Annual Report 2011

TheJohn Ben SnowMemorial Trust

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • www.johnbensnow.com2

John Ben SnowTHE DONOR

JJohn 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 intro-

duced 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 associ-

ates and fellow Pulaskians. He gave generously and freely to

those persons and causes he cherished. He preferred to

“invest” in people, especially the young, by making available

financial assistance. He also believed in improving the quality

of life in a variety of communities. To further these and other

philanthropic causes, he provided in his will for a charitable

trust.

In 1975, two years after his death, The John Ben Snow

Memorial Trust was established in New York. The four orig-

inal trustees were a member of the Snow family, a lawyer, a

publishing associate and a corporate trustee, the Irving Trust

Company, now Bank of New York Mellon. All were close to

the donor and aware of his beliefs, values and ideals. The indi-

viduals named as trustees and their successors were empow-

ered to grant funds for educational, scientific and humanitar-

ian purposes to qualified organizations. They meet once a

year, usually in June.

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 the nearestregional office:

The Snow Memorial TrustC/O Valerie A. MacFie, Trustee 4057 Route 9 North #383Howell, NJ 07731Phone: (732) 962-8588Email: vmacfiejbs.nj@gmail.com

The Snow Memorial TrustC/O Jonathan L. Snow, Trustee50 Presidential Plaza, Suite 106Syracuse, NY 13202Phone: (315) 471-5256Email: johnbensnow@verizon.net

The Snow Memorial TrustC/O Emelie M. Williams, Trustee P.O. Box 5605Reno, NV 89513Phone: (775) 830-4454Email: jbs.nevada@gmail.com

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

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • 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 • www.johnbensnow.com4

Bank of New York Mellon

Valerie A. MacFie

Jonathan L. Snow

Emelie M. Williams

TRUSTEES

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

GRANTS APPROVED AT THE2011 ANNUAL MEETING

*Denotes matching grant

ARTS AND CULTURE

Artistic Realization Technologies – Belle Mead, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000Train Tracking Artists 7

Capital City Arts Initiative – Carson City, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,000Arts enrichment workshops

Chenango County Council of the Arts – Norwich, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000Restoration of draperies

The Mainstay – Rock Hall, MD . . . . . . . . . $12,000Jazz workshop

Musical Theatre Festival, Inc. – Auburn, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000Educational programming/performance accessibility

Nevada Discovery Museum – Reno, NV . . $25,000Technological upgrades

Nevada Museum of Art – Reno, NV . . . . . $12,000Center for Art and Environment

Nevada Shakespeare Company – Reno, NV $5,000Shakespeare in School

Paper Mill Playhouse – Millburn, NJ . . . . . $10,000Upgrade audio system

The Reno Chamber Orchestra – Reno, NV $4,000Tickets for underserved youth

Reno Philharmonic Association, Inc. – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000Celebrate Strings program

Rosamond Gifford Charitable Corporation – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,000IDEAS Collaborative

Signature Band & Choir Camp, Inc. – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000Syracuse West Vocal and Instrumental program

VSA Arts of Nevada – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . $5,000Arts education programming

$184,000

COMMUNITY INITIATIVES

ARC of Carroll County, Inc. – Westminster, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000Support for transportation vans

CARE Chest of Sierra Nevada – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000Diabetic program

Community Chest Inc. – Virginia City, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000Before/after school programming

Contact We Care – Westfield, NJ . . . . . . . . $5,000On Line Support program

Family Promise of Monmouth County – Middletown, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,000Purchase passenger van

Family Promise of Reno/Sparks – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,500Support for transportation van

Food Bank of Central New York – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30,000Renovation of new facility

Friends of Washoe County Library – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,000Self-service kiosks

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • www.johnbensnow.com5

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Year Ended: 31 December 2010Total Assets: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ $24,736,638Excise Taxes: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 8,341Investment Revenue: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 976,267Grants Paid: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 1,050,907

