by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 24, 2024 | CFFC News
This year, the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To help reflect on CFFC’s role in the community and set focus on the desired impact for the future, the foundation has created a Strategic Plan for 2024-2027.
Pictured: (bottom row, left to right) Casey Leonard, Garnet Gordon, Angela Braun, Terry Burden, CJ Callahan, Renee Couser, (top row, left to right) Rebecca Wardle, Jim Kline, Jordan Pallitto, Josh Ellsworth, David Hughes, Jim Foutz, Ron Gabriel, Michael George, Larry Kiefer, Brandon Katzeff. Missing from photo: Ed Balling, Ed Capuzzi, Jim Higinbotham, Will James, John LaCarte, Lee O’Neil,
Throughout the past 25 years, the foundation has granted over $15 million to the community. CFFC’s philanthropy is credited to the collective effort of many generous and passionate people who help to make a positive impact.
Foundation board members and staff worked with The Hill Group, a management consultant firm, over the course of eight months to strategize for increased impact for the county, nonprofits, and donors.
CFFC’s Strategic Planning Committee during a meeting with Jordan Pallitto of The Hill Group.
The Strategic Plan includes an update to the foundation’s mission statement: “Our mission is to build a stronger Fayette County by inspiring charitable giving, supporting nonprofits, and nurturing positive community impact.”
CFFC created a vision statement: “We envision a thriving Fayette County that is uplifted by generous donors and strong nonprofits.” To complement the mission and vision, the foundation identified four values as stability, community, impact, and integrity.
Committee members categorized CFFC’s priorities.
Strategic goals will guide CFFC’s work in the coming years, centered around the following categories: growth and impact; awareness and engagement; organization and operations.
“Many of the goals and priorities in this Strategic Plan are targets we’ve discussed over the years. Now, the board and staff have a guide for achieving the charitable impact we all want to see. We’re grateful to everyone who helped throughout this Strategic Plan process,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
View the summary page of CFFC’s Strategic Plan.
CFFC Strategic Plan - Summary Page
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 19, 2024 | CFFC News
Forty (40) charities have already registered to participate in Fayette Gives, a 12-hour fundraising marathon for local charities that is hosted by the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC). This year’s giving day will take place on November 7, 2024 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org. Charities that wish to participate must register on the website by August 30.
Last year’s Fayette Gives raised $687,046 for ninety (90) Fayette County charities. A total of over $2 million has been raised through the first four years of Fayette Gives, thanks to the generous donations from the public and sponsors. (Sponsorships are being accepted for Fayette Gives 2024.)
CFFC is working with a different platform this year to host the Fayette Gives website, called GiveGab/Bonterra. “The new features will add value for the participating charities. They’ll have more options for creating a compelling, personalized Fayette Gives profile, and they’ll have real-time access to donation reports to strengthen their fundraising and stewardship,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Also new to this year’s Fayette Gives are cash prizes for charities. Previously, donors were incentivized by a bonus pool that would stretch each donation, based on a prorated percentage. The cash prizes will be based on certain criteria (such as dollar amount raised, number of donors, random selection, timeframes, and charity size) and awarded to charities throughout Fayette Gives day on November 7.
“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.
Charities can learn more at www.fayettegives.org and visit the “Trainings” page to register for the next live webinar on August 14 at 10:00 a.m. Please contact Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator, at 724-437-8600 x203 or rebecca@cffayettepa.org with questions.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 11, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County, has awarded over $25,000 to Fayette Emergency Medical Services (EMS) since 2019 for PPE gloves, portable radios, EMT training classes, and general operating support. With their most recent grant from the fund, Fayette EMS purchased Nitronox units – machines that are used to administer pain medications.
Matthew Knight, Fayette EMS Assistant Chief, at CFFC’s spring 2023 grants presentation
“Fayette EMS is beyond grateful for the grants awarded to us by CFFC. It is because of these extra funds that we are able to continue purchasing new and improved equipment to help us serve the residents of our community,” said Beth Burd, Fayette EMS Director of Finance & HR Coordinator.
