by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 12, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has been selected to participate in the Appalachian Regional Commission‘s (ARC) READY Community Foundations, which provides a no-cost, six-week training program to enhance our programming, operations, fundraising, and financial impact in Fayette County, PA. CFFC is one of thirty (30) community foundations chosen for the program, and one of five (5) serving Appalachian Pennsylvania.
Two CFFC staff members will participate in six weeks of virtual, cohort-based training courses to strengthen CFFC’s financial and endowment management, community-rooted fundraising, grantmaking, mission and strategy development, and more.
“ARC remains committed to providing our Appalachian communities with the resources they need to build toward a prosperous future, including training to strengthen community foundation capacity,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Through the training provided by READY Community Foundations, Appalachia’s philanthropic organizations will be better able to respond to community needs and foster economic development in the areas they serve.”
“This program aligns perfectly with our new Strategic Plan, addressing items related to staff training, capacity building, and growing our foundation’s impact. We look forward to better serving and supporting Fayette County, PA through the takeaways that this opportunity will provide!” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Following completion of the training, CFFC will apply for up to $25,000 (no match required) for an internal capacity-building project that will bolster our philanthropic impact in Fayette County, PA.
Supported with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, READY Community Foundations is the fourth and final track under ARC’s capacity-building initiative, READY Appalachia. Since July 2022, READY Appalachia has provided training and access to funding to 41 Local Development Districts (LDDs), 75 nonprofits, and 90 local government entities to help them better serve their communities.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 9, 2024 | CFFC News
Ninety-six (96) local charities are participating in this year’s Fayette Gives, hosted by the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC). Twelve of the charities are first-time participants. In the first four years of this 12-hour fundraising marathon, over $2 million has been raised for Fayette County charities. The foundation is anticipating continued generosity for this year’s Fayette Gives on Thursday, November 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org.
Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” that aims to build a stronger Fayette County by supporting local charities and engaging the community in philanthropy. On Fayette Gives day, donors will visit www.fayettegives.org to donate to one or more of the ninety-six participating charities. All money raised will be used to benefit Fayette County, helping to support the participating charities and their services to local residents.
Donors will search for a charity by the name, location, or cause. By clicking on a charity name, donors can view the charity’s profile to learn more about their work in Fayette County. “We’re excited for donors to see the new Fayette Gives website, because there are more opportunities for charities to show what they do with photos and videos on their charity profile,” explained Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
The Fayette Gives website will have a “Gift Basket” in the top right corner, where donors will add one or more charities for donations. A minimum donation of $25 per charity is required to donate by credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet. To donate by ACH transfer, the minimum donation is $100. “The website walks you through your donation and makes it easy for anyone to give back. That’s part of the appeal for Fayette Gives – we want everyone to get involved!” said Couser.
New to this year’s Fayette Gives are hourly cash prizes for charities. Over $50,000 in cash prizes will incentivize donors and keep people engaged all throughout Fayette Gives day. Prize details and rules will be posted on www.fayettegives.org closer to Fayette Gives day.
Cash prizes are supported by the 2024 Fayette Gives Sponsors. The Community Sponsors are the Charity Fund and the Swimmer Family. Generosity Sponsors are COE Distributing; Nemacolin; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing. Humanity Sponsors are 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.
Another new addition this year is the Donor Wall, which displays recent donations. Donors can select which information to display on the Donor Wall (name, donation amount, personal message), with an option to remain anonymous. Same as previous years, the Fayette Gives website will have live results and leaderboards so the public can track the fundraising of their favorite charities. All of these features invite the public to engage and see the impact of community-wide giving.
“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.
Aside from online donations on November 7, donors can also give by check, donor advised fund, IRA charitable distribution, and stock transfer. These “offline” donation methods require a Check Contribution Form, an official Fayette Gives document to designate charities and donations amounts. The Check Contribution Form is available at www.fayettegives.org and “offline” donations are being accepted now.
Click here to download the 2024 Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form.
Click here to view the list of 96 participating charities.
To learn more, visit www.fayettegives.org or contact Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator, at 724-437-8600 x203.
2024 Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 23, 2024 | CFFC News
Last year, nearly $20,000 was awarded in the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) fall grant cycle to support an aeroponics indoor garden, plant nursery, coding robot, items for a sensory room, a drone coding project, microscopes, hands-on learning, and more. The grants were made from three Donor Advised Funds held at CFFC – Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, Idea Fund, and Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund. These funds are currently accepting grant requests to support local schools again for the 2024-2025 school year.
Submitted by Luke Rice, Laurel Highlands School District – Aeroponic Tower Garden. “Students gathered data by measuring growth, different ratios of nutrients, light schedules, and by testing pH.”
Submitted by Michelle Mowry, Connellsville Area School District – Hands-on Learning. “Over the years, I’ve learned that students learn best when they are having fun and completely involved and engaged in their learning.”