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • www.johnbensnow.com6

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

Frost Valley YMCA – Claryville, NY . . . . . $15,000Renovation of cabin

Greater Pulaski Community Fund – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000*Greater Pulaski Community Fund challenge

HABcore, Inc. – Red Bank, NJ . . . . . . . . . $5,000Furnishings for shelter

Monmouth Neighborhood Housing, Inc. – Cliffwood, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,300Life skills and graduate program

Reno Bike Project – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . $7,350Gift Bike program

Safe Embrace – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,800Programs for incarcerated women

Saint Mary’s Health Network – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000Health screenings for underserved

Tompkins County Public Library – Ithaca, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000Upgrade multi-media in children’s room

Trinitas Health Foundation – Elizabeth, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000Electronic medical records

WCNY Public Broadcasting – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000Support for new education center

$199,950

DISABILITIES AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS

CitiCare – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000New Freedom initiative

Conservancy of Southwest Florida – Naples, FL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,500Universally accessible entrance

Friends of Lansing Community Library – Lansing, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000Purchase Braille signs and computer equipment

The Hearing and Speech Agency – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000Tuition Assistance

YMCA of Eastern Union County – Elizabeth, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000Pool accessibility at Rahway Branch

YMCA/YWCA Westfield Area – Westfield, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,000Universal access

$54,500

EDUCATION

Assistance League of Reno-Sparks – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,000Links to Learning program

The Children’s Cabinet of Reno – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000At-risk youth education services

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation – Williamsburg, VA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40,4002012 Teacher’s Institute

Cumberland College – Williamsburg, KY . . $10,000Student Health and Wellness Building

The Foundation Schools – Rockville, MD . $1,000Remedial reading program

LeMoyne College – Syracuse, NY . . . . . . . . $50,000Scholarship support

Lincoln Center Institute – New York, NY . $5,000Focus Schools program

The Midland School Foundation – North Branch, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,900Pen Friends communication devices

National Judicial College – Reno, NV . . . . $15,000Scholarship support

New York State Historical Association – Cooperstown, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000*Scholarship support

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST

Pulaski Academy & Central School – Pulaski, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50,000Academic achievement awards

Pulaski Academy & Central School Alumni Assoc. – Pulaski, NY . . . . . . . . . . . $2,000*Scholarship support

Sultana Projects, Inc. – Chestertown, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $50,000Support for Kent County school participation

University of Nevada, Reynolds School – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75,000Technological upgrades

The Washington Center – Washington, DC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $15,000*Support for internships and seminars

$345,300

ENVIRONMENT

Irvine Nature Center – Stevenson, MD . . . $20,000Outdoor classroom

Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,000Sensory garden

National Aquarium in Baltimore – Baltimore, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10,000Chesapeake Bay Initiative

The Student Conservation Association Inc. –Charlestown, NH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,500Summer service projects

$40,500

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

The Westfield Historical Society – Westfield, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000Historic site preservation

$5,000

JOURNALISM

Nevada Rock Art Foundation – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000Book publication

$5,000

SPECIAL GRANTS

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

$6,000

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Bonnie Brae – Liberty Corner, NJ . . . . . . . $7,700Home Olympics

The Children’s Institute – Verona, NJ . . . . . $5,000Student horticulture program

Colgate University – Hamilton, NY . . . . . . $3,700Young Writer’s Workshop

Horizons – Rumson, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $5,000Swimming instruction for underserved youth

Horizons at Radcliffe – Chestertown, MD . $10,000Support for summer program

Northern Nevada Youth Golf Foundation – Reno, NV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7,000First Tee Golf & Life Skills program

Plainfield YMCA – Plainfield, NJ . . . . . . . . $10,000Support for youth and media arts center

Tru Vista Foundation, Inc. – Sparks, NV . . $10,000Family placement program"

The Vitamin L Project – Ithaca, NY . . . . . . $10,000Central New York school performances

$68,400

THE JOHN BEN SNOW MEMORIAL TRUST • www.johnbensnow.com7

GRAND TOTAL: $908,650