Generous people to receive award

Recognizing the innovative generosity of local people, Rochester Area Community Foundation will present philanthropy awards to five area residents at the group's annual luncheon on September 20.

Receiving awards are:

•Joanna Card, a long-time area resident, who established an endowment fund at Roberts Wesleyan College for student social work and community service projects.

•ESL Federal Credit Union, whose gifts have brought the Navy Blue Angels to the International Airshow, giraffes to Seneca Park Zoo and otherwise benefited United Cerebral Palsy Association and Camp Haccamo, ESL also is the major sponsor of Animal Scramble, a community arts project to raise money for local charities.

•James and Janis Gleason and the Gleason Foundation, whose farsighted philanthropy includes major support of Hope Hall, which helps children with special learning needs. He is chairman of Gleason Corporation and of the Gleason Foundation, which was established by the Gleason family in 1926. She is a director of the Gleason Foundation.

•Elliott H. Press, real estate developer, who has supported many charitable projects, including Quad A for Kids. His planned gifts (bequests and life insurance policies) will benefit several local charities.

•Janet S. Welch will receive the Joe U. Posner Founders Award in recognition of family gifts and her enthusiastic involvement with many organizations, including St. Joseph's Villa and Rochester Area Community Foundation, both of which she had served as board chair. The award is named for the late Joe U. Posner, founding chair of the Community Foundation.

Nominations for the Philanthropy Award came from area nonprofit agencies. The actual award is a unique bronze cup designed for the Community Foundation by renowned sculptor Wendell Castle.

Now celebrating its 30th year, Rochester Area Community Foundation (www.racf.org) supports charitable donors in benefiting this region through creative philanthropy. Last year, it awarded more than $320,000 in scholarships and nearly $16 million in other grants, principally to nonprofit organizations serving Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Genesee and Orleans counties.