Cayuga County > Aurora
Wells College, long the center of this small community on Cayuga Lake, announced in April 2024 that it would close at the end of the semester.
Pleasant T. Rowland, wealthy founder of American Girl, is a Wells alumna who gave $40 million to her alma mater. Her efforts to invigorate the village were met with opposition by some residents.
Her foundation does not show up as a recent donor to Wells or other Aurora organizations. Among the assets listed by the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation in its tax forms: a $12 million Stradivarius violin.
School districts: Southern Cayuga Central School District
Libraries: Aurora Free Library
Emergency services: Aurora Fire Department
Fraternal organizations: Masons
State parks: Long Point State Park – Finger Lakes
Recent grants:
Howland Stone Store Museum
Nelson B Delavan Foundation - Chicago, IL - $5,000 (2022)
King Ferry Food Pantry
D. E. French Foundation - Auburn, NY - $7,500 (2022)
Peachtown Elementary School
D. E. French Foundation - Auburn, NY - $3,000 (2022)
Southern Cayuga Central School
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $16,046 (2022)
Wells College
Alexander and Marjorie Hover Foundation - Germantown, NY - $5,000 (2022)
Wells College
D. E. French Foundation - Auburn, NY - $5,000 (2022)
Wells College
U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC - $561,075 (2022)
Largest nonprofits in Aurora (by assets) include:
Howland Stone Store Museum
Aurora Free Library Association
Aurora Volunteer Fire Department
Peachtown Elementary School
Arthur J Bellinzoni Foundation
Caspar Gregory Camp