The Pratt Northam Foundation

03/23/2026

The Pratt Northam Foundation is supporting 41 workership positions in 26 different sites throughout the Lewis County, Carthage and Boonville communities this summer. If you are a college-bound/enrolled student in the service area seeking a high-quality internship in the community, please check out the list of organizations that have been funded this year. Contact information for each position is included.

Area organizations receive 2024 Workership Awards

12/01/2025

The Pratt Northam Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Summer Workership Program. This program provides funding to organizations in our community to hire summer interns - assisting the organization meet new organizational goals, as well as providing meaningful career experience for local college students. Any public or not-for-profit organization located in our service area (Lewis County, Boonville, and Carthage) is invited to submit an application.

In 2025, the Workership Program funded 40 positions at 26 sites in our community. To learn more about the program and how your organization can apply, click the link below. The application deadline is January 9, 2026.

https://www.prattnortham.org/pratt-northam-foundation-2023/uncategorized/815/

12/20/2024

Congratulations to Joe Lawrence on receiving the 2024 Don Exford Community Service Award. He was surprised with the award last night at the Naturally Lewis Christmas Party at Second Place Beer Co., in Lowville. Brittany Davis and Jerry Haenlin presented the award on behalf of the Pratt Northam Foundation Board of Directors. We were happy to have Don's children, John and Robin, join us for the presentation.

Please see the press release in the link below to learn more about why Joe was chosen for this award.

https://www.prattnortham.org/pratt-northam-foundation-2023/uncategorized/joe-lawrence-receives-2024-don-exford-community-service-award/

12/03/2024

✨2025 Workership Program - Notice of Funding Availability✨

The Pratt Northam Foundation has offered the Workership Program to area not-for-profits and public sector organizations for the past 43 years. Dozens of municipalities and not-for-profits have hired summer interns through this program over the years. In 2024, the Foundation provided funding to 24 area organizations for 40 different internships.

The 2025 funding application period is currently open! If you are interested in an intern at your organization for the summer of 2025, reach out to Executive Director Sarah Bullock at [email protected], or go directly to our website to download an application: www.prattnortham.org

The deadline for applications is January 8, 2025.

12/13/2023

PRESS RELEASE

For the 43rd consecutive year, the Pratt Northam Foundation invites public sector and not-for-profit organizations delivering services to people living between Boonville and Carthage, to apply for Workership Grants.

The Workership Program will provide a maximum 350 hours of summer employment for each position at minimum wage, for students who are currently enrolled, or who have been accepted and will be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate academic program at an accredited college for the 2024 Fall semester.

The Pratt Northam Foundation encourages all applicants to provide quality experiences for their Workership Students. The Foundation values the sites that gives students true hands-on learning experiences.

Workership applicants are reminded that Workership sites are selected based upon the affirmative answers to the following questions:
1. Does the Workership position provide programming directly to young people?
2. Does the Workership position indirectly benefit young people? 3. Does the Workership position help the student build skills and experience on a specific career tract?
4. Does the Workership position relate to the student’s field of study?
5. Will the student receive internship or academic credit for the summer work?

An application for Workership funding can be downloaded from the Foundation’s Website: prattnortham.org. The deadline for applications is January 12, 2024.

For more information, phone: (570) 396-4532 or email: [email protected].

06/14/2023

The Pratt Northam Foundation is pleased to announce that in honor of her dedication to the Harrisville community, Patricia Miller is the 2023 recipient of the Don Exford Community Service Award.

Patricia has consistently showed initiative and dedication to her community over her lifetime, beginning as a Den Leader for the female Cub Scouts and then as a Brownie Trooper Leader. She has served as a member of the Harrisville Culture Club, Red Hat Society, and Harrisville United Methodist Church, volunteering at their famous “donut day sales” as well as at the Annual Harrisville Community Fest. As a volunteer for Lewis County Hospice for 18 years, Patricia saw patients in Croghan, Harrisville and St. Lawrence County.

Patricia continues to volunteer in the community, making a meal once per year at the Harrisville Courts Senior Meal site for the senior citizens living there. She also assists the Town of Diana Historical Museum as needed giving tours, caring for plants and helping keep the museum open for the community.

Patricia embodies selfless dedication and commitment to her neighbors and community. As Board Director, Jessica Jenack stated in her nomination letter, “we need more individuals like her dedicated to their communities and helping to improve the lives of others.”

12/02/2022

Pratt Northam Foundation Accepting Applications for 2023 Summer Workership Program

For the 42nd consecutive year, the Pratt Northam Foundation invites not-for-profits delivering services to people living between Boonville and Carthage, to apply for Workership Grants.

The Workership Program will provide a maximum 350 hours of summer employment for each position at minimum wage, for students who are currently enrolled, or who have been accepted and will be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate academic program at an accredited college for the fall semester 2023.

The Pratt Northam Foundation encourages all applicants to provide quality experiences for their Workership Students. The Foundation values the sites that gives students true hands on learning experiences.

