EQT Foundation Donates to CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) received a $15,000 gift from the EQT Foundation for the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment. This endowment was created in 2020 to support CFFC’s general grantmaking program.

The Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment is an important part of the CFFC’s annual competitive grantmaking, accepting grant requests from nonprofits for the following funding priorities: arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services.

Left to right:  Renee Couser – CFFC Executive Director; Joy G. Huston – CFFC Grantmaking Committee Chair; Ellen Rossi – EQT Foundation President

The EQT Foundation’s generous donation to the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment will have a direct impact on local nonprofits and, in turn, the Fayette County residents they serve. Established in 2003, the EQT Foundation is a dedicated resource for financial, in-kind, and volunteer support for communities touched by EQT’s business. They prioritize the following categories for their funding: community enrichment; education and workforce; environment.

“We value meaningful engagement with the communities where EQT operates. Fayette County is one of those important communities, so the EQT Foundation is happy to support the CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment,” said Ellen Rossi, President of the EQT Foundation.

The Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment will help Fayette County in a variety of ways for years to come. “This endowment was created to support our nonprofit community in perpetuity, and will award grants each year. The promise of lasting impact, and the CFFC’s ability to support a variety of causes, makes this a unique opportunity to continue ‘building a stronger Fayette’,” said Renee Couser, Executive Director of CFFC.

The entire community can help ‘build a stronger Fayette’ by making a donation to the Building a Stronger Fayette Endowment. Checks can be made payable to CFFC and mailed to 5 South Mt. Vernon Avenue, Uniontown, PA  15401. Please write BASF on the memo line. Online donations can also be made at www.cffayettepa.org. If you have any questions on how CFFC can assist you with your charitable giving, please call 724-437-8000 x1.

Fayette Gives 2021 Registration Now Open!

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is hosting the second Fayette Gives on November 16, 2021 and registration is now open for Fayette County charities. Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” that engages the community in philanthropy and helps build a stronger Fayette by supporting local charities. Register now at www.fayettegives.org until September 1, 2021 at 5 p.m.

Each charity that registers and is approved to participate in Fayette Gives will be notified and listed at www.fayettegives.org. Please note that charities must register annually. On November 16, 2021 online donations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Check donations will also be accepted with a Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form after registration closes. Each donation received at the CFFC office by 8 p.m. on November 16 will be enhanced by the bonus pool. Charities can learn more by reviewing the FAQs at www.fayettegives.org or by contacting Rebecca Wardle at 724-437-8600 x203.

During the first-ever Fayette Gives in 2020, the CFFC distributed a total of $292,423 to participating charities, and it served as a safe fundraising opportunity amid the pandemic. The public donated $233,746 to 42 participating charities and the bonus pool contributed an extra $57,000, thanks to generous sponsors.

The CFFC is thrilled to thank Mike Kelly Toyota as a Community Sponsor for the second year in a row. Those interested in sponsorship can download the form on the Fayette Gives website or contact Renee Couser at 724-437-8600 x1. The CFFC invites everyone to help build a stronger Fayette through Fayette Gives 2021.

#FayetteGives

CFFC Grant Applications Open for Spring 2021

The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is accepting applications for the Building a Stronger Fayette General Grantmaking Program and for their Field of Interest Grants for the Burchinal Family Endowment Fund, the Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund, and the Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund. The grant application deadline is March 1, 2021. Please visit the “Grants” tab at www.cffayettepa.org to learn more about these opportunities and to apply.

Email Rebecca Wardle or call 724-437-8600 x203 with any questions.

2021-2022 CFFC Post-Secondary Scholarships Now Available!

The CFFC has posted scholarship applications for 2021-2022 post-secondary students, offering over 50 scholarship opportunities with a variety of criteria to support local students. Students can apply by going to the “Scholarships” tab at www.cffayettepa.org, and then click “Apply Now”. Students will be directed to the new, time-saving application software. The application deadline is March 26, 2021.

CFFC scholarship opportunities are made possible by generous donors who create scholarship funds, often to honor or memorialize someone special in their lives, to support students, and to give back to the community. The criteria for these scholarships may include field of study, specific post-secondary schools, GPA, participation in sports or the arts, community service hours, and more.

The CFFC and our donors are committed to supporting students as they continue their education. In 2020, the CFFC awarded over $225,000 in post-secondary scholarships. For more information on how CFFC can assist you with your charitable giving, please contact Renee Couser, Executive Director, at 724-437-8600 x 1.

Through the CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to High Education Program (PATH), CFFC scholarship recipients may be eligible to receive an additional award through PATH.

Contact Mrs. Lee O’Neil with any questions at 724-437-8600 x2.