“Donor Advised Funds give donors flexibility with how grants are used to support charitable causes, and the donors have ongoing involvement,” explained Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director. “The fund holders partner with us to support projects that match their passions,” said Couser.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests for reusable items that will enhance the classroom(s). Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply. Requests from $750 up to $10,000 will be considered.
The Idea Fund was created by a donor who is interested in helping teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. All school districts in Fayette County are eligible to apply for an Idea Fund grant in the amount of $2,500.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is accepting grant requests to enhance STEM teaching and learning at the Uniontown Area School District’s middle schools or high school. An award in the amount of $500 is intended to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials.
Applications are due by October 4 through CFFC’s online grant system, which can be found on the “Grant Seekers” page at www.cffayettepa.org. Further details are listed online for each fund’s criteria.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 5, 2024 | CFFC News
View CFFC’s mid-year letter below. Make sure to click to the second page to see the back of our flyer!
2024 Mid Year Flyer
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) 25 years of philanthropy would not be possible without the generosity and support of donors. Thanks to many individuals and businesses over the years, CFFC stewards nearly 200 charitable funds and has grown to over $24 million in assets. Each year, a percentage of these charitable assets is used to support nonprofits and local students, in an effort to build a stronger Fayette County.
Throughout the past 25 years, CFFC has granted over $15 million to the community.
This spring, over $22,000 in grants were awarded to nine local nonprofits. Grants supported a pregnancy medical center, a garden that will be used for educational sessions and a culinary program, transportation for meal deliveries to senior citizens, and plants for a park. The Building a Stronger Fayette Fund awarded “capacity building” grants to strengthen nonprofits’ sustainability and their efficiency in serving the community. This included funding for equipment, board training, and technology updates.
Will you help us build a stronger Fayette?
Please join us, by making an anniversary gift to our Building a Stronger Fayette Fund.
This endowment awards grants to local nonprofits each year, addressing a variety of community needs. Your donation will benefit Fayette County today, tomorrow, and forever.
Donate Now! Make checks payable to CFFC with “BASF Fund” on the memo line. For other giving options i.e. stocks, donor advised funds, IRAs, and RMDs please call CFFC.
In honor of our 25th anniversary…
Please consider making a gift of: $25 $250 $2,500 $25,000
The third annual Gala of Giving ~ Catalyst for Change black-tie event was held on April 13, with over 300 guests attending at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Proceeds will provide funding for projects that spark change and growth in Fayette County.
The first $50,000 Catalyst for Change Grant was awarded to Main Street Theatre Company, State Theatre Center for the Arts, and Fayette County Cultural Trust last fall. Their program “Encore! A Showcase of Local Talent” on May 9 was the first of its kind in Fayette County.
CFFC has created a Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 with goals and actions for our growth!
The foundation is awarding over $200,000 in post-secondary scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year. Thanks to scholarship fund donors, we are able to support local students. This, in turn, supports the future of Fayette County and helps to strengthen our local workforce.
CFFC received re-accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. Community Foundations National Standards® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.
Save the date for Fayette Gives on November 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org. The community has raised over $2 million in the first four years of this 12-hour fundraising marathon. Join us again for this community-wide “day of giving” and celebrate the power of giving back.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 31, 2024 | CFFC News
Each year, the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) proudly selects a variety of local students for post-secondary scholarship awards. The foundation holds forty-seven (47) scholarship funds, which are created specifically to support local students in their pursuit of higher education. This year, $207,924 is being awarded in scholarships to ninety-one (91) students.
“Thank you so much for awarding me this great honor and continuing to support my lifelong goal of becoming a physician…. I hope to one day practice in Uniontown and continue giving back to our community!” said Nina D’Andrea, a Laurel Highlands High School graduate and current medical student at West Virginia University. CFFC has awarded scholarships to D’Andrea for seven years in a row throughout her higher education.
Scholarship funds are one of the many ways that the foundation helps people make a difference through charitable giving. 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. CFFC works with donors to determine criteria for each scholarship fund, including qualifications related to academic achievement, community service, financial need, extracurricular participation, area of study, or school preference.
“Congratulations to all of the scholarship recipients. Our scholarship program is strong, thanks to our generous donors and our dedicated review committee – all of them are passionate about supporting these students and the future of Fayette County,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Through CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to Higher Education Program, qualifying students may have their scholarship awards matched by the state.
A CFFC scholarship can be created in honor or memory with a gift of $25,000, or donations in any amount can be made to the Educate Fayette Scholarship Fund. To learn more about CFFC’s scholarship program, visit the Scholarships page at www.cffayettepa.org.
