A brand new event put together by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation served as a celebration and an introduction to its work. NCCF recently hosted its inaugural Progressive Dinner, called "An Evening Together for Tomorrow." The dinner brought together prospective donors, nonprofit partners, and NCCF staff, board, and committee members for an evening that let guests experience the foundation's impact first-hand across northern Chautauqua County. A total of five stops on the Progressive Dinner highlighted a different nonprofit organization -- St. Columban's on the Lake, the Lakeshore Humane Society, Chautauqua County Rural Ministry, the Chautauqua Children's Gym, and the Fredonia Opera House -- supported through NCCF grantmaking, giving guests a firsthand look at the range of community needs the foundation helps address -- from social services and education to arts, youth development, and animal welfare. NCCF also partnered with local food and beverage vendors at each stop, giving guests a taste of the region while introducing them to area businesses.
The evening reinforced NCCF's role as a connector -- linking donors with the organizations and initiatives creating real impact across the community, as well as with the local farms, restaurants, and vineyards that helped bring the evening to life. Guests left with a deeper understanding of what NCCF makes possible and how their support can extend that impact even further. Attendees, including NCCF board members, also came away with new stories and first-hand knowledge to share with others, extending the evening's impact through word of mouth.
Photos by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation
