On March 5, 1819, the New York State Assembly granted a charter to the Baptist Education Society of New York, formally founding the institution that became Colgate University.
Supporting our Local Organizations
Southern Madison County Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SOMAC)
The Southern Madison County Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc., is a volunteer nonprofit organization that has been operating in the Hamilton community and Madison County since June 1986. SOMAC provides assistance for medical emergencies, as well as stand-by services at community and university events.
Colgate students, faculty, and staff are among the ranks of corps volunteers, and the chances are good that you know one or more people who volunteer their time and service with this critically important local organization.
Hamilton Food Cupboard
The Hamilton Food Cupboard is an advocate for the hungry in the Hamilton and Madison school districts. The food cupboard feeds those in need while providing information on social agencies relevant to a patron’s specific needs.
Each month between 150 and 200 families from the Hamilton and Madison school districts visit the food cupboard.
Hamilton Fire Department
The Hamilton Fire Department is an all-volunteer municipal department. The department provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services in the village and surrounding areas. The total size of the department’s primary/first response area is estimated at 27 square miles, with about 8,500 permanent residents.
The department currently has about 50 active firefighters, of whom about 30 percent are Colgate University students. Colgate staff and faculty members are also key firefighters in the department.
