Adirondack Community Foundation seeking nominations for unsung community heroes

Kindling Awards celebrate everyday neighbors who bring us together

LAKE PLACID — Adirondack Community Foundation is pleased to accept nominations for the Kindling Awards, which celebrate the everyday neighbors who keep the spirit of community alive and well in our neck of the woods. Named after the essential ingredient that starts the warm fire we all gather around, in 2025, the inaugural Kindling Awards celebrated events that bring neighbors together in the winter months. This year, the focus is shifting from events to people.

Each awardee will be able to select a local organization (such as a library, youth group, municipality, or nonprofit) to receive a $1,000 grant in their honor. They will also be featured in a community profile to share their story and inspire others. 

“In the Adirondacks, we lean on one another,” said Cali Brooks, President & CEO of Adirondack Community Foundation. “Our towns are held together by the quiet, steady efforts of people who show up for their neighbors. Whether it’s the parent turning a school into a welcoming community hub, a neighbor strengthening opportunities for local seniors, or a small group of friends organizing to tackle a local need, these individuals are the ‘living kindling’ of our region.”

The deadline to submit nominations is February 25, 2026. Any resident or small, informal group within the Adirondack Region (the Adirondack Park, plus all of Clinton and Franklin counties and the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory) is eligible for nomination. Visit adkcommunityfoundation.org/kindling-awards for full guidelines and to submit a nomination, or call (518) 523-9904.