by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 26, 2024 | CFFC News
Join us in building a stronger Fayette! We are asking for your help to support the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, an endowment that is used for general grantmaking to support the Fayette County community. Your donation will strengthen the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s grantmaking to local nonprofits that make a positive impact for the county.
Grants are awarded to local nonprofits to support arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services; nonprofit capacity building; and other areas of interest.
The Building a Stronger Fayette Fund endowment will help address the ever-changing needs of the community for today, tomorrow, and forever. Will you help?
Your gift to the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund will be a special way to celebrate the foundation’s 25th anniversary, by strengthening our charitable impact for the next 25 years and beyond!
To donate online, please click here or use the “Donate Now” button at www.cffayettepa.org. To donate by check, please make your check payable to “CFFC” and write BASF Fund on the memo line. Thank you!
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 25, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has awarded a total of $39,932 in grants to local school districts this fall. The foundation is able to support education in a variety of ways, including grants from donor advised funds and grants through CFFC’s participation in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) program for educational improvement.
Three donor advised funds, held at CFFC, awarded a total of $25,934 for classroom projects and materials at Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District. The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, the Idea Fund, and the Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund accepted grant applications from August to October, and twelve (12) requests were funded.
Randy Miller, LHSD Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Dr. Jesse Wallace, LHSD Superintendent
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is supporting LEGO® education kits, whiteboard tables, lab tables, enrichment and remediation materials, a classroom library, library Zeitgeist collection, flexible seating and literacy material, and a student publishing center.
The Idea Fund is supporting business classes with an Apple TV and Mac Mini Pro for stock market learning and a pinewood derby project for STEM learning.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is supporting tools for science class and models and equipment for anatomy and physiology class.
“Donor advised funds have flexibility to award grants for different organizations and causes throughout the year, and we value these donors’ trust in CFFC to help with their charitable giving,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Dr. Kelly Swartz, UASD Assistant to the Superintendent; Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Sally Matthews, UASD Business Manager
Through the DCED, CFFC is approved as an Educational Improvement Organization and provides funding to local school districts for innovative educational programs. Thanks to businesses that donate to this program, a total of $13,998 was granted this fall to six (6) Fayette County school districts.
With the funds, Penn State Extension 4-H will provide programming for a STEM and Computer Science Initiative at Albert Gallatin Area School District, Brownsville Area School District, Frazier School District, Uniontown Area School District, and Laurel Highlands School District. At Connellsville Area School District, funds will provide programming for a STEM Science program at the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center.
To learn more about how you can support local education through charitable giving, call the foundation office at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 15, 2024 | CFFC News
Today is CFFC’s 25th anniversary!
Established November 15, 1999
As the Community Foundation of Fayette County celebrates its 25th anniversary, we credit the collective effort of many generous and passionate people. The foundation was established in 1999 by community members who wanted to make a positive impact, and our philanthropy continues to grow with the support of individuals and businesses.
The foundation has grown since 1999 and now holds nearly 200 charitable funds and over $24 million in assets. Each year, a percentage of these charitable assets is used to support nonprofits and local students. Over the past 25 years, the Community Foundation of Fayette County has granted over $15 million to the community.
The foundation’s board of directors and staff are committed to our mission, and the recent strategic plan will help serve as a road map for continued impact and growth.
Make a 25th Anniversary Donation
Here’s even more reason to celebrate… November 15 is National Philanthropy Day, which falls within Community Foundation Week (November 12 – 18)!
Watch our Timeline Video
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 8, 2024 | CFFC News
The community raised $579,505 for 96 Fayette County charities through the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) fifth annual Fayette Gives. Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” that helps to build a stronger Fayette County by engaging the community in philanthropy and supporting local charities. During the 12-hour fundraising marathon on November 7, the public donated online at www.fayettegives.org between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. with live results and leaderboards on display. Check donations were also accepted ahead of Fayette Gives day, starting in September.
