by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 9, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Seniors in the Carpentry program at Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center (CACTC) were recognized on May 8 in a ceremony lead by Nick Farris, the Carpentry instructor. Farris introduced each student, shared their plans for after graduation, and gave insight to their personality and work ethic. After their bio, each student received a tool bag filled with equipment and a boxed circular saw. The Carpentry program was also presented with a grant award from the Sturge Hughes Memorial Fund.
The Sturge Hughes Memorial Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC), has awarded a grant to CACTC for nine years in a row to help build up the trade programs. The fund was created by Regina Hughes in honor of her late husband, Sturge, to continue his legacy in the community and in the carpentry industry. Previous grants have also supported the Masonry program at CACTC.
Jerry Matthews, retired CACTC Carpentry instructor, recalls Regina sitting down with him and asking “how can I help?” Her generosity has provided support for field trips, projects, tools, and other needs of the program.
Regina’s son, Jeff Butela, and grandson, Ryan Butela, spoke to the seniors about their careers as home builders — both in management and hands-on construction. They emphasized the value of trade skills, whether the students would pursue it as their primary career or keep it as another tool in their toolbox for the future (pun intended).
The Sturge Hughes Memorial Fund is a meaningful way for the family to honor Sturge and his dedication to helping young people learn, start a career, and grow in the carpentry field. Regina shares that same passion for mentoring the younger generation, which she applied during her career at a utility company and continues to do through her charitable giving.
Photo courtesy of CACTC: Ryan Butela, Nick Farris, Rebecca Wardle, Jeff Butela
“These Carpentry students are learning workforce-ready skills. Their projects building sheds, picnic tables, and benches are able to go straight out into the community, and the foundation is happy to facilitate support for that,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
CACTC provides thirteen (13) technical programs and academic courses. Part of the Connellsville Area School District, 9th and 10th graders can attend technical programs during morning or afternoon sessions, while 11th and 12th grade students can attend full-time. This year, there were eleven (11) seniors in the Carpentry program.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 19, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Renee M. Couser (CFFC Executive Director), Scott T. Lee (Foundation for Free Enterprise Education’s Vice President of Marketing & Development), John and Bernadette Ptak with a plaque recognizing the Ptak Family Fund as a “Student Champion” for PFEW
John and Bernadette Ptak say that the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) helped “connect the dots” for their charitable giving. The Ptak Family Fund was created in 2022, specifically to support Fayette County students attending the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education’s “PA Free Enterprise Week” (PFEW).
Mr. and Mrs. Ptak first met with Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director, in fall of 2021 to discuss the possibility of creating a charitable fund and how they’d like to help the community. The couple had years of experience owning and operating “Ptak’s”, a formal wear store in Uniontown that was established in 1924 by John’s grandfather, and Bernadette is also a retired school teacher. Throughout conversations about their backgrounds and charitable interests, education was a shining topic.
“The foundation has worked with the PFEW program in the past, and I thought it could be a great fit for the Ptaks, combining youth education and their background in small business,” said Couser.
photo courtesy of Foundation for Free Enterprise Education
PA Free Enterprise Week (PFEW) is a youth leadership program that educates high school students about the American free enterprise system, bringing together students and business people from throughout the state. Students gain perspective about what it takes to be successful in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, by simulating the operation of a company in a student team with the help of a business mentor. PFEW also features a Speaker Series and The Stock Market Game.
photo courtesy of Foundation for Free Enterprise Education
Over the past three years, the Ptak Family Fund has provided a total of $15,000 in registration reimbursement for Fayette County students who graduated from the week-long program. “We are so happy to be part of the PFEW program, which gives the youth of Fayette County a very positive experience of the business world,” said John and Bernadette Ptak.
“The community foundation is a matchmaker for charitable giving, so we’re always excited to learn about someone’s passions and provide options for how they can help others. Reading the thank-you letters from PFEW students, it’s clear that the Ptak Family Fund is supporting education in a special way, just like the donors aspire to do,” said Couser.
photo courtesy of Foundation for Free Enterprise Education
Quotes from Fayette County students who participated in PFEW 2024:
“I had so much fun making friends, learning about finance, and how to run a business…. I will always remember this experience that you have given me.” – Jenna from Geibel Catholic Junior Senior High School
“I had the opportunity to meet and network with business people from all over the state.” – Abagale from Albert Gallatin Area High School
“I learned about how business really works, experienced what it is like to live on a college campus, and overall, working as a team was my favorite part of PFEW.” – Mercedies from Connellsville Area High School
“Without your sponsorship, I would not have been able to attend PFEW, and my interest in pursuing a business degree might not have been sparked.” – Jacob from Albert Gallatin Area High School
“My finance team and I participated in 12 different quarters of actual business decisions while competing against other companies.” – Chris from Frazier High School
“The speakers were a major part of this week as well, and they taught me a lot.” – William from Laurel Highlands High School
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 22, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
All photos courtesy of Laurel Highlands High School
Students at Laurel Highlands High School have participated in seed planting, plant maintenance, aquaponics system monitoring, and data collection as part of an aquaponics plant nursery initiative called Sow, Grow, and Share. The initiative is organized by Andrea Sholtis, a Chemistry and Biology teacher at Laurel Highlands High School.
Sholtis said, “The Sow, Grow and Share initiative has significantly enhanced our aquaponics lab, transforming it into a dynamic hydroponics lab that now offers students the chance to cultivate plants for personal use. Across our five classes, an array of plants are flourishing, spanning from catnip for beloved pets to marigolds destined for home gardens.”
Aquaponics is a food production system that combines aquaculture (raising fish) and hydroponics (growing plants in water). The waste produced by the fish provides nutrients for the plants, and the plants help to clean the water for the fish, creating a closed-loop system.
