by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 15, 2019 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) celebrates its 20th anniversary today! November 15th is also “National Philanthropy Day” and takes place during “Community Foundation Week,” which is annually held November 12th-18th.
The CFFC’s mission to “help define charitable needs, connect donors with causes that matter to them, support nonprofit organizations and invest charitable assets to make the community a better place to live” has been at the focus of the CFFC’s work since it was founded on November 15, 1999. The group of Fayette County leaders who founded the CFFC include John Buchanan, Charles Cluss, Lee Frankhouser, Albert Skomra, Lynda Waggoner, Robert Eberly Sr., and three of the region’s largest private foundations –the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the McCune Foundation.
The CFFC has grown since its founding and now holds over 180 funds and has nearly $18 million in assets. Thanks to our hundreds of generous donors, more than $8,343,000 has been distributed to non-profit organizations and awarded to local students for post-secondary education and for Pre-K and K-12 tuition assistance.
Along with awarding funding, the CFFC also takes pride in encouraging others to be philanthropic. The Fayette Philanthropy Project fundraising competition was launched to encourage community members to get involved with philanthropy and play an active role in supporting causes they care about in Fayette County. Additionally, the CFFC serves as a leader in the non-profit sector by connecting organizations with resources and providing workshops to help strengthen organizations’ sustainability.
Fayette Philanthropy participants who fundraised to support or create a charitable fund at the CFFC
The CFFC received National Accreditation from the Council on Foundations in 2009 and was re-accredited in 2014. Also in 2009, the CFFC received recognition as “Outstanding Foundation in Western Pennsylvania” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
The CFFC is happy to serve Fayette County, PA and we thank everyone who has supported us and made it possible to fulfill our mission. Particularly at the culmination of our 20th anniversary, National Philanthropy Day and Community Foundation Week, the CFFC hopes to raise awareness of our role in the community and encourage others to work with us to build a stronger Fayette County. We look forward to many more years of making a difference in our community through philanthropy!
If you have any questions about the CFFC, please contact Renee M. Couser, Executive Director, at the CFFC office at 724-437-8600.
2019 CFFC Board of Directors: (standing) James Foutz, CPA, Treasurer; James D. Ewing, Jr., Vice Chairman; John A. Sunyecz, M.D., Past Chairman; Ronald Sheba, Ed.D.; Clifford Callahan, CPA; Edward Capuzzi, Jr.; (seated) Beth Casteel, Secretary; Daniel Gearing, Chairman; Joy G. Huston; (absent from photo) Terry Burden; John Cellurale; David Hughes; John LaCarte; William Radcliffe, Esq.; Philip Rishel
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 13, 2019 | CFFC News
November 12-18th celebrates Community Foundation Week! This week recognizes the work of community foundations across the country. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the CFFC’s success as we continue in our mission and strengthen Fayette County, PA!
Community foundations are best known for their ability to adjust to the current needs of their region and their leadership role in the non-profit sector. The CFFC has a variety of generous donors, passionate Board members, knowledgeable staff, successful community partnerships, and opportunities for non-profits and community members, all of which aim to strengthen Fayette County, PA!
Our Mission: The Community Foundation of Fayette County helps define charitable needs, connects donors with causes that matter to them, supports nonprofit organizations and invests charitable assets to make the community a better place to live.
To learn more about the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC), please call the office at 724-437-8600.
#CommunityFNDWeek
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 8, 2019 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) and the Chevron Community Fund Fall 2019 Grants Presentation was held November 6, 2019 at the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council’s FNB Business Event Center (a no-charge facility sponsored by First National Bank). $86,891.64 in grant awards was presented to non-profit organizations in Fayette, Greene and Westmoreland Counties.
