Your Participation has Significant Impact! 

Supporters of the Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau together truly make a positive difference for the Ithaca community, especially for our youth. Financial contributions and/or your active participation has a significant impact.

Since the FIYB organization has very low overhead costs, most funds are allocated to the Ithaca Youth Bureau to use for “areas of greatest need” or as designated by donors who wish to target specific aspects of the IYB. The Impact Highlights document linked above and here features numerous examples of the impact funds through FIYB made in the past year.

FIYB Board Members want you to know why they are committed to the cause and the organization:

Board Chair Jeff Love: “Through scholarships, inclusive programming, and youth development initiatives, the IYB supports families in need and creates equitable opportunities for our young people. Because of the community’s continued support, the FIYB mission remains attainable: keeping some IYB programming available without fees and others affordable through scholarships, enriching the lives of our young people, and enhancing community offerings like support services for those with disabilities and the new food pantry.”

Board Treasurer Eric Nichols: “Now more than ever, our youth need positive opportunities, guidance, and support. Through our family’s involvement with the Friends of the IYB, we have seen firsthand the difference these programs make in the lives of young people. We invite you to join us in supporting the IYB and helping create life-changing opportunities for youth in need.”

Board Secretary Allen Green: “These are wild times and it’s great to see how the dollars raised through the Friends of the IYB continue to support our kids on their journeys.”

Board Member Bill Brumsted: “The beauty of the Ithaca Youth Bureau’s work is that the diverse programs all share the same goal: supporting our local youth. This variety of initiatives gives our supporters a great opportunity to direct their generosity somewhere that aligns with their personal passions while knowing that it is benefiting our community’s kids.”

Board Member Peter Tsung: “As a student at Cornell, I think it's really meaningful to see how the FIYB helps make opportunities accessible to young people in our community. Whether it's through scholarships, mentorship, or recreational programs, we're helping kids build confidence, develop relationships, and have experiences they might not otherwise have access to. It's rewarding to know that our board’s work can make a lasting difference in their lives.”

Board Vice Chair Mary Grainger: “We have a track record of connecting community members (aka “friends”!) who want to help our community’s future through the programs, services and facilities of the IYB. Please join FIYB “friends” with your charitable gift.”

Postal mail works if you are sending your gift as a check. Online giving is also easy on Donate page of our website!

With our gratitude and sincere best wishes in these challenging times,

Jeff Love, Mary Grainger, Allen Green, Eric Nichols, Bill Brumsted, Peter Tsung

FIYB Board Members

Friends of the IYB Welcomed 2026 Olympic Gold Medalist Rory Guilday on Saturday, October 17 at the Ithaca High School Wellness Center Gym

FIYB appreciated Rory’s commitment to “give back” to Ithaca which she called home during her four years studying and playing hockey at Cornell. Watch the event videos linked below to hear Rory describe her experiences –locally, nationally and internationally; and see how she interacted with the fans of all ages who gathered.

Many thanks to the Ithaca City School District Department of Athletics and Wellness, Wegmans, CRN Events, Ithaca Youth Bureau, and Cornell Women’s Ice Hockey for the many ways they supported this community event.

Conversation between Rory and Steve Lawrence:

https://youtu.be/55DjdV7miVs?si=hLKop5l3Ze7q1zIK                 

Welcome Remarks by Mary Grainger, Mayor Robert Cantelmo, IYB Director Gregg Houck and Cara Nichols:

https://youtu.be/OLnbbp5WJkQ?si=nd61OkYHI-8w-6oG

Jeff Love Thanks Everyone:

https://youtu.be/okqeAgqAiF4?si=HrKEKb4_9VBlda1H

Meet and Greet Video:

https://youtu.be/PGgIH1qcijQ?si=znht7ivWtv9gBS-a

Ithaca Times story by Steve Lawrence:

https://www.ithaca.com/sports/rorys-golden-story/article_25b38a82-c0c3-4b4a-83b7-2cbe0a848b48.html

Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau was pleased to host USA 2026 Olympic Gold Medalist Rory Guilday on Saturday, October 17 at 11:00 am at the Ithaca High School Wellness Center Gym, 1401 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca. The “meet and greet” event was free and open to the public.

Minnesotan Guilday is a 2025 graduate of Cornell University who was captain of the Women’s Ice Hockey team that won the ECACs and advanced to the NCAA tournament during her collegiate years. She was honored by the ECAC and USCHO for her strong performances and selected to compete for Team USA at international events during her undergraduate years. Since graduation, she has played defense with the USA Olympic Team and with the Ottawa Charge of the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League). This fall she will be one of the inaugural players for the expansion PWHL team in San Jose, CA.

