The New York State Sheriffs’ Institute will begin its annual
Honorary Membership drive in Allegany County within the next ten days according
to Sheriff Rick Whitney.
The New York State Sheriffs’ Institute was established in
1979. It is a not-for-profit corporation, tax exempt organization, and
contributions to the Institute are tax deductible.
While the Sheriff’s Office is a unit of county government,
many of the concerns of Sheriffs and other law enforcement agencies are best
addressed on a statewide level. The Sheriffs’ Institute provides centralized
training programs and services for all Sheriffs’ Offices, where those programs
and services would be unavailable or impractical on a single county basis.
The flagship program of the Sheriffs’ Institute is the
Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically challenged children. The Sheriffs’ Camp,
in its 42nd year of operation, is located on Keuka Lake and 840 children from
across New York State attend each summer. The Sheriffs’ Institute pays the
entire cost of the camp stay and transportation. Most children attending wouldn’t otherwise
have an opportunity for vacation travel or a summer camp experience.
The Sheriffs’ Camp program combines summer recreation with
activities designed to teach an understanding of, and respect for, our laws and
the men and women who enforce them. The strong camper to counselor ratio allows
for individual attention with an emphasis on the development of self esteem.
“In these difficult
economic times we cannot forget our youth who will not have the opportunity for
a summer camp experience or a summer vacation,” Sheriff Whitney said. “By becoming an honorary member
you are supporting the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp for economically disadvantaged
children.” “Last year nine children from Allegany County attended the camp”.
In addition, the Sheriffs’ Institute operates a scholarship
program that provides one scholarship to each of New York State’s Community
College’s Criminal Justice Programs. This program is designed to help attract
the best and the brightest to the criminal justice vocation.
For more information about the Sheriffs’ Summer Camp and
other Sheriffs’ Institute Programs, visit our website,
www.sheriffsinstitute.org or simply google
“Sheriffs’ Institute kids” and it will be your first option.
Financial support for many of the Sheriffs’ Institute
programs comes from Honorary Membership dues. Invitations for Honorary
Membership are extended on a non-partisan basis, and the invitees are selected
at random. Any persons interested in supporting the efforts of the New York
State Sheriffs’ Institute by becoming an Honorary Member should contact the
Sheriff if they do not receive an invitation in the mail, or visit our web site
at: www.sheriffsinstitute.org to download an application.
All donations made to the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute
are tax deductible. In addition, Sheriffs’ Institute is registered with the New
York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau.
