2018 Spring Grants Available

by | Jan 3, 2018 | Grants, News Releases

The Community of Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) General Grantmaking Fund gives priority to programs in the following areas: Arts and Culture, Education, and Health and Human Services. Requests of up to $5,000 will be accepted. Non-profit organizations located in Fayette County, or those that provide services to Fayette County are welcome to apply.

NEW FOR THIS YEAR . . . . Additional funding is available for Human Services, Economic Development, and Workforce Development. Requests of up to $10,000 will be accepted. Non-profit organizations located in Fayette County or Greene County, or those that provide services to Fayette County or Greene County, are encouraged to apply.

The 2018 Spring Application is now available. The deadline to apply is March 1.

Fall Grant Applications Now Available

by | Jul 1, 2016 | News Releases

Eligible organizations must be non-profit (recognized under Section 501 (c)(3) or equivalent, of the I.R.S. Code), tax-exempt, and located in Fayette County, PA. The Foundation also considers the grant requests of organizations from other areas whose purposes and programs benefit Fayette County.

The Community of Foundation of Fayette County’s General Grant-Making Fund gives priority to programs in the following areas:  Arts and Culture, Education, Community Development, and Health and Human Services.

To apply, complete a Fall Grant Application by September 1, 2016.

 

Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) Tuition Assistance Provided

by | Nov 4, 2013 | News Releases

The Community Foundation of Fayette County provided $65,645 of tuition assistance through the EITC Program to 73 Fayette County students attending attending nonpublic schools from pre-schools through 12th grade for the 2013-2014 school year.

Eligible families receive tuition assistance with support from businesses. Businesses and partnerships that pay state income tax can contribute to the EITC program and name the Community Foundation of Fayette County to receive their contributions.  CFFC was able to provide assistance to one third of the 200 applicants.

“For the past several years, all business partners have been regional businesses, including PNC Bank, UPMC Health Plan Insurance Services, First Niagara Bank and Highmark Casualty Insurance Company.  CFFC is working on encouraging more businesses regionally and locally to participate in this program so that more families receive tuition assistance and more businesses benefit by supporting education of our children in exchange for PA tax credits.” said Renee Couser, CFFC  Grants Coordinator.  

Information about how businesses can apply for tax credits through the EITC program is available by calling CFFC at 724-437-8600 or on the Educational mprovement Tax Credit website, www.newpa.com.

Chevron Community Fund Awards Grants to Area Organizations

by | Oct 17, 2013 | News Releases

By Steve Ferris sferris@heraldstandard.com Herald-Standard

Chevron Corp. awarded $45,300 in grants to workforce development, education and health care programs in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties on Wednesday.

The grants came from the Chevron Community Fund, which is administered by the Community Foundation of Fayette County. This is the third year Chevron has provided grants to nonprofit organizations.

“It’s not just for today, but for generations,” Chevron spokeswoman Mikal A. Zimmerman said about the company’s commitment to organizations that help people improve their lives.

The Redstone Foundation, Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC) and Community Action Southwest received $10,000 grants, the American Heart Association received a $7,800 grant and Fay-Penn Economic Development Council received a $7,500 grant.

The Redstone Foundation, the nonprofit branch of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, is using its grant to pay for two programs aimed at helping students in Fayette County schools find jobs in the county, said Muriel Nuttall, executive director of the chamber.

Half of the grant will fund the efforts of the Fayette Business Education Partnership, a joint venture between the chamber and Fay-Penn, Nuttall said.

The partnership identifies jobs that students can obtain after graduating from high school and works with schools to develop programs that teach students what they need to get those jobs, she said.

One of those efforts, the Eighth Grade Career Awareness Fair at Laurel Business Institute, is taking place today. Nuttall said 100 employers are attending the fair.

The other half of the grant is paying for a new business showcase kiosk that the chamber plans to take to schools during parent visitations. Chamber staff will talk to parents and distribute information about career training and jobs, Nuttall said.

WCCC is using its grant to buy equipment for the 70,000-square-foot Advanced Technology Center the college is building at the former Sony plant in East Huntingdon Township, said Daniel Obara, WCCC president.

The center will teach machining, welding, robotics and other in-demand technology-driven job skills, Obara said, adding that an associates degree petroleum production and processing program will be taught at the center.

“We view this as a regional asset,” Obara said. “It’s going to be a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the entire southwestern Pennsylvania area.”

Fay-Penn is using its grant for a business calling program in which staff will visit 50 businesses to conduct a survey on their workforce needs and share the results with businesses, said Dana Kendrick, economic development manager at Fay-Penn.

The money also will be used for Fay-Penn’s business retention assistance program, which helps businesses find new sites, helps arrange financing for buying equipment and trains workers.

