When Carol Gloff established the Little Valley Fund at CRCF in 2019, she had a simple goal: give people who care about Little Valley a way to invest in the future of their hometown.

“Growing up in Little Valley in the 1950s and ‘60s was wonderful – I made many friends and received an excellent education,” said Gloff. “As the years passed, I visited my parents who remained in Little Valley and felt like I wanted to do something for the community.”

Today, the Little Valley Fund stands at nearly $110,000 in donations and has awarded more than $12,000 in grants to projects and activities benefiting the village. What began with one personal contribution has now leveraged gifts from hundreds of others and has become a lasting source of community support – one that has helped bring improvements to public spaces, support local activities and create places for residents to gather and celebrate their community.

Gloff, a Little Valley native who now lives in Massachusetts, wanted to remain connected to the community she grew up in. And she isn’t alone - more than 210 individuals and families have now contributed to the fund.

“I think many people who grew up in Little Valley feel as I do. We don’t have the advantage of living there now, but we have fond memories and want to honor our childhood and family experiences,” she remarked.

Over the years, that shared connection has inspired investment into tangible projects.

Some of the fund’s earliest grants helped address two very different needs in the village: preserving a familiar community gathering space and creating opportunities for residents to come together.

In 2021, the fund awarded $900 toward repairs to the gazebo in Little Valley’s central park, helping replace the rotting wood while the village contributed additional funds to complete the work. Another $500 supported one of the village’s summer concerts, paying local musicians for the event.

Those projects established a pattern that continues today. The Little Valley Fund has supported projects that might seem small on their own but collectively contribute to the character and quality of life in the community.

Most recently, that impact can be seen in projects such as the new children’s area at the Memorial Library of Little Valley. The space, which officially opened in June, was named “Martha’s Corner” in honor of the late Martha Memmott. The project brought together members of the Little Valley Fund advisory committee and members of the Memmott family for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The fund has also been part of Little Valley’s ongoing efforts to make its downtown a more welcoming and vibrant place.

A new mural on the Vail Hardware building at 104 Main Street now serves as a colorful tribute to the village, depicting Little Valley through its four seasons. The mural was painted by Buffalo artist Jeremy Miklas after the Village of Little Valley Beautification Committee developed the concept using images representing the community and its character, while also covering part of the cost of the mural.

For Gloff, that was always the idea.

“When I started the Little Valley Fund, I was worried we would not be able to raise money or find projects of interest to the community – but all of my worries were unfounded. People have stepped up to organize activities, donate, thank donors personally and in writing, and bring possible projects to our attention.”

“Little Valley always was, and still is, a great community.”

The fund wasn’t created around one particular project or one particular moment. It was created to give Little Valley a resource that could continue responding to the community’s needs and opportunities over time.

That is perhaps what makes the fund’s growth so meaningful.

Nearly $110,000 in contributions represents far more than a number on a balance sheet. It represents former residents remembering where they came from, current residents investing in where they live and families choosing to honor people and places that have meant something to them.

And because the fund is an endowment, the impact isn’t intended to end with the projects already completed. The principal remains invested, allowing the fund to continue generating support for Little Valley into the future.

“It’s exciting to see Carol’s original vision becoming a lasting part of the Little Valley community’s future,” said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director. “What stands out about the fund is how many people have found a reason to be a part of it. That kind of connection is what makes a fund like this special.”

Seven years after the creation of the fund, Gloff’s original donation has grown into something considerably larger. For a community the size of Little Valley, investments like hers can make a visible difference.

“By [adding to the endowment], our goal is to make sure the Little Valley Fund can cover the cost of projects in Little Valley for many years to come,” said Gloff.

Perhaps the most significant result is less tangible: the fund has created a way for people to continue giving back to a place they care about, regardless of where life has taken them.

Donations can be made to the Little Valley Fund at CRCF, 301 North Union St., Olean, N.Y., Suite 203, or online at cattfoundation.org.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).