“We extend a huge thank-you to the 923 people who donated and to everyone who helped spread the word about this special initiative. All of the money that the charities fundraised will be used to support their work right here in Fayette County,” Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Fayette Gives 2024 provided new features for the “day of giving”. Charities were able to add pictures and videos to their profile page, to help tell the story of their impact in the community, and charities had access to their donation reports in real time to strengthen their fundraising efforts and stewardship. On November 7, the website displayed a section of recent donations and Instagram posts, to encourage engagement. The public could also view leaderboards for each size category of charities, which was determined by asset size.
Another new feature this year was the donor incentives. Each hour, charities had the chance to receive cash prizes, based on specific criteria. Donors could view the list of prizes on the Fayette Gives website and help their favorite charities’ chances of receiving extra money, adding excitement to each hour throughout the day. Thanks to the Fayette Gives sponsors, over $50,000 was awarded in prize money.
“Fayette Gives is a one-stop-shop for people to give back, and it’s an opportunity to highlight the amazing work being done across Fayette County by these charities. Raising over half-a-million dollars in one campaign shows the incredible generosity of our community,” said Couser.
Community Sponsors: Charity Fund; Swimmer Family. Generosity Sponsors: COE Distributing; Nemacolin; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing. Humanity Sponsors: Columbia Gas/NiSource Charitable Foundation; First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County; Montgomery Medical; Uniontown Walmart Supercenter; Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, Highlands Wealth Management; WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital.
To view the leaderboards and learn more about Fayette Gives, visit www.fayettegives.org.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 1, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s 5th annual Fayette Gives “day of giving” will take place on Thursday, November 7th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org!
By hosting Fayette Gives, the Community Foundation of Fayette County aims to build a stronger Fayette County by supporting local charities and engaging the community in philanthropy. In the first four years of Fayette Gives, the community has raised over $2 million to support local charities. This year, there are 96 local charities participating in Fayette Gives to raise money for the good work that they do across Fayette County. All money raised will be used to benefit Fayette County.
As a special incentive, over $50,000 in cash prizes are available for charities to win throughout Fayette Gives day. Thanks to the Fayette Gives sponsors, this extra pot of money will boost the fundraising for charities and engage donors for different prizes each hour. Prizes and prize rules are listed on the website.
Community Sponsors: Charity Fund; Swimmer Family
Generosity Sponsors: COE Distributing; Nemacolin; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing
Humanity Sponsors: NiSource Charitable Foundation/Columbia Gas; First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County; Montgomery Medical; Uniontown Walmart Supercenter; Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network – Highlands Wealth Management; WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital
Visit www.fayettegives.org to learn more about the 96 participating charities and how they make a positive impact in our community. You can search for charities by name, location, or cause. To learn more about a charity, click on their name to view their profile.
Online donations will be available on Thursday, November 7th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org. Donors will add charities to their “Gift Basket”, select donation amounts ($25 minimum), and complete their payment. Once submitted, donation receipts will be sent by email.
Throughout Fayette Gives on November 7th, the website will display live results and leaderboards. A new addition this year is the “Donor Wall”, which will display recent donations (if the donor chooses to share their name and donation amount). The charity prize winners will also be displayed on the website throughout November 7th.
“Fayette Gives has been a great way for the foundation to facilitate charitable giving. You can donate to multiple charities, all in one place – all in one day. It’s an impactful day for the county and for the wonderful charities that work so hard to help others,” said Angela Braun, DC, CFFC Board Chair.
The Community Foundation of Fayette County has been accepting “offline donations” since early October. These donation methods include check, donor advised fund gifts, charitable IRA distributions, and stock transfers. Offline donations require a Check Contribution Form to designate their selected charities and donation amounts, and offline donations must be received at the foundation office by 8 p.m. on November 7th to be included for Fayette Gives. Click here to download the Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form.
Learn more in the Donor FAQs at www.fayettegives.org. We hope you all join us in building a stronger Fayette by supporting local charities through Fayette Gives on November 7th!