Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director, is spotlighted in the Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania quarterly newsletter!
Read the spotlight here:
 https://gwpa.my.canva.site/q2-2025-all-member-spotlight…
Grantmakers of Western PAÂ supports the philanthropic sector by offering resources, networking opportunities, and information to help improve the effectiveness and impact of charitable giving.
photo courtesy of Albert Gallatin Area School District
“The Drone Coding Curriculum is tailored for students in grades six through eight and gives students hands-on experiences building, programming, and flying real drones,” explained Jacob Magerko, STEM Teacher at Albert Gallatin South Middle School.
Students work together and use block coding to program a drone to take off, navigate through the air, and land safely at a desired destination. Magerko noted that this drone project gives students “a jolt of excitement” since there is immediate feedback when they complete their code and run it through the drone. Students get results or error messages instantly after executing code, which provides a unique hands-on and real-time learning experience.
photo courtesy of Albert Gallatin Area School District
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s Idea Fund awarded a grant for this project in 2023. “The Idea Fund was created by a donor who wanted to help teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
In addition to enhancing classroom learning, Magerko said that the drone coding project has also “exposed students to a variety of careers that are associated with drones, that they did not previously know existed.”
Because of generous donors, Fayette County school districts and local students are able to receive support through various grant opportunities. You can help strengthen education and career readiness too! Call our office at 724-437-8600 x1 to learn more.
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is awarding a total of $75,000 in Catalyst for Change Grants to two collaborative, county-wide projects. The Fayette County My Preparedness Initiative teaches high schoolers FEMA emergency preparedness, CPR, First Aid, and Stop the Bleed, and the program helps them explore public safety careers. The Fayette Integrated Care Team project will provide treatment for individuals with co-occurring disorders of mental health and substance use. CFFC’s board of directors chose these two projects to address important community needs.
Proceeds from CFFC’s annual Gala of Giving fund the Catalyst for Change Grants, which are intended to make significant impact in Fayette County. These recent awards bring the grand total of Catalyst for Change Grants to $175,000.
Jennifer Deichert, 4-H Educator
The Fayette County My Preparedness Initiative is a collaboration among Fayette County 4-H, Penn State Fayette, Outreach and Continuing Education, Fayette County Firefighters Association, Inc., Fayette Business Education Partnership, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, and more. The Catalyst for Change Grant will provide $44,000 towards the launch of this program in Connellsville Area High School and Laurel Highlands High School, with hopes to expand the program to other schools in the future.
“During these programs, youth participate in hands-on learning experiences designed to teach them how to plan and prepare for natural disasters, respond to medical emergencies with basic first aid and CPR, and connect with both professional and volunteer First Responders in their communities, creating pathways to future career and volunteer opportunities,” said Jennifer Deichert, 4-H Educator.
Kelly Harwood, Director of Outpatient and Crisis Services at Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc.
The Fayette Integrated Care Team is a collaboration between Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc. and Fayette County Drug & Alcohol Commission, Inc. to provide new treatment opportunities for individuals with dual diagnosis, also known as co-occurring disorders, related to mental health and substance abuse. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 9.2% of Fayette County adults experience co-occurring disorders compared to 8.4% in the United States. The $30,900 Catalyst for Change Grant will enable them to purchase tele-health equipment that is needed to start the program and provide accessible therapy, professional clinical supervision, and monthly consultations.
Last year’s Catalyst for Change Grant supported the Infant and Child Safety Program at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital, in collaboration with Head Start of Fayette County, providing convertible car seats and car seat training to patients who give birth at the hospital. The prior year’s award supported the launch of Main Street Theatre Company’s “ENCORE!”, a Fayette County high school musical showcase in collaboration with the State Theatre Center for the Arts and Fayette County Cultural Trust.
The next Gala of Giving event is scheduled for April 25, 2026 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. “Thank you to everyone who has supported the Gala of Giving the past four years. We look forward to raising more money for bigger and bolder grants that will impact the county,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Each charity* that participates in one or more of these three trainings will receive a $50 cash prize on Fayette Gives day. These 30-minute trainings will be held via Zoom. You will register for each webinar separately. Multiple representatives from your charity are encouraged to participate in these trainings — each must register for the webinar to receive the Zoom meeting link via email.
June 24 at 2:00 p.m.
Registration and Accessing Your Account
Click here to sign up for the June 24 webinar!
July 22 at 2:00 p.m.
Profile Completion and Promoting Fayette Gives
Click here to sign up for the July 22 webinar!
August 26 at 2:00 p.m.
Prizes and Payout
Click here to sign up for the August 26 webinar!
*Limit one prize per charity. Charity must register, meet eligibility requirements, and be a participating charity for Fayette Gives 2025.