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The March 18, 2019 Newsletter includes a Scholarship Spotlight, a reminder about the March 22nd Scholarship deadline, and a Building a Stronger Fayette feature of the State Theatre. Read more: https://t.co/u5a89gDvzw
The Community Foundation of Fayette County and the Chevron Community Fund awarded the State Theatre grants in spring 2018 to support Summer at the State. Over 3,000 people experienced the magic of Tinkerbell and the sound of 76 trombones at the productions of “Peter Pan” and “The Music Man.”
Since 1989 the State Theatre, and the overarching Greater Uniontown Heritage Consortium, has encouraged tourism and economic development of Fayette County and the surrounding areas through artistic enrichment. Summer at the State provides an opportunity for Western Pennsylvania residents to experience live, professional-level theatre performances at an affordable cost.
Erica Miller, Executive Director of the State Theatre, says, “The arts have always been an important means to express ideas, to build common ground, and to cultivate appreciation for the human condition. Our great hope is that through these productions, we can culturally benefit our community and its individuals.”
In addition to providing entertainment for the audience members, Summer at the State provides opportunities for local actors, musicians, volunteers and crew members to participate. The State Theatre specifically chooses productions that have large casts and popular titles to draw interest and encourage a high level of community involvement.
Summer at the State also hosted two educational summer camps for the first time in 2018, each a week long, to teach and inspire children about the performing arts. John Wagner III, Founder & Artistic Director of Summer at the State, hosts Musical Theatre Labs in months leading up to Summer at the State to encourage people to learn about the arts and feel more comfortable getting involved. The State Theatre provides a variety of opportunities for people to learn, enjoy and showcase the arts in a beautiful venue.
Visit statetheatre.info to learn more about the State Theatre and their upcoming shows.
Photos, in order, from productions of Peter Pan, The Music Man, Annie, Gyspy Act and Chicago. All photos were provided by the State Theatre Center for the Arts.
The CFFC wants to raise awareness and help foster the success of non-profit organizations that are making a difference in Fayette County. Visit our new website page called “Building a Stronger Fayette” to learn about those that have received grants from the CFFC to support their work. We hope to familiarize residents with local non-profits and the programs/projects that are helping impact our communities in a positive way.
Previews:
180 Degree About Face: “The overall goal of the re-entry program is to help reduce the rate of recidivism among female offenders by offering temporary housing and support to women who have been incarcerated, drug addicted or looking to turn their lives away from a negative situation.”
Dress for Success: “Women come to the Fayette branch of Dress for Success for all kinds of clothing for interviews, employment and training programs… Many times, women are forced to delay the start of a job because they don’t have the funds to purchase proper attire or safety shoes.”
Doing the Most Good
On February 15, 2018, a destructive and powerful storm caused both tornadic and flooding activity in Fayette County. According to Red Cross assessments as of February 28, 2018, a staggering 616 properties sustained damage, and 25 properties have been destroyed. The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) was on the scene since February 17, 2018 at the Holiday Inn Express Uniontown hotel, where emergency shelter and feeding were ongoing. The homes of twenty-three families from a local low-income housing development were heavily damaged from the storm.
The Salvation Army’s Uniontown Center also served victims by providing twenty-five clean-up kits and 400 units of cleaning supplies for homes, food and beverages and personal hygiene items. During a MARC (Multi Agency Resource Center) set up on February 26 and February 27, the Salvation Army depleted their entire stock of gift cards – giving 100 households a $100 gift card each. Many more families signed up for the gift card waiting list, hoping that more would become available.
In the spring of 2018, the Community Foundation of Fayette County awarded the Salvation Army’s Uniontown Center with a grant to assist with funding. With the grant, the Salvation Army provided 848 meals, 200 gift cards, 1,264 flood clean-up kits, 130 hygiene kits, six blankets and 538 bottles of water to the flood victims.
“The Salvation Army is always willing to assist in every situation, no matter how big or small. We do not have administrative costs. Every penny goes to a service or needy person. It goes to the cause,” said Major Deborah Weigner. Major Weigner and her husband Major Henry Weigner manage the Uniontown Center.
To learn more about the Salvation Army’s Uniontown Center, visit www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn.
Serving all regardless of religious affiliation, at their time of great need
Catholic Charities – Greene County Outreach offers counseling sessions for individuals, couples, and families, based on a sliding fee scale. Their counseling services include Co-Parenting and Trans-Parenting sessions for divorced and separating parents who wish to learn to communicate and collaborate better as they raise their children.
The Catholic Charities – Greene County Outreach heard about the Community Foundation of Fayette County from Bettie Stammerjohn of the Community Foundation of Greene County. They were awarded a grant from CFFC in the spring of 2018.
“The grant funded professional counseling. The deductible and co-pays were so burdensome that they did not seek counseling. So, the grant helped fund people who would not seek therapy due to funding,” said Gary Yaquinto, Director, Greene County Outreach.
The overall goal was to serve approximately 40 clients a total of roughly 200 face-to-face counseling and psychoeducational sessions.
“The services provided by this project were critical to improving client functioning, promoting self-sufficiency, and reducing barriers to good mental and emotion health for Greene County residents in need,” added Gary.
To learn more about Catholic Charities, visit www.ccpgh.org.