News

  • 03/14/2022 5:27 PM | Admin (Administrator)

    Founded in May 1969 as a summer camp, ARC Herkimer has grown into the premier provider of services for people with disabilities in Herkimer County, New York. With the support of many sponsors including the UpMobility Foundation, ARC Herkimer has continued to innovate to better help its members, including taking the unusual step of acquiring the Mohawk Valley Country Club in the spring of 2020. 

    Now called the MV Golf & Event Center, the former Mohawk Valley Country Club employs some of ARC Herkimer’s own residents—a testament to their belief in the power that work can have in the lives of developmentally disabled people. With its 18-hole golf course and restaurant as well as sizable event space, the MV Golf & Event Center has become an area hit. UpMobility Foundation has been closely involved in the development of the MV Golf & Event Center and we look forward to continuing our long relationship with ARC Herkimer as they enhance the lives of those with disabilities as well as lift up the community. 


  • 03/01/2022 2:39 PM | Admin (Administrator)

    Longtime UpMobility grantee On Point for college is known in the Mohawk Valley and beyond for helping nontraditional students get into college—but, just as importantly, they also help these students with a myriad of challenges that come after they are accepted. As discussed in an article in a January 2022 Washington Post in which On Point for College was mentioned, the challenges faced by underprivileged students can be hard to fathom by those who are more advantaged. 

    Giovanni Harvey, a student mentioned in the Washington Post article, had his bags packed to start his new life as a college student but wasn't able to secure the $25 for a bus ticket from his home to campus. Luckily, an On Point volunteer arrived at his home to drive him and his few belongings the one hour to his university. He is now slated to graduate from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, where he founded a mentoring program  served as Student Body President.

    UpMobility remains committed to partnering with organizations that advance education, and we are especially excited by those organizations like On Point who go beyond just giving students money to get into college. On Point for College realizes the layers of need in the populations they serve and they continue to iterate to meet those needs. 




  • 02/15/2022 12:47 PM | Admin (Administrator)

    The Little Falls City School district (LFCSD) was more prepared than many school districts for remote learning in the early days of the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result of Little Falls City School district's long association with UpMobility Foundation, most middle and high students were immediately provided with Chromebooks if they did not have access to a computer at home. Within about a month of the shutdown, students in grades three to five without computer access were also given Chromebooks. Additionally, the transition to remote learning was made easier by the fact that the district had already had years of daily tech support from Connecticut-based Trusted Technologies—an advantage that was also provided by UpMobility Foundation. Trusted Technologies services included a much-utilized tech support hotline for students and teachers.

    Additionally, UpMobility was able to help to provide WiFi access points around the city of Little Falls and in rural areas with sufficient cell signal coverage. As a result of these efforts, the number of students and teachers with limited or no internet access dropped from about 60 districtwide at the beginning of the closure to under  20 students out of 1,075 students districtwide. UpMobility Foundation remains committed to advancing education as well as giving back to the city of Little Falls.


  • 09/10/2021 9:47 AM | Admin (Administrator)

    Following the devastating, 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti on August 14, UpMobility Foundation consulted with our longtime partner Food for the Poor to see how we could help, as humanitarian aid is one of our key giving areas. Food for the Poor is an expert on Haiti, having been on the ground in the country since 1986. 

    According to UNICEF, the earthquake, which has claimed thousands of lives, has affected over half a million children. As we were informed on a call with Food for the Poor, one of the most pressing needs facing the Haitian people is shelter, as the earthquake has decimated thousands of structures. UpMobility is proud that we will be able to contribute a significant donation to the relief effort and thus be able to help Haitian people meet their basic needs.  At this time, our philanthropy is enabling six tractor-trailers of food to be delivered to needy families. 




  • 09/09/2021 6:21 PM | Admin (Administrator)

    As the Coronavirus pandemic picked up steam in early Spring 2020, On Point for College Utica Director Kevin Marken knew that the inevitable move to remote learning would be disastrous for many of their students, who often have limited access to computers. Luckily, the UpMobility Foundation was able to help On Point provide students with over 200 laptops—and they aren't done giving them out yet. 

    On Point for College, which has worked to help underprivileged students get into and stay in college since 1999, quickly expanded their long-running loaner laptop program, with a focus on students who were about to start college. By early April, On Point was distributing refurbished laptops (some equipped with new hard drives) that feature anti-virus software as well as an administrative portal that is able to help with students tech-support questions. Additionally, On Point distributed thumb drives to students. The City of Utica as well as Utica College have stepped up to provide wi-fi access. 

