by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 22, 2025 | CFFC News
Year-end giving is a powerful way to wrap up the year, and the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is here to help.
There are many ways to give back, and our staff will take time to learn about your charitable interests and discuss options for how you can make a meaningful impact in the community, supporting the causes you hold close to your heart.
We encourage you to give back during this time of holiday cheer, gift giving, and celebrations as a special way to support our neighbors in need.
Call our office at 724-437-8600 to wrap up 2025 with a bow of charitable giving!
Ways to Donate: Check; Online Credit/Debit Card; Legacy Gift (Join the PA Giving Pledge!); Charitable IRA; Stock Transfer. To learn more, call our office at 724-437-8600.
Click here to donate to CFFC’s Building a Stronger Fayette Fund. This endowment awards grants to Fayette County nonprofits, addressing a variety of community needs — now and into the future. Your contribution will help to build a stronger Fayette County.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 12, 2025 | CFFC News
The sixth annual Fayette Gives, held on November 6, 2025, raised $531,613 for 108 local charities. Hosted by the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC), the goal of Fayette Gives is to engage the community in philanthropy and support local charities. The fundraising marathon highlights the work of Fayette County charities and provides a one-stop-shop for charitable giving.
During the 12-hour “day of giving” on November 6, the Fayette Gives website accepted online donations, displayed live results and leaderboards, and hosted hourly cash prize opportunities for charities. Check donations were also accepted ahead of Fayette Gives day, starting in September, and donations received after November 6 have been added to the total. This year, 892 donors contributed through the campaign.
A celebration event was held on December 4 at the foundation office. In attendance were representatives from participating charities, sponsors, and local elected officials.
“The foundation is grateful to everyone who generously donated,” said Jessica Hajek-Bates, CFFC Chief Executive Officer. “We know the charities will put their fundraising dollars to good use, helping to address community needs across Fayette County.”
Fundraising dollars must be used to benefit Fayette County but are otherwise unrestricted for charities’ use.
Fayette Gives has raised a grand total of $3.1 million in six years. “It’s amazing to see the impact of collective charitable giving – that’s what the foundation is all about,” said Hajek-Bates.
$50,000 in cash prizes were distributed, thanks to sponsors. Community Sponsors: Charity Fund; Swimmer Family. Generosity Sponsors: COE Distributing; Nemacolin; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing. Humanity Sponsors: Columbia Gas/NiSource Charitable Foundation; 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.
Visit www.fayettegives.org to learn more and view results.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Dec 9, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County is growing, and we are recruiting a caring, relationship-driven leader to become our first Director of Development.
At the foundation, we believe in the power of community. This role is about more than fundraising — it is about building trust, nurturing partnerships, and helping the Fayette County community come together to nurture positive impact.
Our Director of Development will:
- Connect with donors and partners who care deeply about Fayette County
- Celebrate generosity and inspire others to give back
- Help shape a stronger future for Fayette County residents and nonprofits
If you are passionate about people and believe in the strength of community, we welcome your application.
Please see more details in the job posting here.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 25, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Tammy Barnhart admired the perfect match of a baby blue blouse with a beige and blue plaid blazer that a woman selected from the racks. Reading that, you might picture a department store, but this shopping experience did not involve a trip to the mall or any price tags – it was on wheels and free of charge. Barnhart is the Mobile Services Coordinator for Dress for Success Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that helps unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence by providing no-fee programs, development tools, and professional attire to thrive in work and in life.
“Of the 4,000 women we served last year, 2,500 were from the mobile units,” said Tanya Vokes, Dress for Success Pittsburgh’s Chief Executive Officer. Their three mobile units bring professional clothing, accessories, and hygiene products to women across the region.
In Fayette County, they partner with community organizations, such as Good Works Life Recovery House, Brownsville Free Public Library, and Legacy of Hope Center, to get referrals for clients and to bring their van to locations on a recurring basis. Though Dress for Success no longer has an office in Uniontown, the mobile services that they started in 2019 continue to help local women. Vokes says they plan ahead for their mobile services, stocking the racks on the van with clothing that fits the needs and the sizes of the women they will be meeting.
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded a Building a Stronger Fayette Fund grant this spring to support mobile services to Fayette County.