CFFC Distributes $292,423 for Fayette Gives 2020

The Community Foundation of Fayette County Distributes $292,423 for “Fayette Gives”

January 5, 2021, Fayette County, Pa. – The first-ever Fayette Gives was held on November 12, 2020 and raised money for local nonprofits.  Generous donors contributed more than $233,746 during this fundraising marathon.  In addition, the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) $57,000 Bonus Pool increased these donations to $292,423.

View the slideshow here.

“Many nonprofits were forced to cancel their 2020 fundraising events. The nonprofit organizations that participated in Fayette Gives were able to encourage donations through a new outlet, with safe and convenient check and online options. Thank you to everyone who supported this community-wide effort and made it possible for $292,423 to be distributed to local nonprofits, which will help strengthen Fayette County.” – Daniel Gearing, CFFC 2020 Board Chair.

Special thanks to the generous sponsors who supported the Bonus Pool.
Community Sponsors:

 

 

Mike Kelly Toyota of Uniontown
The Swimmer Family

Generosity Sponsors:
Charity Fund
Erie Insurance
Joy G. Huston

Humanity Sponsors:
The Eberly Foundation & Robert E. Eberly, Jr.
Fayette Legacy Partners of Janney Montgomery Scott
First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County
Mid Penn Bank
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Somerset Trust Company

The CFFC is happy to see a positive response to this new initiative and plans to host Fayette Gives annually. The Fayette Gives website lists eligibility requirements and FAQs. Registration for 2021 is planned to open in March at www.fayettegives.org.

The goal of Fayette Gives is to engage the community in philanthropy and build a stronger Fayette County by supporting local nonprofits. Giving back and supporting those who help residents will always be important to CFFC, regardless of the ever-changing needs of the community.

Fayette Gives on November 12th is Approaching!

Nonprofits are there for local residents every day; let’s join in an effort to be there for them on one day during Fayette Gives. The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is hosting an inaugural “day of giving”, called Fayette Gives, to engage the community in philanthropy and build a stronger Fayette County. Fayette Gives will take place on November 12, 2020 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org.

There are 43 participating nonprofits. Donors can view the full list of nonprofits on the website, search for a specific nonprofit, or search by service category on the Fayette Gives website. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofits have continued to serve the community, despite financial strain from an increase in community need and limited fundraising events that nonprofits rely on for their operation. Fayette Gives provides a safe and easy way for the public to support a variety of causes through the missions of the 43 participating nonprofits.

As a special incentive, each donation made during Fayette Gives will be enhanced by a prorated percentage of the $55,000 Bonus Pool. Donors will get more bang for their generous buck and nonprofits will receive a fundraising boost with the addition of Bonus Pool dollars. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Fayette Gives Sponsors who are supporting the Bonus Pool.

The CFFC is excited for the community to take advantage of this special fundraising opportunity to support Fayette County nonprofits. Mark your calendars for November 12th and learn more about Fayette Gives, the participating nonprofits, and donation methods at www.fayettegives.org.


Participating Nonprofits:
180 Degree About Face Inc.
Albert Gallatin Human Services
Albert Gallatin Service Center of The Salvation Army
Alternatives Yes Pregnancy Support Center
American Cancer Society
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Region
Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania (BIAPA)
Brownsville Free Public Library
Carnegie Free Library
Centerville Clinics, Inc
Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc.
Christian Layman Corps.
City Mission – Living Stones, Inc.
Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Dress for Success Pittsburgh
East End United Community Center
Fallingwater/Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Fayette County 4-H
Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association, Inc.
Fayette County Association for the Blind
Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc.
Fayette County Cultural Trust
Fayette County Historical Society Inc
Fayette Friends of Animals
Friends of Art of the Uniontown Art Club
German-Masontown Public Library
Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania
Goodwill of Southwestern PA
Grindstone Community Volunteer Fire Dept.
Highlands Hospital Foundation
Jumonville Foundation
Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, Inc.
Literacy Council of Southwestern PA
Loving Daniel
Mary House Inc
St. Vincent de Paul, Uniontown Area Conference
State Theatre Center for the Arts
The Salvation Army (Uniontown Corps)
Touchstone Center for Crafts
Uniontown Area YMCA
Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank
Westmoreland Fayette Council, Boy Scouts of America


Community Sponsors:

 

 

Mike Kelly Toyota of Uniontown
Joshua and Maria Swimmer

Generosity Sponsors:
Charity Fund
Erie Insurance
Joy G. Huston

Humanity Sponsors:
The Eberly Foundation & Robert E. Eberly, Jr.
Fayette Legacy Partners of Janney Montgomery Scott
First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
Somerset Trust Company


#FayetteGives