ROME — The Griffin Charitable Foundation (GCF) of Rome, a private 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2019 and known for is philanthropic support on behalf of educational, health and wellness needs of those in the Rome community, recently awarded a $55,000 grant to the Project Fibonacci® Foundation (PFF) towards its STEAM Cohort Scholarship Fund. The fund provides full or partial scholarships to young scholars wishing to attend the annual Project Fibonacci® STEM plus Arts (STEAM) Youth Leadership Conference. The fund is used to defray tuition costs, including related educational program costs, for underserved students and those experiencing financial hardships from across the Mohawk Valley. Since 2016, the scholarship fund has provided financial assistance to over 500 young scholars. GCF’s support provides coverage for approximately 25 eligible scholars.
PFF chairman Dr. Andrew Drozd believes that GCF’s mission aligns perfectly with PFF’s overall goals and aspirations for the Rome community. He stated, “Once again, we are humbled and profoundly thankful for the generous support of the Griffin Charitable Foundation for their continued support. Their gift provides a further boost in our joint efforts to uplift our local youth, break down socio-economic barriers, and enable the pursuit of rewarding STEM careers and academic and vocational pathways, and in creating our next generation of entrepreneurs. The Griffin vision is now benefiting STEAM scholars, encouraging them to live and work in Rome and make the greater Upstate New York region their home.”
Dorothy and William “Bill” Griffin, siblings and former owners of Varflex Corporation, 512 W. Court St., left a lasting legacy on Rome and the region through their many selfless acts of philanthropy. Dorothy lived to be 100, Bill to 94, and many members of the Varflex family knew them well, including the types of causes they felt strongly about and the projects they championed. Since the passing of Dorothy in 2015 and Bill in 2019, their work has been carried out through their individual charitable foundations, which includes Bill’s wife Shirley who passed away in 2018 and who lived to be 91, and now all under the merged Griffin Charitable Foundation.
Chuck Schoff, GCF board member and Varflex CFO recounts working closely with Dorothy for close to 40 years. Educational endeavors meant a great deal to her because she was a teacher after college and before joining the family business was also very concerned about health care and the needy, as Schoff recalls. According to both Schoff and Dan Burgdorf―GCF chair and Varflex CEO, Dorothy’s and Bill’s biggest priority was always the Rome community.
The GCF board continuously monitors developments in the community and keeps an eye on the future as it considers submitted requests on a rolling basis. For more information, contact community liaison Dyann Nashton at 315-795-2904 or email: nashton@griffincf.org.
To learn more about PFF’s STEAM programs and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.projectfibonacci.org or email info@projectfibonacci.org. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to the Project Fibonacci® Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 424, Rome, NY 13442-0424.
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