    The impact of these laptops on the greater community is just beginning to be felt. Kevin Marken recounted how one recipient, a refugee from Somalia, thanked him for her laptop, saying that it enabled her five siblings to get help with their homework and gave her parents a way to look for work. UpMobility Foundation recognizes the ability of technology to empower not only students but entire families. We look forward to continuing to help On Point for College uplift students and their families as we continue to support the causes of advancing education as well as community building. 



  • 09/08/2021 3:00 PM | Admin (Administrator)

    UpMobility Foundation is pleased to announce our  support of MedShare,  a humanitarian aid nonprofit that delivers surplus medical supplies and equipment to those in need in 100 countries. With distribution centers located in the South as well as on the East and West coasts, MedShare helps increase health system capacity and drives sustainability by giving biomedical equipment training and services to healthcare organizations as well as medical professionals serving needy populations. Support from organizations like UpMobility has enabled MedShare to serve 26 million patients worldwide. In the US, MedShare has enabled millions of pounds of equipment and supplies to be diverted from landfills. 

     As two of UpMobility's giving categories are humanitarian aid and access to healthcare, we believe that our support of MedShare is a further demonstration of our commitment to uplifting people, including those in developing countries.  






  • 05/20/2021 12:39 AM | Admin (Administrator)

    UpMobility Foundation is happy to announce our  support of Defy Ventures,  a  nonprofit organization founded in 2010 that works to lower prison recidivism rates through a variety of programs conducted for incarcerated people as well as those who have been released. In 2020, 80% of those who went through Defy's post-release program were able to find employment. Less than 10% of those who go through Defy's programs return to prison --in contrast, the national recidivism rate is more than 30%. 

    Our founder Martin Babinec is a longtime supporter of Defy Ventures, as the organization aligns with his belief in the power of second chances and the importance of striving to improve one's circumstances. One of the key ways Defy Ventures helps incarcerated people as well as those who have recently been released from prison is equipping them with the knowledge to start their own businesses. This effort fits perfectly with UpMobility Foundation's support of entrepreneurship as well as our focus on promoting economic self-sufficiency. 


  • 05/20/2021 12:31 AM | Admin (Administrator)

    UpMobility Foundation grantee the Root Farm closed out 2020 on  a high note after an unprecedented year halted most of their operations. Thanks to support from UpMobility Foundation and other donors, the Root Farm was able to continue with some of their agricultural operations. Specifically, the Root Farm was able to resume operations with their freight farms--hydroponic farming systems retrofitted inside intermodal freight containers. The reinstatement of these freight farms is crucial as this allows for the Root Farm to grow produce that is harvested by as well as distributed to needy community members. Additionally, support from organizations like UpMobility has enabled the Root Farm to rehire two of their employees. 

    UpMobility is proud of the progress the Root Farm was able to make in the midst of a global crisis and looks forward to continuing to help them in the future. The work of the Root Farm truly embodies UpMobility's commitment to community building as well as helping those with special needs. 




  • 05/20/2021 12:27 AM | Admin (Administrator)

    In a year of unprecedented global turmoil, the UpMobility Foundation is proud to be able to continue our work with longtime partner Food for the Poor. In response to the economic impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Jamaica, the UpMobility Foundation is working with Food for the Poor to put together food baskets for those in need. One of UpMobility Foundation's investment focuses is on humanitarian aid, and we are committed to helping the people of  Jamaica during this uncertain time. 

    Additionally, we are working to stock the baskets, which are projected to provide 175,000 meals,  with products from Jamaican businesses--a clear demonstration of our commitment to supporting local agriculture. 



  • 05/20/2021 12:24 AM | Admin (Administrator)

    UpMobility Foundation is honored to be the recipient of a 2020 Foundation of Hope Award from nonprofit organization On Point for College. Our founder Martin Babinec is a longtime supporter of On Point for College and was specifically recognized by the Utica, New York office director Kevin Marken for his "ongoing leadership" and "sage advice" that has "helped On Point forward the educational dreams of students in our region."

     On Point has recognized UpMobility Foundation for our "visionary investment" in their organization, an investment that has been instrumental in inspiring others to help "low income, refugee, inner city, foster care and other young people in Utica transform their lives and their community." This is directly in line with UpMobility Foundation's continued focus on advancing education as well as community building. 


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