by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 6, 2022 | Building a Stronger Fayette, Grants
Jacobs Creek Watershed Association (JCWA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of natural resources, rehabilitation of the creek and watershed, environmental education and recreation. They partner with the Fayette County Conservation District to host STEM and Science-based programs in summer: Tot Time for children ages 2-5 and Nature Explorers Camp for children ages 6-9. The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded a grant to support the 2021 Tot Time and Nature Explorers Camp.
Photos submitted by JCWA
JCWA staff coordinated exciting and informative stories, crafts, and games around the theme of “Habitats Surround Us” for the four-week program. Topics included forest/trees, grass/meadows, wetlands, and water. In light of the pandemic, JCWA provided themed kits for families registered in the watershed. The kits had sub-sections for each week with materials to perform each activity, written instructions, and instructional videos. Some used the kits for a family night and sent photos of the activities in action.
The goal of Tot Time and Nature Explorers Camp is to introduce basic ecology and environmental science to preschool/elementary school children. “Thanks to the support of CFFC, Jacobs Creek Watershed Association was able to continue our mission and provide easily accessible and affordable STEM opportunities to our watershed community in 2021,” said Denise Wilkins, JCWA Executive Director. JCWA is happy to resume in-person programs at Greenlick Lake for 2022.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 12, 2022 | Building a Stronger Fayette, Grants
Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Randy Miller, LHSD Director of Curriculum & Instruction; Dr. Jesse Wallace III, LHSD Superintendent
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded $12,855 to Laurel Highlands School District (LHSD) from the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund in 2021. Teachers submitted requests to purchase reusable items to enhance their classrooms, and five projects were selected for grant awards.
April marks World Autism Month, and two of the awarded projects provided items to support students with autism throughout the whole year, and for years to come. With a grant for their autistic support/life skills sensory room, Marshall Elementary purchased a bubble fountain, light projections, chairs and cushions that enable movement for students, and more. “A sensory room helps students to develop their visual, auditory, and tactile processing as well as fine and gross motor skills,” explained Patricia Spurlin, an autistic support teacher at Marshall Elementary.
A student in motion in the sensory room (submitted by Patricia Spurlin)
“In the past six years, I’ve raised over $8,000 for our sensory room,” said Spurlin. She has run t-shirt drives and “penny wars”, a competition between homerooms to collect pennies in a jar for prizes – but these fundraisers were paused during the pandemic the past two years. An additional sensory room was added at Marshall Elementary, and the reusable items purchased through this grant will also benefit students who use the space for physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions. “Sensory rooms help to teach students with autism and other behavioral deficits to challenge their bodies in a way that helps them achieve success in the classroom. These students all deserve a chance to be independent, self-functioning members of our school population, and improving our sensory room is a great tool to help us help them succeed in that goal!” said Spurlin.
Hutchinson Elementary received a grant to purchase items like sensory water beads, activity books, an alphabet puzzle, and a squeeze and scoop ice cream set – all activities to help students with fine motor skills and sensory input. “In the past couple of years, the [Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund] grants have changed the lives of so many of my students and enhanced and improved my classroom beyond belief,” said Tia Wadworth, an autistic support teacher at Hutchinson Elementary.
LHMS reading teachers Kara Hixson and Jill John at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Inchy the Bookworm
CFFC’s Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund also enabled the purchase of a creative reading-related item at Laurel Highlands Middle School – Inchy the Bookworm. This book vending machine is part of the school’s PRIDE program (Positive, Respectful, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence). Students earn golden coins for their positive behaviors and can use their coins to select books from the vending machine. “We look forward to an increase in reading and positive behaviors in the near future. Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine will be an asset to Laurel Highlands Middle School for years to come,” said Jill John, a reading teacher at LHMS.