She also attended both Cornell Women’s Hockey games at Lynah Rink with an autograph session after Saturday’s game.

Light refreshments were provided by the FIYB. IYB (Ithaca Youth Bureau) program staff will visit with attendees, and the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Athletics and Wellness department is assisting FIYB. CRN Events is partnering with FIYB to support this exciting event. For more information, contact friendsiyb@gmail.com

A longtime friend of youth and the youth bureau anonymously contributed $50,000 last year to inspire others to support IYB programs through the Friends of the IYB nonprofit organization. The gift was allocated to key needs and initiatives, and funds this event in memory of Vernon “Chip” Copeland of Newburgh, NY, who passed away suddenly on May 31, 2025. Chip lived a life so full of heart, music, service, laughter, and adventure that it lit up every room—and every person—he ever encountered. “To know Chip was to feel something. He had a rare gift—he could connect with anyone, no matter who they were or what they were going through. Whether you met him in passing or had him in your life for years, Chip made sure you walked away with your spirits lifted and your heart a little fuller.”

How Friends Support Community’s Youth and Families!

As the board members of the Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau (FIYB), we steward your gifts, channeling your generous private support to the Ithaca Youth Bureau (IYB). It is our responsibility to you as our donors and to the community to assist the IYB mission through allocations of designated gifts to specific programs, and gifts for the “areas of greatest need”.

The FIYB board is pleased to announce that it allocated more than $100,000 over the past year to the IYB.  FIYB has had a positive impact on the community for 15 years providing a means for private individuals, families and organizations to make charitable gifts to support the IYB programs, facilities and initiatives.

Another visible example was when the IYB celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023. We made a $75,000 grant to the IYB on behalf of all FIYB supporters.  In addition to funding improved furnishings at the IYB building and program equipment, resources were directed toward vans for transporting program participants. FIYB board members posed this fall with a newly leased van and met with IYB Director Gregg Houck.

Gregg updated us on what FIYB allocations this year so far have made possible: 

Collaborative memberships with local health and fitness partners for programming with Recreation Support Services (RSS) participants.

• New utility sink and storage cabinets for the Stewart Park Day Camp as part of the Large Pavilion Addition project (with Friends of Stewart Park).

• Snaplock dance flooring, piping, and draping to create a portable stage area for Expressive Arts performances, presentations, and other program uses.

• $10,000 in youth scholarships for participation in local recreation programming.

• Repairs to the accessible dock to support adaptive boating for the Stewart Park Day Camp.

• New tents and camping equipment for the Outings program.

• Supplies for the Afterschool Nutrition Program.

• New roller skates for Cass Park Rink.

• Support for critical staff training and development.

• Rental vehicles for program transportation as the department phased out old vehicles and began leasing.

Thank you very much for your contributions that are having a tremendous amount of impact!

With gratitude,

Jeff Love, Mary Grainger, Allen Green, Eric Nichols, Peter Tsung

Your Support Impacts Ithaca Youth

On May 23, 2024, we hosted a community event to introduce new IYB Director Gregg Houck! He’s pictured with the most recent IYB directors Liz Vance Klohmann and Allen Green.

There was great energy on the evening of May 23 as the Friends of the Ithaca Youth Bureau hosted community members and IYB staff who gathered to welcome new IYB director Gregg Houck!

We are sending you these images and videos so that you learn about Gregg’s goals for the IYB as it offers participants from all backgrounds, walks of life, identities, abilities and lived experiences a broad range of recreation and youth development services, supports, and opportunities to enable them to thrive.

Jeff Love welcomes guests and Gregg: WATCH HERE

Gregg Houck introduces self and his goals: WATCH HERE

Gregg expressed to the Friends: “I want to thank all of you for organizing my welcoming event! It was so nice to have such a great cross section of our community represented and I had many wonderful conversations throughout the evening.”

In addition, FIYB is appreciative of CRN Events and Ba Li Catering for refreshments and event support.

FIYB’s mission connects the community with the IYB by receiving charitable donations that are allocated to the IYB for general needs or specific designations, and by raising visibility of the agency’s people, programs and facilities. 

Your generous support is important to our work and we seek volunteers to help with this mission! Let us know.

Jeff Love, Mary Grainger, Allen Green, Eric Nichols