{"id":12,"date":"2019-07-26T15:26:53","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T15:26:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.prattnortham-site.org\/pratt-northam-foundation\/?page_id=12"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:53:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T13:53:06","slug":"the-pratt-northam-foundation-non-operating-private-foundation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.prattnortham.org\/pratt-northam-foundation-2023\/the-pratt-northam-foundation-non-operating-private-foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"Who We Are"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PRATT-NORTHAM FOUNDATION<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Organization Information<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Description and Legal Status<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Pratt-Northam Foundation is named for the late C. Walter Pratt of Boonville, New York and his cousin, the late Miss Hazel Northam of Brooklyn, New York. It was established by Miss Northam in 1962 and has been perpetuated under the terms of her will.<\/p>\n

The Pratt-Northam Foundation is a Non-Operating Private Foundation, designated as an organization exempt from income tax under IRS Section 501(c)(3).<\/p>\n

As a Non-Operating Private Foundation, the Pratt-Northam Foundation\u2019s principal function is to provide grants to other entities for charitable or other exempt purposes. Their funds are derived from the investment of the original endowment, and it does not generate any funds from activities or outside donations.<\/p>\n

Programs and Services<\/h4>\n

Workerships<\/u><\/strong>
\n\"Workership
\nThe Workership Program provides 350 hours of summer employment at minimum wage for students accepted and enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate academic program at a two-year or four-year college for the following Fall semester.<\/p>\n

When the Workership Program was proposed in 1981 by Donald Exford, Coordinator of the Lewis County Youth Board, the program was designed to meet two goals:<\/p>\n

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  1. 1. Serve the needs of more college students than the previous scholarship program, and<\/li>\n
  2. 2. Provide job experience related to the college student's area of study in preparation for career employment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The program was intended to serve students from middle-class families, who typically were not eligible for government supported summer work programs. Further, the program was planned to fill the need for summer help for local nonprofit and government programs serving youth. Workership positions were not intended to replace permanent or part-time positions already filled. But instead, workership positions were to be new positions completing work that traditionally would not get done.<\/p>\n

    Youth Advisory Councils<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

    The purpose for a Pratt Northam sponsored Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is to allow a committee (board) of students from grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 to make decisions for funding creative ideas proposed by their board and peers.
    \nThe first council was established at Lowville Academy and Central School in the 2000 - 2001 school year. The success of that council provided both inspiration and model for others that followed. Carthage Central School started its YAC in 2001 - 2002. Beaver River Central, South Lewis Central, Copenhagen Central, Harrisville Central and Adirondack Central have followed in subsequent years.
    \nThe Foundation's goals when establishing a YAC are:<\/p>\n