This initiative at Laurel Highlands High School was awarded a grant from the Community Foundation of Fayette County in 2023, through the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund. The grant enabled the purchase of a 4-tier nursery and microgreen system, seedling trays, an LED 3-tier garden, plant pots, potting mix, and more.
“Embracing students of diverse abilities, from special needs to advanced placement, the initiative has fostered a shared joy in the art of planting and nurturing seeds. Particularly, students with special needs have thrived, establishing a daily routine centered around tending to their herb gardens, diligently watering and providing nutrients to their plants,” said Sholtis.
Students are experiencing hands-on learning through the Sow, Grow, and Share initiative and enhancing their understanding of sustainable agriculture, environmental science, and the aquaponics system’s role in food production.
“The foundation is happy to support engaging learning initiatives like this, through the generosity of our donors,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 8, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
More than 150 local students performed in the inaugural “ENCORE!” production on May 5, 2024 at the State Theatre. This program is the first of its kind in Fayette County, showcasing musicals from local high schools and bringing select students together for a special opening and closing number. Main Street Theatre Company produces ENCORE! and collaborates with State Theatre Center for the Arts for rehearsal and performance space. Students were recognized for music, theatre, and visual arts with the presentation of the Fayette County Cultural Trust‘s Achievement in the Arts awards.
Photo credit: Kelly Tunney/KGTunney Photography
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded its first-ever $50,000 Catalyst for Change Grant in the fall of 2023 to launch ENCORE!
Catalyst for Change Grants are made possible by the Gala of Giving event proceeds, an annual event that raises money for bigger and bolder funding projects in Fayette County.
Kelly Tunney/KGTunney Photography
“We were excited to award our first Catalyst for Change Grant for a project that includes people from all across the county and sparks economic growth by bringing people together for a special show in town,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
“This event truly unites our school students and communities, all while highlighting the talent we have here in Fayette County and underscoring the vital importance of arts education,” said John Wager, Artistic Director of Main Street Theatre Company.
ENCORE! engages student performers, local arts organizations, family members, friends, and people across – and beyond – the county. Students from seven local schools will participate in this year’s production on May 2, 2025.
Kelly Tunney/KGTunney Photography
“CFFC’s board of directors was happy to support the first year of ENCORE! and it’s clear that this county-wide program will make a meaningful impact each year,” said Couser.
To date, the foundation has hosted four Gala of Giving events and awarded two $50,000 Catalyst for Chang Grants, with a third grant award anticipated for the summer of 2025.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Mar 7, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
About 1,950 Fayette County students saw Galileo Galilei come to life on stage during an “edutainment” musical performance from the Pittsburgh CLO. “The Next Galileo” musical is part of the Pittsburgh CLO’s Gallery of Heroes series, which highlights the lives and accomplishments of significant historical figures through mini-musicals at local schools. A donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) brought the program to the Uniontown Area High School auditorium and covered transportation costs for the students.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
“We see students’ faces light up as they enter the auditorium and look around, clap at the end of songs, and raise their hands for a chance to ask the performers a question during the Q&A. When asked if this was anyone’s first time seeing a musical, a number of kids raised their hand,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
The performance followed a young student, Gabriella, as she journeys back in time to meet Galileo Galilei. Together, they experience the joy of scientific discovery and the importance of curiosity, from questioning Aristotle’s belief that the Earth was at the center of the universe to realizing that Galileo’s telescope could be used to see what was above Earth in the sky.
Students attended from Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Laurel Highlands, Uniontown, and St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School. Back in the classroom, teachers can use a guide provided by the Pittsburgh CLO to help students think about the themes and learnings from the performance.
This is the tenth year that Gallery of Heroes has come to the stage for Fayette County students, thanks to a generous donor at the community foundation who values bringing the arts to young people.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 16, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Photo courtesy of Mary House, Inc. – Sister Edie Strong (Financial Advisor), Malory Spring MSW (Director), Robin Kemp (Administrative Assistant) and Sister Annette Frey (Community Builder)
“The extra grants we have received in the last two years have made such a difference to our staff and to the women we serve. To have up-to-date equipment these days is such a necessity and can make us so much more productive!” said Sr. Annette Frey.
Sr. Annette Frey is referring to capacity building grants that the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded to Mary House, Inc. from the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund. Mary House, Inc. purchased a variety of computer equipment with the grants.
Photo courtesy of Mary House, Inc.
Mary House, Inc. provides a transitional residence for women who are homeless, have limited needs, or may struggle with mental health or substance use. The nonprofit was started with the collaboration of Roy Sarver, from Saint Vincent de Paul, and Father Bill Kiel and the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill. Now, eight years after the initial opening of Mary House, the staff has grown and continues to provide a safe and secure environment to help the women through recovery and towards independence.
The foundation’s 2023 grant lined up well with the hiring of their administrative assistant, providing a computer for her, and the 2024 change in leadership from Sr. Annette to Malory Spring as the director.
“Computer equipment and systems are a ‘must’ for the day-to-day operations of an organization, so the foundation was happy to award these grants to strengthen Mary House’s capacity to do the good work that they do,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
The equipment is also used by the residents. “Our residents are very happy with their ability to use an up-to-date computer for all the forms they must fill out as well as attend AA/NA meetings by zoom when unable to find a ride to their daily meeting,” explained Sr. Annette.
Aside from grant awards, Mary House, Inc. is involved with CFFC through their five-year participation in Fayette Gives. They have fundraised over $93,000 through the “day of giving”.
CFFC is happy to support nonprofits like Mary House, Inc. through various efforts, thanks to the generosity of everyone who joins in charitable giving.