Uihlein Foundation announces two new partnerships
Foundation in Lake Placid supporting growing up, growing older and living well in the Adirondacks
From left: Catherine Bemis, John Leekley, and Mary Jane Lawrence. Uihlein Foundation photo
The following is from the Sun Community News, October 6, 2025 issue. See it on their website here.
LAKE PLACID | The Uihlein Foundation in Lake Placid has extended its philanthropic reach by announcing partnerships with First Steps and Mercy Care for the Adirondacks.
First Steps, recently started in Lake Placid, endeavors to provide affordable child care for families looking for daytime services for their young children from birth to the age of three. The mission of First Steps is to offer access to quality, affordable daycare for families that reside or work in North Elba, regardless of income.
First Steps recently partnered with St. Agnes School to support the creation of 22 new infant and toddler child care spaces for families. The Uihlein Foundation will provide the first $50,000 and last $50,000 to the First Steps Endowment Fund, which is administered through the Adirondack Community Foundation. The fledgling group has a fundraising goal of $1 million.
“One of Henry Uihlein’s priorities was education. He made that very clear to us,” said John Leekley, Chairman of the Uihlein Foundation. “He was very supportive of the concept of taking care of children. There are instances of hard-working families who can’t get child care. First Steps and our support of their initiative will strive to change that.”
The creation of the new infant-toddler space at St. Agnes will give local families a center-based child care option in Lake Placid. “Our number one goal is to have a facility available for families that is financially solvent,” stated Catherine Bemis, member of First Steps. “We’re thankful also to the help we received from ROOST (Regional Office for Sustainable Tourism), which surveyed the area for current family needs.”
Now that capital improvements have been completed at St. Agnes, the focus of First Steps is to fundraise in support of the long-term need of closing the gap between the cost of operating a high-quality child care and the amount families can afford to pay in tuition.
Mercy Care is currently located at Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid on Old Military Road. However, in early 2026, Mercy Care will move to the Uihlein Foundation’s non-profit center on Bear Cub Lane. It will become the fourth resident at the Uihlein farm’s non-profit campus center.
“We are grateful for this collaboration,” said Donna Beal, Executive Director of Mercy Care for the Adirondacks. “Our mission and programs empower elders to age in place more successfully.
From left: Donna Beal, John Leekley and Cathy Johnston. Uihlein Foundation photo
“We love that Henry Uihlein’s vision in the late 1960s to care for older adults in our community is coming full circle. Mr. Uihlein donated the land to establish Uihlein Mercy Center and now in 2025, Uihlein Foundation has invited Mercy Care to relocate its office to Uihlein Farm Nonprofiit Campus. Our Friendship Volunteers and Elder Friends will enjoy the majesty of the mountain views and fields when they visit our new office.”
The Uihlein Foundation, established in 1979 by Henry and Mildred Uihlein, supports unique and diverse activities that enhance the quality of life in the Adirondacks. The Foundation began annual grantmaking and land conservation in 2000 after the deaths of Mildred and Henry.