Renee Couser, Tammy Barnhart, and Tanya Vokes in front of the mobile services unit.
“A suit, a dress, or scrubs is more than just an outfit — having appropriate attire for a job or an interview can be crucial. Dress for Success is helping women with this important step in employment readiness, and they’re making great connections along the way,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Dress for Success Pittsburgh notes that at least 96% of their clients are considered low-to-moderate income and approximately 40% rely on public transportation. Bringing services directly to community centers helps address these barriers as women are taking the next step in their career journey.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 19, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 13, 2025 in partnership with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. This commemorated the foundation’s purchase and relocation to 250 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401.
Casey Leonard, Michael George, CJ Callahan, Ron Gabriel, David Hughes, Renee Couser, Jessica Hajek-Bates, Jim Higinbotham, Larry Kiefer, Terry Burden, Josh Ellsworth, Ed Balling
This strategic move, funded through the foundation’s operating reserve, marks a significant milestone in CFFC’s evolution. Until now, CFFC has operated out of leased spaces, most recently at 5 South Mt. Vernon Avenue in Uniontown. The new facility offers a substantial increase in square footage, allowing for expanded staffing and more opportunities to host events and presentations on-site. The first floor features a large conference room area with mobile desks and chairs, a kitchen, multiple restrooms, three offices, and two additional work stations. The lower level has a large office and storage rooms. The foundation requests that you park in the lot at the rear of the building and enter through the back door when visiting the office.
The large conference room enables CFFC to host events and convenings on-site.
Before the ribbon cutting, guests gathered at the front of the building for special remarks.
Muriel Nuttall, Fayette Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, welcomed everyone and highlighted that this milestone sparks a renewed energy and increased visibility to the foundation’s work as they continue in their mission. Local elected officials also shared remarks about the foundation’s philanthropic work and the excitement of seeing the organization grow. Remarks were shared by Senator Pat Stefano, Debbie Hoone from the office of Representative Charity Grimm Krupa, County Commissioner Scott Dunn, County Commissioner Vince Vicites, and County Commissioner Dutch Kaufman.
Debbie Hoone, Senator Pat Stefano, Commissioner Dutch Kaufman, Ron Gabriel, Renee Couser, Jessica Hajek-Bates, Commissioner Vince Vicites, Commissioner Scott Dunn
Renee Couser, CFFC retiring Executive Director, shared that the 250 West Main Street purchase and relocation helps to achieve the three goals of the foundation’s strategic plan: growth and impact; awareness and engagement; organization and operations. “This facility gives the foundation the infrastructure to grow, the visibility to engage our community more effectively, and the operational foundation it needs to succeed,” said Couser.
Jessica Hajek-Bates, CFFC Chief Executive Officer, said, “This ribbon cutting is not just about a building; it’s about opening doors to new opportunities, partnerships, and a stronger Fayette County.” She recognized the efforts of the foundation board members and staff to make this milestone possible, and she thanked Fairchance Construction Company for their support throughout the building’s renovation.
Ron Gabriel, Chair of the CFFC Board of Directors, also shared gratitude to the late Robert and Elouise Eberly, whose investment in the foundation decades ago made the purchase and renovation of the building possible. He credited Renee Couser for encouraging the vision of the foundation having its own home in this building. Gabriel underscored the importance of this new location being a home for not just the foundation board and staff, but also the community, with new opportunities for growth, impact, and inclusion with on-site events and programs.
Board members in attendance joined Couser and Hajek-Bates for the ribbon cutting, followed by refreshments and mingling throughout the new office.
Customized hats were created at the Stahls hat bar to showcase CFFC’s new logo
Stahls’ provided a “hat bar” with a selection of baseball hats, CFFC logo patches, and additional fun patches that guests picked and saw come to life as their customized hat was heat pressed and presented to them. With CFFC’s recent launch of a new logo, this special experience helped kick off CFFC’s new branding efforts to increase visibility of the foundation throughout Fayette County.
The foundation’s mission is to build a stronger Fayette County by inspiring charitable giving, supporting nonprofits, and nurturing positive community impact. “To scale that impact and meet our goals, we need space to grow and a strong identity that reflects our mission, vision, and values,” said Gabriel.
To learn more about the foundation’s philanthropy and how you can get involved, call our office at 724-437-8600.