by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 12, 2018 | Fayette Philanthropy
The 2018 Fayette Philanthropy Project is now underway with five individuals/teams competing to raise the most money for various charitable purposes. The winner of this year’s competition will be announced at the Fayette Philanthropy Dinner on Thursday, October 4 at the Historic Summit Inn, Farmington, PA.
Please consider a Sponsorship or Tickets for the Dinner. Your support of the Fayette Philanthropy Dinner, at any level, will be much appreciated!
Last year, nearly 200 people attended the event! Jill Taylor, and the Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship Team, raised $9,605 for their scholarship fund created in memory of Deana Martorella. The Fayette Philanthropy Project produced five new philanthropists, who raised over $30,000 for their charitable Funds.
Your support of the Fayette Philanthropy Dinner helps CFFC continue to assist area non-profits and Fayette County students. Last year, the CFFC distributed over $456,000 to area non-profits and awarded over $260,000 in scholarships and tuition assistance. 
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Feb 12, 2018 | Fayette Philanthropy
Be The Next Fayette Philanthropist!
Do you care about your community? Do you have a favorite charity that you want to help? Do you aspire to be a philanthropist or do you know someone that does?
The Fayette Philanthropy Project was created in 2015 to enable anyone to become a philanthropist. The Project is a competition to raise the most money for one of the (CFFC’s) existing Funds or to create a new Fund for charitable purposes.
Participants must agree to raise at least $2,000. Acceptable fundraisers include: golf outings, walks, runs, dinners, dances and more, but must be approved by CFFC. Whomever raises the most amount of money will win prizes and the right to claim the title of “Fayette County’s Newest Philanthropist.” The contest begins March 1 and ends on September 30, 2018.
If you would like to register for the competition, please complete the 2018 Fayette Philanthropy Participant Form.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 9, 2017 | Fayette Philanthropy
Congratulations to Jill Taylor and the Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship Team and To All Of The 2017 Participants!
Jill Taylor and the Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship Team, raised $9,605 for their scholarship fund created in memory of Deana Martorella.
Left to Right: Clara Pascoe (Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Fayette County), Dr. Norma Thomas, Jim Protin, Linda Ulery, Casey Clark, Jill Taylor, Brent Robinson (Chevron), Scott Taylor, Bill Poninsky
The Fayette Philanthropy Project produced five new philanthropists, who raised over $30,000 for their charitable Funds.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 23, 2017 | Fayette Philanthropy
Dr. Norma Thomas – Queen Ester, Edward, and Phyllis Thomas Memorial Fund for East End United Community Center
The inspiration to create this endowed Fund at the Community Foundation comes from a long legacy of service. My parents (Queen Ester and Edward Thomas) instilled in their children the words from scripture that essentially read “To whom much is given, much is required”. Although we would have been considered a low income family, we never went without food, transportation or a roof over our heads so in that, we were rich.
In my work in aging services over many years, I have often spoken about the fact that we need to leave a legacy behind. I believe this is extremely important in the African American community. My mother was one of the original incorporators for the East End United Community Center and she specifically wanted young people who passed through its doors to have exposure to the arts in the broadest definition of the word. In a time when arts programs have essentially disappeared from the educational system, this Fund is designed to give young people exposure to the arts which will help them not only use and or develop their talents, but also assist them in being well rounded individuals. My sister, (Phyllis) who unfortunately died young, was a beautiful singer. In my history I have worked to endow four different scholarship Funds at two different universities. This Fund is to leave a legacy in the community in which I grew up in the name of my sister and parents.
The primary idea for Fundraising has been to send a letter to family and friends asking them to contribute to the Fund based on the “blessings” they have received. Other ideas are a dine out at a local restaurant and a gathering of creative artists at the East End United Community Center.
If you would like to support the Queen Ester, Edward, and Phyllis Thomas Memorial Fund for East End United Community Center, please contact the CFFC office at 724-437-8600 or mail your check, made payable to: CFFC, 2 West Main Street, Suite 101, Uniontown, PA 15401. Be sure to write the Queen Ester, Edward & Phyllis Thomas Memorial Fund in the memo portion of your check.
Please join us on October 5 at The Fayette Philanthropy Dinner being held at the Summit Inn, as we honor the 2017 Class of Fayette Philanthropists, as well as the Philanthropist of the Year, Chevron.
Sponsorships and Tickets are now available.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 23, 2017 | Fayette Philanthropy
Bill Poninsky – Uniontown Area YMCA
I am entering the 2017 Fayette Philanthropy Project Contest to help raise funds for the Uniontown Area YMCA, which will enable the YMCA to continue to serve the Uniontown area and surrounding communities. The YMCA has provided opportunities for people of all ages to grow and develop in spirit, mind and body since 1888 when the YMCA was founded in Uniontown.
The mission of the YMCA is “To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.“ Some of the spirit development occurs through Bible studies, prayer before meetings and youth sport events, plus programs by Child Evangelism Fellowship a few times per year.
The mind development opportunities occur through the preschool curriculum for the day care, homework help and tutoring in after school programs, Healthy and Wise workshops, First Aid, CPR and AED trainings and nutrition education seminars held at area middle schools.
The YMCA helps people develop physically by providing a wide variety of quality exercise equipment, many different fitness classes, several youth sport instructional classes, leagues and teams.
The YMCA has also been known for years as the place to learn to swim. Through a variety of fundraisers such as Washington Wild Things and West Virginia Black Bears baseball game fundraisers, food sales, donations and other projects we hope to help the Uniontown Area YMCA continue to serve the area through these and many other programs.
If you would like to support the Uniontown Area YMCA Endowment Fund, please contact the CFFC office at 724-437-8600 or mail your check, made payable to: CFFC, 2 West Main Street, Suite 101, Uniontown, PA 15401. Be sure to write the Uniontown Area YMCA Endowment Fund in the memo portion of your check.
Please join us on October 5 at The Fayette Philanthropy Dinner being held at the Summit Inn, as we honor the 2017 Class of Fayette Philanthropists, as well as the Philanthropist of the Year, Chevron.
Sponsorships and Tickets are now available.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 19, 2016 | CFFC News, Fayette Philanthropy
Jacquelyn Core – Uniontown Area YMCA
Since becoming the CEO of the Uniontown Area YMCA in April I have been amazed over and over again by stories of the impact that our Y has on the community and on individual community members on a daily basis. I am blessed to frequently hear the stories of members whose lives have been changed for the positive. Whether it is someone who became free of evidence of diabetes through implementation of dietary and exercise changes, someone who recently suffered a cardiac event and is now returning to an active lifestyle, or a mom who found a family support network while her husband and the father of her two small children was deployed with the military, people are always stopping by my office to share with me how the YMCA has impacted their lives.
We are training adults, providing workplace education and securing the health and wellness of Fayette County’s workforce through fitness and nutrition initiatives. We are addressing food security needs, particularly of school-age children through after school programming that includes healthy snacks and meals. We are increasing water safety by training both swimmers and lifeguards. We are providing education for school-age children, from dietary education to engineering design principles. We’re also providing nearly $100,000 worth of scholarship support annually so that low income individuals can participate in a YMCA membership and programming. No membership is free, as we foster pride in our members, working with them to determine what they can afford to pay.
This summer our staff decided they wanted to contribute to the sustainability of our movement, and we chose the Fayette philanthropy competition as our project. It has been my privilege to lead a team of staff members in raising funds that will help us ensure we are able to deliver community programming for years to come. We hope you will be a part of our movement as well!