by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 14, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has announced their spring 2022 grant cycle, with six different funding opportunities for local nonprofit organizations. All applications are completed through CFFC’s online grant system, which can be accessed from the Grants page at www.cffayettepa.org. The grant application deadline is March 1, 2022.
CFFC thanks the many generous donors who make these grant opportunities possible. “Supporting local nonprofits is an important part of CFFC’s mission, and these grant cycles are a great way to learn about the needs of organizations and lend a helping hand,” said CFFC Grantmaking Committee Chair Joy G. Huston.
Below is the list of spring 2022 CFFC grant opportunities:
- Building a Stronger Fayette Fund: supports arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services; and other areas of interest.
- Burchinal Family Endowment Fund: supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents.
- Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund: supports projects and programs in the areas of community gardens and/or science/environmental education.
- Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund: supports organizations that provide transportation for Fayette County senior citizens.
- Community Beautification Fund: supports landscape improvements (including but not limited to planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers) for community beautification projects.
- Natalie Anthony Petrie Alzheimer’s Fund: supports research of Alzheimer’s Disease.
For questions about grant applications, please contact Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator Rebecca Wardle at rebecca@cffayettepa.org or 724-437-8600 x203.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 12, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded over $20,000 in fall 2021 grants to local nonprofits and schools. CFFC supports a variety of funding areas, based on the interests of donors and the criteria they outline when creating a charitable fund.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund awarded a total of $15,871 to Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District for reusable items that will enhance the classrooms. Requested items that received funding include a flight simulator, book vending machine, items for autistic support/life skills sensory room, games, and technology enhancements for algebra classes.
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund awarded a $1,500 grant to Don’t Stop Dreamin’ to support activities for their Fayette County skilled nursing residents.
The Idea Fund awarded a total of $2,200 to Geibel Catholic Junior Senior High School to enhance learning through a community history center and suturing supplies for anatomy classes.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund awarded a $500 grant to Uniontown Area School District to support family and consumer science sewing projects.
To learn more about the impact of CFFC grant awards, visit the Building a Stronger Fayette page at www.cffayettepa.org. CFFC will soon be announcing grant applications for the spring 2022 cycle, which includes grant opportunities for arts, education, health and human services, community gardens, and more.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 3, 2022 | CFFC News, News Releases, Scholarships
Apply Now for the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s Post-Secondary Scholarships
Over Fifty Scholarship Opportunities for Local Students
Fayette County, Pa. (Jan. 4, 2022) – The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awards scholarships to support local students in their pursuit of post-secondary education. Over fifty (50) applications are now available for the 2022-2023 school year. Applicants will create an account in CFFC’s online scholarship software and complete an eligibility quiz to determine which scholarships match their qualifications.
The application deadline is March 31, 2022. Students can access the scholarship software on the Scholarships page at www.cffayettepa.org. Applicants may be high school seniors, current post-secondary students, or adults wishing to continue their education.
CFFC scholarship opportunities are made possible by generous donors who create scholarship funds, often to honor or memorialize someone special in their lives, to support students, and to give back to the community. The criteria for these scholarships may include field of study, specific post-secondary schools, GPA, participation in sports or the arts, community service hours, and more.
“We encourage local students to take advantage of CFFC’s scholarship program. The donors who have created these funds have set a variety of criteria, so it’s likely that there’s something for everybody,” said Executive Director Renee Couser.
In 2021, CFFC awarded over $160,000 in post-secondary scholarships.
For questions about scholarship applications, please contact Scholarship Coordinator Lee O’Neil at eoneil@cffayettepa.org.
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by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 27, 2021 | Building a Stronger Fayette
CFFC Executive Director Renee Couser presenting the Emergency Relief Fund grant to volunteers of the Christian Church of Connellsville’s Free Community Lunch program
What began as a “modest community service” to address food insecurity in Fayette County has grown into a weekly program that has served over 7,400 free lunches to community members this year. The Christian Church of Connellsville hosts the Free Community Lunch program each Monday from 11:30 – 1:00 for those in need. The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) supported this program with an Emergency Relief Fund grant in spring 2021 in response to the pandemic.
