Giving Rye: Meet The Apawamis Foundation
Giving Rye is a new occasional feature highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Tim O’Neill of The Apawamis Foundation.
Your Name: Tim O’Neill
Organization: The Apawamis Foundation
Your role: President
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.
O’Neill: The Apawamis Foundation was founded as a charitable organization to provide for the encouragement of education and educational excellence through grants, scholarship, and financial assistance to students, institutions and other organizations. We supply educational support Apawamis employees, caddies, and their children. We also support other tax-exempt organizations (such as the MGA Caddie Scholarship Fund) as well.
How long have you operated in Rye?
O’Neill: The Apawamis Foundation was founded in 2000.
What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for?
O’Neill:
- We are best known for working with Apawamis employees, caddies and their children to provide financial aid in support of their educational goals. We look closely at financial need in making our awards, and typically support 15-20 scholars in a given academic year. While scholarships per se are at the core of how we provide support, we have also helped students in other ways. As an example, during Covid pandemic, when students of all ages were required to attend school virtually, we acquired and distributed ChromeBooks for a number of younger students. While our commitment is year to year, our intent is to support our scholars through graduation.
- We also support the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) Caddie Scholarship Program. It provides similar assistance to caddies throughout the area.
Looking forward to 2025, what will be your top initiatives?
O’Neill:
- Our most important initiative will be to continue to serve our core market: Apawamis employees, caddies, and their children.
- Next year, we will also celebrate our 25th anniversary. When we first started, the Foundation was supporting 4 individuals. We now support over 20, with our support per scholar having grown at the same time. So, we are supporting more students with even more dollars.
- The Foundation is a great reflection on the culture that pervades Apawamis (and, I think, Rye). We feel our employees are part and parcel of the Club. The Foundation, through its support, helps cement that foundation.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
O’Neill: Yes, we qualify as a 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions to the Foundation can be made on a tax-deductible basis.
Looking back across 2024, what were your organization’s top achievements?
O’Neill: This year, we supported 25 scholars…a high water mark. Their educational objectives cover a broad range, from traditional arts and sciences to vocational pursuits.
How can local residents support your organization?
O’Neill: Local residents can always donate to the Foundation. Almost all of our support is from individuals.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
O’Neill: Our support comes principally from Apawamis members. The Foundation tries to run as efficiently as possible. Our administrative expenses are limited to printing and postage (for one mailing per year), and tax filing fees. Beyond that, all the work for the Foundation is done on a pro bono basis. The Foundation Board happily invests many hours each year screening candidates.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
O’Neill: I have been on the Foundation Board since 2008, and have been President since 2015.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
O’Neill: I do have a day job; as is the case with all our Board members, my work is part time as a volunteer.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
O’Neill: Thoughtful.
Where did you grow up?
O’Neill: I grew up in Queensbury NY, truly upstate…in the Lake George area. My wife and I moved to Rye from NYC in 1991.
What is your favorite unimportant thing about you?
O’Neill: My ideal day would start with doing some puzzles, cooking something tasty, and reading a good book!
If the next five years is a chapter in your life, what is this chapter about?
O’Neill: Over the next 5 years, I am going to attempt to layer in a little bit of retirement time. I suppose that means more time for golf and skiing, as well as work on educationally oriented groups such as the Foundation.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
O’Neill: Easy… skydive.
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
O’Neill: After 30 years, my wife and I moved from Rye to Greenwich, Connecticut. That said, much of our social range of motion is still centered in Rye.
Thanks Tim!
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