Workership applicants are reminded that Workership sites are selected based upon the affirmative answers to the following questions:
1. Does the Workership position provide programming directly to young people?
2. Does the Workership position indirectly benefit young people? 3. Does the Workership position help the student build skills and experience on a specific career tract?
4. Does the Workership positon relate to the student’s field of study?
5. Will the student receive internship or academic credit for the summer work?

An application for Workership funding can be downloaded from the Foundation’s Website: prattnortham.org.

The deadline for applications is January 6, 2023

Private sector businesses interested in hosting a summer intern are encouraged to contact Lisa Hetzner, Careers Here Coordinator at (315) 376-5295 or [email protected] to learn more about our Careers Here Program.
For more information, phone: (570) 396-4532 or email: [email protected].

12/28/2021

PRATT NORTHAM FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Pratt Northam Foundation board would like to announce the selection of a new Executive Director, Sarah Bullock.
Sarah joins the Foundation with extensive community development experience, currently serving as a part-time Community Development Specialist with the Town of Wilna. Her experience in grant writing, project management and relationship building made her an ideal candidate to further the Foundations impact throughout local communities. Additionally, Sarah has benefitted from the Pratt Northam mission in her previous role as Board President at Hand in Hand Early Childhood Center, applying and receiving grant funds for various projects.
“It is with great regret that Karen Petersen has decided to leave us after a great tenure serving us and the greater Lewis County community. Karen was a great ambassador for the Foundation and helped us make a difference in the lives of the citizens in the North Country. We are very excited to have Sarah join us in our never-ending quest to improve the lives of the people of the North Country. We are convinced that her experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to our mission will continue Pratt Northam's desire to change the course of the future in the area. She will join her predecessors- Don Exford, Tom Yousey and Karen Petersen in promoting the goals of the Foundation,” stated the Foundations Board President, Randy Schell.

“The Pratt Northam Foundation has done wonderful work improving the quality of life in the communities along the Black River Valley, and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of this organization. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, as well as the communities it serves,” stated Sarah Bullock, the Foundation’s Executive Director.
The Pratt Northam Foundation, established in 1962, is a private foundation that seeks to be a catalyst to projects that improve the quality of life in the communities of the Black River Valley from Boonville to Carthage. The Foundation provides financial support to not-for-profit organizations and government agencies through a grant process, and values projects and opportunities for young people and other innovative initiatives.
The Pratt Northam Board of Directors is excited to work with Sarah in continuing to provide funding to projects that increase the quality of life for youth and residents living in the Black River Valley.

12/05/2021

Pratt Northam Foundation Accepting Applications for 2022 Summer Workership Program

For the 41st consecutive year, the Pratt Northam Foundation invites not-for-
profits delivering services to people living between Boonville and Carthage, to apply for Workership Grants.

The Workership Program will provide a maximum 350 hours of summer
employment for each position at minimum wage, for students who are currently enrolled, or who have been accepted and will be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate academic program at an accredited college for the fall semester, 2022.

The Pratt Northam Foundation encourages all applicants to provide quality experiences for their Workership Students. The Foundation values the sites that gives students true hands on learning experiences.

Workership applicants are reminded that Workership sites are selected based upon
the affirmative answers to the following questions: 1. Does the Workership
position provide programming directly to young people? 2. Does the
Workership position indirectly benefit young people? 3. Does the Workership
position help the student build skills and experience on a specific career tract?
4. Does the Workership positon relate to the student’s field of study? 5. Will the student receive internship or academic credit for the summer work?

An application for Workership funding can be downloaded from the Foundation’s
Website: prattnortham.org. The deadline for applications is January 7,2022

Private sector businesses and Government Agencies interested in hosting a summer intern are encouraged to contact Lisa Hetzner, Careers Here Coordinator at (315) 376-5295 or [email protected] to learn more about our Careers Here Program


For more information, phone: (570) 396-4532 or email: [email protected].

09/03/2021

Pratt Northam Foundation, a philanthropic organization covering an area from Carthage to Boonville (including all of Lewis County) is looking for a part time Executive Director. Desired candidate will have a passion for community improvement and the overall improvement of the quality of life for all in the Pratt Northam Foundation service area. Candidate will be in tune with community needs by working with local human service agencies, not for profits, cultural and recreational organizations to promote and provide community benefits. They will assist various organizations through advice and grant administration and report directly to the Foundations Board of Directors.

Qualified candidate will reside within the Pratt Northam Foundation service area and possess excellent communication, administration and organizational skills. Schedule is flexible but candidate must have the ability for times in the day and the evenings for fulfillment of job duties and outreach. Position available immediately. For more information visit our website https://www.prattnortham.org/uncategorized/pratt-northam-foundation-looking-to-hire-a-new-executive-director/. Send resume, including cover letter and salary requirements to Pratt Northam Foundation. P.O. Box 104, Lowville 13367 or email [email protected] by Sept 30,2021