Students using the flight simulator (submitted by MSgt. Daniel Cervone)
Turning to STEM education, Laurel Highlands Senior High School received a grant for a flight simulator for their Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program (AF JROTC). The simulator allows them to “fly” indoors when they are unable to use their drone outside, and it creates the effects of weather during takeoff, in flight, and landings. The flight simulator also shows different emergency situations and how the pilot must react quickly and calmly. “Since placing the simulator into our classroom, the students have been able to fly multiple aircrafts and see how they are all the same, but different at the same time…. Overall the students have definitely become more interested in our flight simulator/drone/rocket program,” said Master Sergeant Daniel Cervone.
Joy Frederick, a 4th grade math, science, and social studies teacher at Marshall Elementary, used grant funds for a variety of educational games. “I love how games excite a student to learn, and how they think they are playing but they are learning,” said Frederick. Purchased items include math flash cards, multiplication dominoes, states geography board game, a time-telling clock, and more to support the Common Core Standards she teaches.
CFFC is proud to support a variety of educational topics, and the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is a great example building a stronger Fayette through charitable giving. “We created this annual grant program to help bring innovative and interesting new teaching tools into the classrooms at Laurel Highlands and Uniontown schools,” said Ron Gabriel, creator of the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund. Teachers, school counselors, and administrators at Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District are encouraged to apply for this funding opportunity during CFFC’s annual fall grant cycle.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 14, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has announced their spring 2022 grant cycle, with six different funding opportunities for local nonprofit organizations. All applications are completed through CFFC’s online grant system, which can be accessed from the Grants page at www.cffayettepa.org. The grant application deadline is March 1, 2022.
CFFC thanks the many generous donors who make these grant opportunities possible. “Supporting local nonprofits is an important part of CFFC’s mission, and these grant cycles are a great way to learn about the needs of organizations and lend a helping hand,” said CFFC Grantmaking Committee Chair Joy G. Huston.
Below is the list of spring 2022 CFFC grant opportunities:
- Building a Stronger Fayette Fund: supports arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services; and other areas of interest.
- Burchinal Family Endowment Fund: supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents.
- Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund: supports projects and programs in the areas of community gardens and/or science/environmental education.
- Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund: supports organizations that provide transportation for Fayette County senior citizens.
- Community Beautification Fund: supports landscape improvements (including but not limited to planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers) for community beautification projects.
- Natalie Anthony Petrie Alzheimer’s Fund: supports research of Alzheimer’s Disease.
For questions about grant applications, please contact Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator Rebecca Wardle at rebecca@cffayettepa.org or 724-437-8600 x203.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 12, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded over $20,000 in fall 2021 grants to local nonprofits and schools. CFFC supports a variety of funding areas, based on the interests of donors and the criteria they outline when creating a charitable fund.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund awarded a total of $15,871 to Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District for reusable items that will enhance the classrooms. Requested items that received funding include a flight simulator, book vending machine, items for autistic support/life skills sensory room, games, and technology enhancements for algebra classes.
The Burchinal Family Endowment Fund awarded a $1,500 grant to Don’t Stop Dreamin’ to support activities for their Fayette County skilled nursing residents.
The Idea Fund awarded a total of $2,200 to Geibel Catholic Junior Senior High School to enhance learning through a community history center and suturing supplies for anatomy classes.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund awarded a $500 grant to Uniontown Area School District to support family and consumer science sewing projects.
To learn more about the impact of CFFC grant awards, visit the Building a Stronger Fayette page at www.cffayettepa.org. CFFC will soon be announcing grant applications for the spring 2022 cycle, which includes grant opportunities for arts, education, health and human services, community gardens, and more.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 15, 2021 | CFFC News, Fayette Gives, Grants
CFFC’s Fayette Gives Proves to be a Successful “Day of Giving” for Local Charities
The second annual Fayette Gives, held on November 16, raised $441,880 for Fayette County charities. Donations from the public totaled over $366,000 and the $70,600 bonus pool, supported by sponsors, provided additional funding to the 64 participating charities. The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) hosts Fayette Gives to engage the community in philanthropy and build a stronger Fayette County.
To recognize and celebrate the success of these charities, CFFC hosted a Fayette Gives Grants Presentation on December 14, 2021 at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus for the participating charities. As Community Sponsors, Jennifer Jubin from COE and Luke Kim from Mike Kelly Toyota presented the checks.