Fall 2019 CFFC Grantees
The CFFC awarded grants to the following: Belle Vernon Library Association/Belle Vernon Public Library, Chatham Village Charitable Trust (Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund), Christian Layman Corps, Connellsville Area Community Ministries, Dress for Success Pittsburgh, Fayette EMS (Burchinal Family Endowment Fund), Fay-Penn Development Council, Historic Church of Saint Peter, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette Inc. (Mary & John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund), Pittsburgh Chapter National Tooling & Machining Foundation, Point Marion Public Library, and Uniontown Area YMCA (Burchinal Family Endowment Fund).
The CFFC awarded additional grants to the following: Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Center on behalf of The Chairty Fund; George J. Plava Elementary School on behalf of the Idea Fund; and Hutchinson Elementary School, Laurel Highlands High School, Laurel Highlands Middle School, Uniontown Area High School, and Wharton Elementary School on behalf of the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund.
CFFC Executive Director, Renee Couser, presenting a grant check to Tracey Whitted of Dress for Success in support of Mobile Services
The Chevron Community Fund made awards to the following: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Christian Layman Corps, Connellsville Area Community Ministries, East End United Community Center, Fayette County, Fayette EMS, Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, Historic Church of Saint Peters, Mon Valley Academy for the Arts Inc., Point Marion Public Library, Redstone Foundation, Special Olympics Pennsylvania – Fayette County, UMWA Career Centers Inc., and Uniontown Area YMCA.
Fall 2019 Chevron Community Fund Grantees
The Chevron Community Fund was created with the CFFC in efforts to improve the social and economic well-being of the communities where Chevron employees live and work. The Chevron Community Fund and the CFFC are happy to support a total of 26 organizations selected in this grants cycle.
Brent Robinson, Chevron’s Policy, Government and Public Affairs Representative presents a grant check to Fayette County’s Arthur Cappella for the Jacobs Creek Park project
“Chevron is proud to partner with the Community Foundation of Fayette County to support non-profit projects and programs that make a difference in the communities where we operate. Since 2010, the Chevron Community Fund has provided over $778,000 in funds for non-profit organizations in our area,” said Brent Robinson, Policy, Government and Public Affairs Representative at Chevron.
Check our Facebook page for more photos! If you have any questions about the CFFC grantmaking programs, please contact Renee M. Couser, Executive Director at the CFFC office at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 8, 2019 | CFFC News, Fayette Philanthropy
Check out the Herald-Standard article about the CFFC’s Fayette Philanthropy Dinner!
Link: https://bit.ly/2NQy7JG
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 21, 2019 | CFFC News, Fayette Philanthropy, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) honored the 2019 Fayette Philanthropists at the annual dinner on Thursday, October 17th at the Uniontown Country Club. Thank you to all of the participants who worked hard to raise money and awareness for their chosen causes. Congratulations to Mary Sampey, who was announced as “Fayette County’s Newest Philanthropist!”
During the program, CFFC Chairman Dan Gearing talked about how all philanthropy begins with having a passion, and CFFC Executive Director Renee Couser noted that the participants’ different passions all aim to achieve a common goal of making a difference in the community. Eberly Foundation President Bob Eberly, Jr. congratulated the CFFC on its 20th anniversary and spoke about his late father’s mission when he founded the CFFC with others in 1999. Each participant spoke about their cause: drug addiction services and community services, a police K-9 unit, bullying and suicide awareness, EMS services, and veterans’ assistance programs.
The fundraising competition results are as follows:
1st place: Mary Sampey, Angela Phillips Memorial Fund $19,000
2nd place: Jason Cox, Uniontown City Police K-9 Fund $8,763
3rd place: Gegg & Joyce Anders, Samantha Anders Legacy Fund $6,100
4th place: Beth Burd, Fayette Emergency Medical Services Permanent Fund $3,833.60
5th place: Victor Fiano III, Patrick MacIlvain Veteran Assistance Fund $500
To learn more about the participants, visit www.cffayettepa.org. Please call the CFFC office at 724-437-8600 if you would like to donate to any of the funds supported by this year’s participants.