Elmira Nonprofits and Charities

My entire life has been filled with music. My mother was a pianist, church organist, piano teacher, and early in her life, a singer. I began singing at age 2 and never stopped. I was in church choirs, school choirs, and community groups from an early age. No matter where I lived...in New York, Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, I always found a chorus to join. I was raised in Elmira and lived in the Midwest for 25 years until I came back to Elmira in 1985 to marry my high school sweetheart. I found piano and voice teachers and knew about Cantata Singers but didn't join because they rehearsed on Sunday nights. For me, that was difficult so, though I knew how incredible the group was, I didn't join. Then, about 10 years ago, my mind changed completely. My daughter, also a singer and living in Michigan, asked me if I knew about Dan Forrest's Requiem for the Living. Her group was performing it and she said if I ever had the chance to sing it, do whatever I needed to do to learn it. As it happened, I was at Trinity Church in Elmira, chatting with Susan and Steve Nagle and they commented, "Joy, you should come to Cantata Singers. We're doing the most incredible work by Dan Forrest and he's from Horseheads." That's all it took! I came to my first rehearsal that Sunday night.<br>I was surprised how many singers I knew and was welcomed with open arms. I knew I'd found a singing 'home'. Will Wickham, the director, is so thoughtful and kind, an amazing musician who makes us work hard, face challenges with the music he selects, and yet, always offering encouragement, insights and nuances into whatever we're working on. When we sing his own compositions, we get a glimpse of this amazing man and his thoughts about life, love, music, and those folks around us. He also has a wonderful sense of humor so rehearsals have quite of bit of laughter! Our concerts are for everyone and our audiences are appreciative, giving us standing ovations as they clamor for more. These reactions are all due to Will's ability to bring out the best we have in us. <br>One side note on all of this: Will and my Cantata Singers friends are extraordinary. From about 2015 on, when I joined, many of them knew my husband, Matt, had early vascular dementia that began in 2010 and progressed for 14 years until his death in 2023. Who was by my side through this long and terrible journey? Cantata Singers! At every rehearsal, "Joy, how are you doing? Do you need anything? What can I do?" You can't imagine how much that helped me every single Sunday night. Many of them came to Matt's funeral on a cold, blustery, snowy Friday that March. Most had to take time from work to be there to offer me and our children the love and support we needed. I know that for any Cantata Singer who faces and speaks about a personal crisis or situation, the other singers will be there, quietly, maybe behind the scenes, but always there for whatever anyone needs.<br>Music is the primary focus of Cantata Singers but these other aspects and the personal commitments of Will and all the singers make the group an outstanding asset for our community. I am fortunate and proud to be a singer with the Cantata Singers.

Chemung SPCA is a non-profit that puts the animals first, by creating awareness, taking action, and ensuring that their adoptable animals find loving and lifetime homes. They have one of the most dedicated teams of staff, volunteers, and community members who work to support their mission in their community. <br><br>The integrity and quality of work done by this organization are unsurpassed, proven by their incredible numbers in 2020: 613 Animals adopted, 1,300 animals spayed or neutered, and 650 animals helped by their safety net programs.

Pastor Robert Smith is an excellent man of god. He desires to help those in need. Feed the hungry, and provide clothing to those that dont have. Pastor and his family both have devoted them selves completely to the ministry and have put church and the ministry before themselves and their family.

Tanglewood is truly an amazing resource in my com munity. The Saturday with Nature series has been fun and educational for my children. The hiking trails provide free exercise opportunities as well as aesthetic beauty for my family as well. Tanglewood staff have also done excellant outreach within the community to introduce impoverished youth to organic gardening, provided scholarships for Summer Day Camp and Science programs, and worked at 2 Community Centers in Elmira. The staff at Tanglewood make learning fun and have passion for their work. I have been going to Tanglewood since I was a little girl, truly enjoy all it has to offer my girls as well!!