by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 21, 2023 | CFFC News
Save the date! The Community Foundation of Fayette County is hosting the third Gala of Giving ~ Catalyst for Change on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort.
More details to come. Check our website and social media (@cffayettepa) for announcements, and sign up for our e-newsletter to never miss an update.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 7, 2023 | CFFC News

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is hosting the fourth annual Fayette Gives on November 9, 2023. Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” that supports local charities and engages the community in philanthropy, all in an effort to build a stronger Fayette. Ninety-two (92) charities are participating in Fayette Gives this year, and the public can donate now by check.
The main focus of Fayette Gives is the 12-hour fundraising marathon on November 9 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org with online donations via credit card. Starting on September 7, donors can give early by check and other donation methods, to accommodate donors’ preferences. The minimum gift is $25 per charity.
To donate by check, donors can support one or more charities with one check payable to “CFFC” for their total Fayette Gives contribution amount, along with an official Check Contribution Form. The Check Contribution Form specifies the donor’s selected charities, donation amounts, and recognition preferences. (Click here to download the form.)
“All of the money raised through Fayette Gives will be used to benefit Fayette County. Thanks to the many generous people of Fayette County and beyond, a total of $1,315,892 has been raised through Fayette Gives in the first three years,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
To learn about the participating charities and their work in Fayette County, visit the Charity Search page at www.fayettegives.org.
Donations to the 92 Fayette County charities will be boosted by a prorated percentage of the Fayette Gives bonus pool, thanks to generous sponsors. Community Sponsors: Charity Fund; COE Distributing; The Swimmer Family. Generosity Sponsors: Mike Kelly Toyota of Uniontown; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing; WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital. Humanity Sponsors: First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County; The Eberly Foundation; Uniontown Walmart Supercenter.
Donations must be received at the CFFC office (5 South Mt. Vernon Ave., Uniontown, PA 15401) by 8 p.m. on November 9 to receive bonus pool dollars.
Questions about Fayette Gives can be directed to 724-437-8600 x203.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 22, 2023 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Uniontown Area School District was awarded a fall 2022 grant from the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC)’s Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund to purchase cookware and cooking equipment for Family & Consumer Sciences. “Cooking projects allow for so much learning – independence in daily living skills, tolerance of new foods/textures/smells, math concepts, science skills, and literacy competency – all of this can be encompassed in one lesson,” said Kim Zebro, Family & Consumer Sciences teacher.
Zebro teaches at Lafayette Middle School, Ben Franklin Middle School, AJ McMullen Middle School, and Uniontown High School. Purchasing new equipment has helped provide a more consistent set-up for classes at each of the four schools. Missing or old supplies were upgraded with new items that are cleaner and safer. The grant was awarded from the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, held at CFFC, and enabled the purchase of measuring cups, pots and pans, utensils, mixing bowls, cutting boards, spatulas, baking sheets, knife sets, and more.

“Throughout cooking, the students are learning to multitask, delegate tasks, communicate with each other, follow directions, and prepare foods,” explained Zebro. Since all of the purchased items are reusable, they will be tools for learning for multiple school years.
“The foundation is able to support local education in a variety of ways. We award scholarships for students’ post-secondary education, but we also award grants to schools and programs that enhance learning opportunities for students, from elementary school and up. There are many ways to make an impact with charitable giving,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
To learn more about how you can support local education through charitable giving, contact CFFC at 724-437-8600 x1.
All photos are submitted by Uniontown Area School District.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 4, 2023 | CFFC News

The Community Foundation of Fayette County is hosting an Executive Director Bootcamp for Executive Directors of Fayette County and Greene County nonprofits. The registration fee is $100 per person. Lunch will be provided. Register here; payment instructions to follow.
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Fay-Penn Economic Development Council
1st Floor FNB Business Event Center
1040 Eberly Way
Lemont Furnace, PA 15456
The Executive Director Bootcamp is a full-day interactive training program developed by Nonprofit SideKick! that equips emerging, new, and experienced nonprofit leaders with the tools, knowledge, and methods to build community, increase donations, expand program impact, and improve relationships with the board, volunteers, and staff. It is a nuts and bolts training program that provides a foundation of knowledge and skills that every nonprofit leader needs in order to get on that path to more dollars and higher impact with way less stress. Learn about Nonprofit SideKick!
Course Outline:
- The Unique Balancing Act of Nonprofit Leadership
- The Importance of Governance and Board Relations
- How to Grow Your Community with Marketing and Fundraising
- Nonprofit Finance and Risk Management Basics
- How to Leverage the Bootcamp into Action
*After the full-day training, Nonprofit SideKick! will host three online huddles for the participants ($500 value). The huddles will be one hour of peer support and group coaching.
*Each attendee will also receive a complimentary one year membership ($125 value) in the Nonprofit SideKick! online community that includes weekly coaching sessions, an online book club, and other learning opportunities, as well as a community of peers to help leaders see that they are not alone.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 1, 2023 | CFFC News

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is accepting applications for the fall grant cycle starting on August 1, with three funding opportunities for local schools. The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, the Idea Fund, and the Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund are donor advised funds that provide the donors flexibility and ongoing involvement with how the grants are used to support charitable causes. Each grant application lists criteria for this year’s funding – all to support education.
Applicants will submit grant requests through CFFC’s online grant system. The application deadline is September 30, 2023.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests for reusable items that will enhance the classroom(s). Funding will not be made for field trips or items that can only be used once. Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply. Requests from $750 up to $10,000 will be considered. A total of $20,000 is possible to be awarded this grant cycle.
The Idea Fund was created by a donor who is interested in helping teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. All school districts in Fayette County are eligible to apply for an Idea Fund grant in the amount of $2,500. Particular attention will be paid to applicants who: demonstrate that the funds will be used to address the needs of students in the classroom who may not be the top grade earners; can show the sustainability of the program; and are willing to go beyond traditional teaching styles to reach students. Funds will not be granted to purchase books, magazines, or field trips.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is accepting grant requests to enhance STEM teaching and learning at the Uniontown Area School District’s middle schools or high school. An award in the amount of $500 is intended to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials. Possible uses include, but are not limited to: teacher professional development at the national or regional level, student field trips, demonstration or laboratory equipment, resource books or magazine subscriptions, and software or Internet resource subscriptions.
Click Here to Apply
If you do not already have a login for CFFC’s grant software, you will need to be added as a user to your school district’s grant account. Please contact Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator, at rebecca@cffayettepa.org or 724-437-8600 x203 for assistance.