“Our small businesses are the innovators. They are job creators of the future,” Kendrick said.

The American Heart Association is using its grant to bring its national CPR Anytime program to the Albert Gallatin Area School District.

Tricia Desavarro, the heart association’s Fayette County division director, said the program teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation to students and they would have the opportunity to teach it to their families.

“Kids are willing to learn,” Desavarro said.

Each CPR Anytime kit, which contains an instructional DVD and an inflatable mannequin, must be purchased, but every student that takes one home teaches CPR to an average of three family members, she said.

“This will have a great impact on making our community healthier,” said Randy Wilson, principal of Albert Gallatin North Middle School.

Community Action is putting its grant money toward its new Chevron Barrier Elimination Fund, which is designed to eliminate barriers that prevent people from obtaining employment, said Jeffery T. Fondelier, vice president of operations.

He said the program will help people pay for General Education Development (GED) tests, work boots and other basic necessities they need to get jobs, but can’t afford.

Chevron selected the five grant recipients from 60 applicants.

“The response has been overwhelming,” said Renee Couser, the foundation’s grants coordinator.

Chevron Offers Financial Support to Regional Programs

by | Jul 8, 2013 | News Releases

This article was featured in the Herald-Standard in February 2013 and is re-printed here with permission.

Chevron offers financial support to regional programs

By: Patty Yauger

Nancy Rossell, Fayette County Career and Technical Institute co-op coordinator, talks about how money awarded through the Chevron Community Fund will be used for a summer reading program at the school. Standing with Rossell is Dr. Ed Jeffreys, school executive director. Photo: Roberto M. Esquivel|Herald-Standard

Several educational and recreational programs and projects have received a financial boost from a Fayette County business.

Chevron, located in Smithfield, through its partnership with Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC), awarded nearly $50,000 to nine organizations during a ceremony Wednesday hosted by the foundation.

Mikal Ann Zimmerman, Chevron policy, government and public affairs representative, said that the grants allow for the opening of doors and opportunities for young people in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.

“Chevron is committed to contributing and becoming good citizens in the communities where we work,” she said. “A part of that is partnering with organizations to improve the opportunities that are available to the residents.

“You are opening up doors to the youth that were not there before. The more they find out, the more excited they become for what their future holds.”

Larry Kiefer, vice-president of the Albert Gallatin Education Foundation, said that the $5,000 grant will be utilized for its Imagination Library program that provides no-cost books to families within the school district with children age 5 and younger.

The availability of books to the earliest of readers has begun to show results with kindergarten students more familiar with books and reading when they start school, said Kiefer.

“When they come to register for school, they are better prepared,” he said.

An $8,400 grant to the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute will enable young people in grades 6 to 8 to take part in a three-day summer program that introduces them to the available programs at the school, said Nancy Rossell, co-op coordinator.

In prior years, upward of 200 students have participated, she added.

“We impact so many,” said Rossell. “This program is to make the community aware of what we have.”

Linda R. Orsted, Flenniken Public Library librarian and chief executive officer, said that the $1,500 Chevron grant will be used to purchase E-readers to familiarize staff, so that they can then share their knowledge with library patrons.

Many Greene County residents are bringing their readers, tablets, pads and smart phones to the library seeking help to understand the newer technology, added Orsted.

“We want our staff to become more comfortable with the technology so that we can help our patrons more efficiently,” she said.

Beth Reseter, Friendship Hill Association treasurer, said that the $1,900 grant presented by Chevron will be used to purchase several bike racks for those traveling from West Virginia to Point Marion, the gateway to Friendship Hill, the home of Albert Gallatin.

The association has partnered with the borough and its neighbor across the state line, Morgantown, along with other civic groups, organizations and the school district, to draw more visitors to the National Park, said Reseter.

“We are finding that a lot of people ride to Point Marion,” she said.

Other recipients of Chevron grants, included:

German Masontown Public Library, a $3,800 grant to upgrade its technology with the purchase of several computers, said Amy Ryan, library director.

Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, a $5,000 grant to provide scholarships to high school sophomores and juniors in Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties to attend a weeklong conference to develop business skills.

Masontown Matters, a $5,000 grant to develop an entrepreneurial program to spur business growth in Masontown and neighboring communities.

Penn State Cooperative Extension – Fayette, a $8,000 grant to support 4-H day camps for young people. The camps, which include guest speakers, trips and tours, promote land stewardship through its Environmental Awareness Education program, said Christina Becker, extension associate.

Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, a $10,000 grant to support its career connection center for young people entering the job market.

“We’re very fortunate to have a corporate partner in Chevron,” said Marilyn J. McDaniel, foundation chief executive officer. “They have been exceptional and a vital presence in our community and region.”