The Herald-Standard covered the CFFC’s Spring 2019 Grants Presentation in the June 13, 2019 paper. We are happy to have the word spread about our grantmaking program!
Read the full article here: CFFC and Chevron present $51,000 in spring grants to area non-profits
It’s not too late! Join the fundraising competition to compete for the winning title and to help support causes you care about. Anyone can participate and make a difference in their community!
The Fayette Philanthropy Project features a competition between individuals, teams or non-profit organizations to raise the most money for one of the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) existing funds or to create a new fund of your own for a charitable purpose. The fundraising competition runs until September 30, 2019.
To register for the competition, please complete the following: 2019 Fayette Philanthropy Project Participant Form or contact Renee M. Couser at 724-437-8600 x1.
City Mission – Living Stones, Inc. helps about 500 homeless men, women and children annually, working step-by-step to help people achieve self-sufficiency. The CFFC awarded City Mission a 2018 spring grant, and recently a 2019 spring grant, to support the Emergency Shelters. Their services include food, clothing, transportation, case management, resident management, utility and rental assistance and referrals to community agencies.
In March 2018, the government’s Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) that City Mission had utilized for 20+ years was eliminated in favor of permanent housing initiatives for the homeless. Irmi Gaut, Executive Director, said she continually looks for grant opportunities and is working with the Board, churches and community to help bridge the gap in funding.
Emergency Shelters provide time for individuals to gather documentation for permanent housing, find employment, address root causes of their homelessness and plan for long-term self-sufficiency. City Mission also provides transitional and permanent supportive housing and operates Home Again as a therapeutic residential facility and Promise House as an independent living program, both for youth.
The men’s emergency shelter and the women’s and children’s emergency shelter both have sleeping quarters, a shared kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room and laundry as well as an office and living quarters for staff. Shelter clients may stay for 30-60 days while they work with City Mission staff to find a job and plan for permanent housing.
Staff members Michelle Lindsey, Director of Youth Services, and Kelly Snyder, Emergency Shelter Supervisor, expressed the value of maintaining facilities’ security, cleanliness and good conditions to help City Mission clients feel safe, respected and motivated to be successful. Visit citymissionfayette.org for more information.
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) honored over 90 scholarship recipients and their donors at the 7th Annual Scholarship Mixer held on Tuesday, May 21st at Marilyn’s on Main. The event provided an opportunity for students and donors to meet one another to share congratulations and gratitude.
“Since 2009, the CFFC has awarded more than $1,465,000 in post-secondary scholarships to local students. We are thankful for the many donors that have assisted these outstanding students with the rising costs associated with their continuing education,” said Renee M. Couser, the CFFC Executive Director.
Scholarship funds are created in honor or memory of a loved one, to support certain career paths or to simply give back to the community. The 47 scholarship funds that made awards this year have a variety of criteria for students with academic achievement, community service, financial need, extracurricular participation, area of study or school preference.
Through the CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to Higher Education Program, qualifying students will have the opportunity to have their scholarship awards matched by the state.
Thank you to the donors who support students through these generous scholarships, and congratulations to the selected student recipients. If you are interested in starting a scholarship fund with the CFFC, please contact Renee M. Couser at 724-437-8600.