Homesteads for Hope, a non-profit community farm in the town of Greece, has been selected to receive Canandaigua National Bank & Trust’s first CNB 1Community Grant to increase accessibility for children and young adults with developmental challenges.

The grant’s selection is the work of the bank’s employee led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Community Connections sub-committee which each year donates to non-profit agencies that support the DEI mission. In 2023, sixty-six organizations across the community received support.

“Homestead for Hope’s Ready Set Go program was selected because it is working to meet a critical need in our community to increase accessibility and opportunities for young adults facing barriers to personal and professional development” said Dario Saccente, a Wealth Associate and co-chair of the DEI Community Connections subcommittee.

"I am passionate about the transformative potential of our Ready! Set! Programs to inspire growth in individuals of all abilities. With the generous grant from Canandaigua National Bank, we are poised to expand these initiatives, empowering even more individuals to thrive and succeed in our inclusive community." Jenny Brongo, Founder & CEO of Homesteads for Hope.

Javier Quintana, Community Office Branch Manager and Co-Chair of the sub-committee, shared that “In addition to support with funding, bank employees were also interested in how they, personally, could help. Our selection committee was impressed by the opportunities to volunteer and learn more about inclusivity through the organization’s DEI Training Experience.”

Through its Community Farm experience, Homesteads for Hope strives to empower people with disabilities by providing meaningful skill development, social engagement, and personal growth.

Funding from the CNB 1Community Grant lasts for one year with a goal of supporting nonprofit agencies focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Rochester area community.