Twenty local organizations that help veterans, low-income residents, people with developmental disabilities, and serve several other critical missions, were each awarded a $1,000 grant by the Oneida Indian Nation today to continue their good community work. The group of 20 includes three VFW Posts, four American Legions, two ARC chapters and numerous other groups from the Chittenango and Canastota areas. Several dozen representatives of the organizations and the Oneida Nation government attended a Celebration of Community Service event June 1 at the Oneida Nation's Ray Elm Children & Elders Center in Oneida where the $1,000 checks were presented by Oneida Nation Foundation Chairman Chuck Fougnier.
Grant recipients include a number of organizations that the Oneidas have worked with for many years in various community endeavors and with whom they enjoy long friendships. Additionally, in making the grants, The Oneida Nation Foundation focuses on organizations who share the same values as the Oneida people.
Foundation Chairman Chuck Fougnier noted, ''We've always shared our resources. It's part of our history.''
The Oneida Nation Foundation builds on the Oneida people's long tradition of sharing the Nation's resources with others to benefit those with us today as well as the seventh generation to come.
The list of grant recipients is as follows:

• The list of grant recipients is as follows:
• American Legion Post 54 - Munnsville
• Arthur S. Moran Legion Post 66 - Camden
• Bridges - Canastota
• Canastota Memorial VFW Post 600
• Chittenango Foundation, Inc.
• Chittenango Rotary Club
• Emerald City Detachment Marine Corps League - Chittenango
• Food Bank of CNY - Syracuse
• Great Swamp Conservancy - Canastota
• Henry P. Smith Legion Post 24 - Rome
• Madison-Cortland ARC
• Munson-Williams Proctor Arts Institute - Utica
• Oneida-Lewis ARC
• Rescue Mission of Utica, Inc.
• Rome VFW Post 2246
• Sylvan Beach American Legion #1153
• The Salvation Army of the Oneida Area
• The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area
• Wanderers Rest Humane Association - Canastota
• Yorkville Memorial VFW Post 6001