When delivering the grant check, CFFC was greeted by a larger than life mural on the side of the church entitled “Jesus and the Children.” Rounding the corner from the parking lot, a vinyl banner for the Free Community Lunch program came into view on the metal railing, with cartoon food items and text that read “everyone welcome!”
Inside the doors, a group of church volunteers who operate the free lunch program were chatting, providing a preview of the fellowship that is possible through this program.
As the program continues to grow, the Christian Church of Connellsville is happy to see “regulars” and new individuals participating. Compared to last year, the church will provide over double the number of free lunches to individuals and families in 2021.
“This past year, we have been blessed to have the support and guidance of the Community Foundation of Fayette County, which has generously provided funding for this program,” said Rev. Paul Sandusky. “The funding has supported our goals of addressing the food insecurity of many children, adults, and families in this county; supporting our effort to provide lunches that are more nutritious and healthy; and ensuring that program participants are included in our evaluation of this community service,” he explained.
The Emergency Relief Fund was created in 2020 to support the community during local emergencies and disasters, illustrating CFFC’s unique ability to fund a variety of charitable efforts based on Fayette County’s current needs.
#BuildingAStrongerFayette
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 15, 2021 | CFFC News, Fayette Gives, Grants
CFFC’s Fayette Gives Proves to be a Successful “Day of Giving” for Local Charities
The second annual Fayette Gives, held on November 16, raised $441,880 for Fayette County charities. Donations from the public totaled over $366,000 and the $70,600 bonus pool, supported by sponsors, provided additional funding to the 64 participating charities. The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) hosts Fayette Gives to engage the community in philanthropy and build a stronger Fayette County.
To recognize and celebrate the success of these charities, CFFC hosted a Fayette Gives Grants Presentation on December 14, 2021 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus for the participating charities. As Community Sponsors, Jennifer Jubin from COE and Luke Kim from Mike Kelly Toyota presented the checks.
Fayette Gives has proven to be a fundraising opportunity that the community embraces and that local charities value. The public’s donations increased by 66% percent compared to last year’s inaugural Fayette Gives, and the participating charities increased from 43 in 2020 to 64 in 2021.
“We started accepting check donations back in September, and by early November we knew we would surpass last year’s total,” said CFFC Executive Director Renee Couser. “It was exciting to see the numbers climb on November 16 during the 12-hour fundraising marathon. Thank you to everyone who joined us in building a stronger Fayette,” said Couser.
The Fayette Gives website (www.fayettegives.org) provides all the information needed for this special 12-hour “day of giving”. On Fayette Gives day, donors select one or more charities for their contribution and the payment is processed through the website. Live results display on the home page with leaderboards for the charities, based on dollars raised and the number of donations received. These leaderboards are still available on the website to display preliminary results (these numbers do not include bonus pool dollars or donations received after November 16).
A charity’s bonus pool dollars are determined by their amount raised and their number of unique donors, calculated through prorated percentages. This incentivizes donors to give because each donation received by the end of Fayette Gives day is enhanced by the bonus pool, which in turn provides extra support to the charities.
The 64 participating charities serve residents through the arts, basic human needs, education, healthcare, recreation, and a variety of other service areas. Aside from monetary contributions, Fayette Gives raises awareness of local charities and their work.
“There is so much ‘good’ being done throughout Fayette County. CFFC has the privilege of working with local organizations who make a real impact for our friends and neighbors, and we hope that Fayette Gives helps others learn more about their wonderful services. Thank you to everyone who helped raise the impressive total of $441,880. All funds will stay right here in Fayette County,” said CFFC Board Chair J.D. Ewing.
View the final results spreadsheet with charity totals.
View more photos on CFFC’s Facebook @cffayettepa
Mark your calendars for next year’s Fayette Gives on Thursday, November 10, 2022 as we continue our efforts in building a stronger Fayette!
Herald-Standard article
Daily Courier article
Community Sponsors
The Swimmer Family
Generosity Sponsors
Fayette Pipe Company
JLE Industries, LLC
Charity Fund
Humanity Sponsors
Community Bank
Erie Insurance
First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County
Ford of Uniontown
Nemacolin
Pittsburgh-Fayette Express, Inc.
the Uniontown Office of Janney Montgomery Scott
Wells Fargo Advisors ~ Vic Fiano, Jr. and Victor Fiano, III