Fayette Gives has proven to be a fundraising opportunity that the community embraces and that local charities value. The public’s donations increased by 66% percent compared to last year’s inaugural Fayette Gives, and the participating charities increased from 43 in 2020 to 64 in 2021.
“We started accepting check donations back in September, and by early November we knew we would surpass last year’s total,” said CFFC Executive Director Renee Couser. “It was exciting to see the numbers climb on November 16 during the 12-hour fundraising marathon. Thank you to everyone who joined us in building a stronger Fayette,” said Couser.
The Fayette Gives website (www.fayettegives.org) provides all the information needed for this special 12-hour “day of giving”. On Fayette Gives day, donors select one or more charities for their contribution and the payment is processed through the website. Live results display on the home page with leaderboards for the charities, based on dollars raised and the number of donations received. These leaderboards are still available on the website to display preliminary results (these numbers do not include bonus pool dollars or donations received after November 16).
A charity’s bonus pool dollars are determined by their amount raised and their number of unique donors, calculated through prorated percentages. This incentivizes donors to give because each donation received by the end of Fayette Gives day is enhanced by the bonus pool, which in turn provides extra support to the charities.
The 64 participating charities serve residents through the arts, basic human needs, education, healthcare, recreation, and a variety of other service areas. Aside from monetary contributions, Fayette Gives raises awareness of local charities and their work.
“There is so much ‘good’ being done throughout Fayette County. CFFC has the privilege of working with local organizations who make a real impact for our friends and neighbors, and we hope that Fayette Gives helps others learn more about their wonderful services. Thank you to everyone who helped raise the impressive total of $441,880. All funds will stay right here in Fayette County,” said CFFC Board Chair J.D. Ewing.
View the final results spreadsheet with charity totals.
View more photos on CFFC’s Facebook @cffayettepa
Mark your calendars for next year’s Fayette Gives on Thursday, November 10, 2022 as we continue our efforts in building a stronger Fayette!
Herald-Standard article
Daily Courier article
Community Sponsors
The Swimmer Family
Generosity Sponsors
Fayette Pipe Company
JLE Industries, LLC
Charity Fund
Humanity Sponsors
Community Bank
Erie Insurance
First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County
Ford of Uniontown
Nemacolin
Pittsburgh-Fayette Express, Inc.
the Uniontown Office of Janney Montgomery Scott
Wells Fargo Advisors ~ Vic Fiano, Jr. and Victor Fiano, III
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 11, 2021 | CFFC News, Grants, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) recently awarded seven charities a total of $41,400.
In 2020, the Strawberry Patch Fund was created through an estate gift. This Donor Designated Fund will support the following charities in perpetuity: Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County; Domestic Violence Services of SWPA; Fayette Friends of Animals; Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette, Inc.; Mount Macrina Manor; St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School; and Uniontown Public Library.
“Making a legacy gift to CFFC reflects a donor’s ongoing commitment to the charities and causes they care about the most. We are honored to carry out the wishes of donors in this way,” said Renee M. Couser, Executive Director of CFFC.
Left to right: Carol Ashton, Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers of Fayette, Inc.; Andrea Hibbs, Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County; Lisa Hannum, Domestic Violence Services of SWPA; Christine Roskovensky, St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School; Lori Coffman, Fayette Friends of Animals; Linda Evans, Uniontown Public Library; not pictured Mount Macrina Manor.
Andrea Hibbs, Executive Director of Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County, said, “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of this donor and grateful for this annual award. Crime Victims’ Center is using some of the funds to support our 24-hour crisis hotline service, and we also plan to provide additional outreach for our underserved/unserved areas of Fayette County with this funding.”
Lori Coffman, Board President of Fayette Friends of Animals, said, “Fayette Friends of Animals is eternally grateful for every donation we receive since our operational expenses are paid for in large part by donations from animal lovers within our community. Gifts like the annual grant from the Strawberry Patch Fund will be hugely beneficial with the upkeep of our aging building.”
Contact Renee Couser at 724-437-8600 x1 to learn more about how you can make a lasting impact through philanthropy.