Without a Nitronox unit, only Paramedics are able to give pain medications and they are sometimes called to a scene and are “out of service” to their current crew. Nitronox units enable Advanced EMTs to also give these medications. With Fayette EMS responding to over 20,000 calls per year, any opportunity to improve their care to residents is impactful.
“By receiving these units and allowing our Advanced EMTs to be able to give pain medications that currently only Paramedics can give, it will better allow us to keep our ambulances moving and staffed throughout the county,” explained Burd.
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents. The Community Foundation of Fayette County is happy to steward this charitable fund, along with many others, in the efforts of building a stronger Fayette through philanthropy.
Watch this short video to learn more: https://youtu.be/F3l4RaRlGMc
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 5, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
At Ben Franklin Elementary/Middle School: George Belch, Building Construction Instructor; Fayette CTI students who constructed Buddy Benches; Bernadette Ptak; Nate White, Instructional Supervisor
Think back to the excitement of the playground during grade school recess… the bright sunshine as you exit the school building, the smell of freshly cut grass, the feeling of mulch under your feet as you navigate through the jungle gym, and the energy of your classmates around you. Children may have some days when they feel isolated from all of that action though, and a local couple has worked with the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) to help.
The John and Bernadette Ptak Family Fund, held at CFFC, is a donor advised fund that was created by its namesake. The fund provided a grant for Buddy Benches at Ben Franklin Elementary/Middle School, Lafayette Elementary/Middle School, Marclay Elementary School, and Wharton Elementary School. One bench was installed at each of those four schools in the Uniontown Area School District.
Buddy Benches are used on school playgrounds as a way for students to signal to others that they are feeling lonely and need a friend to play with or someone to talk to. When a child sits on the Buddy Bench, other classmates are encouraged to invite that child to play with them.
The Ptaks knew they wanted to utilize their charitable giving to install Buddy Benches at local schools, and CFFC was ready to make that happen. Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director, reached out to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute (CTI) to ask if they could construct the benches. George Belch, Building Construction Instructor, said it was a go.
Fayette CTI students – six in particular – constructed the four benches. The John and Bernadette Ptak Family Fund grant provided funding for materials to construct the Buddy Benches.
When seeing a Buddy Bench for the first time, Mrs. Ptak gratefully said to the Fayette CTI students, “Thank you so much. You did a wonderful job.” The bench installations at the school playgrounds will serve as a tool for kindness for years to come.
Featured on KDKA-TV’s “Community Compass” segment: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/video/four-buddy-benches-created-for-four-uniontown-area-school-district-playgrounds-community-compass/
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 20, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is accepting applications for Pre-K and K-12 tuition assistance for Fayette County students attending private schools. Applications are available at the participating schools and families must submit the application to CFFC, with a post-mark date no later than July 31, 2024.
The foundation is an approved Scholarship Organization, Pre-Kindergarten Organization, and Educational Improvement Organization through the Pennsylvania Department of Economic Development (DCED).
Thank you to COE Distributing! Pictured: Renee M. Couser and J.D. Ewing
“There are so many ways to help the community through charitable giving. We extend our thanks to COE Distributing, Key Bank, Laurel Business Institute, Mid Penn Bank, PNC Bank, and United Concordia for donating to these educational programs,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Thank you to Mid Penn Bank! Pictured: Ashleigh L. Daniels, Renee M. Couser, Rebecca Wardle
In 2023, CFFC awarded $33,504 in K-12 tuition assistance and $8,000 in Pre-K tuition assistance for Fayette County students attending private schools. Participating schools included A.G. Montessori School, Calvary Chapel Christian School, Conn Area Catholic School, Chestnut Ridge Christian Academy, Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School, Heritage Baptist Academy, Mt. Moriah Christian School, St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, and Verna Montessori School.
More details, including eligibility requirements, are provided on the tuition assistance applications, which are available at the participating private schools. With questions for CFFC, families can call the office at 724-437-8600.