by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 3, 2019 | Building a Stronger Fayette
City Mission – Living Stones, Inc. helps about 500 homeless men, women and children annually, working step-by-step to help people achieve self-sufficiency. The CFFC awarded City Mission a 2018 spring grant, and recently a 2019 spring grant, to support the Emergency Shelters. Their services include food, clothing, transportation, case management, resident management, utility and rental assistance and referrals to community agencies.
In March 2018, the government’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) that City Mission had utilized for 20+ years was eliminated in favor of permanent housing initiatives for the homeless. Irmi Gaut, Executive Director, said she continually looks for grant opportunities and is working with the Board, churches and community to help bridge the gap in funding.
Emergency Shelters provide time for individuals to gather documentation for permanent housing, find employment, address root causes of their homelessness and plan for long-term self-sufficiency. City Mission also provides transitional and permanent supportive housing and operates Home Again as a therapeutic residential facility and Promise House as an independent living program, both for youth.
The men’s emergency shelter and the women’s and children’s emergency shelter both have sleeping quarters, a shared kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room and laundry as well as an office and living quarters for staff. Shelter clients may stay for 30-60 days while they work with City Mission staff to find a job and plan for permanent housing.
Staff members Michelle Lindsey, Director of Youth Services, and Kelly Snyder, Emergency Shelter Supervisor, expressed the value of maintaining facilities’ security, cleanliness and good conditions to help City Mission clients feel safe, respected and motivated to be successful. Visit citymissionfayette.org for more information.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 24, 2019 | News Releases, Scholarships
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) honored over 90 scholarship recipients and their donors at the 7th Annual Scholarship Mixer held on Tuesday, May 21st at Marilyn’s on Main. The event provided an opportunity for students and donors to meet one another to share congratulations and gratitude.
“Since 2009, the CFFC has awarded more than $1,465,000 in post-secondary scholarships to local students. We are thankful for the many donors that have assisted these outstanding students with the rising costs associated with their continuing education,” said Renee M. Couser, the CFFC Executive Director.
Scholarship funds are created in honor or memory of a loved one, to support certain career paths or to simply give back to the community. The 47 scholarship funds that made awards this year have a variety of criteria for students with academic achievement, community service, financial need, extracurricular participation, area of study or school preference.
Through the CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to Higher Education Program, qualifying students will have the opportunity to have their scholarship awards matched by the state.
Thank you to the donors who support students through these generous scholarships, and congratulations to the selected student recipients. If you are interested in starting a scholarship fund with the CFFC, please contact Renee M. Couser at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 10, 2019 | Grants, News Releases
May 9, 2019, Fayette County, Pa. — The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) and the Chevron Community Fund Spring 2019 Grants Presentation was held May 9, 2019 in Lemont Furnace, PA. $51,225 in grant awards was presented to non-profit organizations in Fayette, Greene and Westmoreland counties.
The Chevron Community Fund made awards to the following: Adelphoi, Brownsville Area Military Honor Roll, Community Foundation of Greene County, Fayette County Cultural Trust, Fort Ligonier Association, State Theatre Center for the Arts, Luzerne Township Police Department, Mantle House Mission, TGCH Inc./Washington Health System Foundation, The Salvation Army, Waypoint Youth and Community Center and Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank.
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 17 organizations selected in this grants cycle.
“The Chevron Community Fund is happy to partner with the CFFC and provide support for organizations making a difference in people’s lives. Since 2010, the Chevron Community Fund has provided over $740,000 in funds for non-profit organizations in our area. This grants cycle, Chevron expanded funding to Westmoreland County, in addition to Fayette and Greene Counties, and we look forward to continuing our cooperation with the CFFC to support our local communities,” said Brent Robinson, Policy, Government and Public Affairs Representative at Chevron.
The CFFC awarded grants to the following: Adelphoi, Carnegie Free Library of Connellsville, City Mission – Living Stones, Inc., Fayette County Cultural Trust, State Theatre Center for the Arts, Junior Achievement, Laurel Highlands Outdoor School and Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
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 | May 3, 2019 | CFFC News
You can now donate to the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) with the PayPal Giving Fund! The CFFC appreciates your support of our mission to help define charitable needs, connect donors with causes that matter to them, support non-profit organizations and invest charitable assets. Please call the CFFC office at 724-437-8600 if you have any questions about how to donate. Thank you!