2024-2025 CFFC Scholarship Awards
Alfred E. and Anna B. Jones Scholarship
Taney Basinger
Allen Craft Memorial Scholarship
Jamire Braxton
Madison McClean
Addyson Nose
Jocelyn Radcliffe
Owen Reed
Dominic Scott
Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Scholarship
Valentina Gulino
Kylee Kurnot
Malcolm Patton
Bridget White
Brooklyn Williams
Betty Bayne Barnes Scholarship for Women
Kadie Keslar
Burchinal Family Endowment
Taney Basinger
Grace Bosnic
Bethany DuBois
Diana Fink
Brianna Hensh
Connor Kalich
Kadie Keslar
Josh Lomax
Aubriana Pesuti
Erica Rishel
Career and Technical Education Scholarship
Shelby Hall
CFFC Board of Directors Scholarship
Laila Suarez
Chris G. and Alice Omiros Scholars Fund
A’kira Dade
Cupelli Family Scholarship
Brianna Hensh
Darrell L. and Norma R. Uphold Family Scholarship
Mattalynn Schiffbauer
Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship
Bella Carroto
Dr. Dennis F. Brestensky Scholarship
Logan Hoffer
Dr. Paul Pipik Scholarship for Study in the Health Sciences
Lauren Klink
Dr. William C. Thomas, Jr. Perseverance Scholarship for past recipients
Karsyn Lucy
George M. and Anna w. Hochheimer Scholarship
Josh Lomax
Helen Hulvey Scheggia Nursing Scholarship
Haley Filcheck
Henry J. Oppermann Scholarship
Grace Bosnic
Ian Zerecheck
Hughes Family Scholarship
Timothy Lacek
Johnson Matthey Scholarship
Lauren Colgan
Elyse Hughes
Kathleen DiMarco Gulino Memorial Scholarship
Matthew South
Laurel Business Institute Scholarship in Memory of Ruth and Milton Decker
Zaidan Bochnak
Kevin Morrison
Eric Reed
Laurel Highlands Mustang Academic Scholarship
Addyson Nose
Matthew South
Legacy Scholarship of Ernst Gottlieb Braun
Joshua Dankle
Lillian’s Legacy Scholarship
Paige Miller
Maximus Nassar
Melisha Robinson
Lulu A. Dudley Scholarship
Brooke Eutsey
Kennedy Orndorff
Frances and George J. Plava Educational Award
Hadyn Chipps
Lauren Colgan
Mary Jane Dailey Wood Scholarship
Ava Crofcheck
Kennedy Roskopp
Dominic Scott
Maurice M. Bortz and Bessie D. Rinehart Memorial Scholarship
Connor Kalich
Melvin J. and Beatrice Vance Keller Memorial Scholarship
Tagan Basinger
Michael S. Carbonara Memorial Scholarship
Madison McClean
My Mother’s Legacy Scholarship
Avery Maldovan
Jaylee Moorhead
Nancy Vance Jones Scholarship
Madison McClean
Rebecca Mihalko
Jaylee Moorhead
Magdalen Williams
Palmer F. Sabatine Scholarship
Khalia Batie
Parker A. Hess Memorial Scholarship
Parker King
Aubriana Pesuti
Rita P. Peters Scholarship
Bella Miller
Robert and Marjorie Rager Scholarship
Kirra Davis
Robert E. and Elouise R. Eberly Scholarship
Benjamin Diamond
Sam’s Symphony of Love Scholarship
Bella Carroto
Sergeant Eric Hull Memorial Scholarship
Tate Musko
Suzanne J. McMonagle Nursing Scholarship
Kiera McLaughlin
Tolstoi Family Scholarship
Jace Deli
Shelby Hall
Landen Taylor
Tylar Andaloro Memorial Scholarship
Kathryn Chiado
Aubriana Pesuti
Uniontown College Club CFFC Scholarship
Hadyn Chipps
Casey Fijalkovic
Lindsay Klink
Virginia Eberharter Scholarship
Jodi Lowery
Delaney Reese
Virginia Springer Memorial Scholarship
Julie Cooper
Nina D’Andrea
Rebecca Mihalko
Grace Taylor
Kaleb Walls
Wolford Swimmer Memorial Scholarship
Emily Angelo
Caylee Balabon
Tagan Basinger
Chaz Berkshire
James Brown
Iris Burd
Sienna Dean
Jocelyn Gratchic
Gabriel Kemp
Hanna Lucente
Eva Lypson
Noah Maceiko
Jacqueline Maendel
Natayah Moten
Cecilia Mrosko
Anthony Muccioli
Vincenzo Muccioli
Bella Palm
Madison Rosier
Braylin Salisbury
Serenity Swihart-Fullem
Autumn Taylor
Colby Voyten
Ian Zerecheck
Zackery R. Nelson Memorial Scholarship
Aubriana Pesuti
###
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
