

Village of Pulaski – Pulaski, NY . . . . . . . . .$ 6,000Maintenance of Snow Memorial Building

$19,500

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com7

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 50 Presidential Plaza Suite 106 • Syracuse, New York 13202 • www.johnbensnow.com8

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

GRAND TOTAL: $1,170,000

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Assistance League of Reno-Sparks – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Links to Learning Program

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . .$ 8,000Expand Little Moments, Big Magic

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum – St. Michaels, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Hands on youth educational programming

Collins Home & Family Ministries – Seneca, SC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 15,000Van replacement

The First Tee of Northern Nevada – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 5,000Life Skills Experience Education programs

The Solace Tree – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . .$ 8,000Camp Solace

Tannery Pond Community Association, Inc. – North Creek, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1,000Summer nature camp programming

The Vitamin L Project – Ithaca, NY . . . . . .$ 15,000Character education program in schools

$62,000