by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 2, 2025 | CFFC News
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.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 10, 2025 | CFFC News
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.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jun 2, 2025 | CFFC News
The sixth annual Fayette Gives “day of giving” will take place on November 6, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. During this fundraising marathon, participating charities receive donations from the public to support their services in Fayette County. Charities that wish to participate must register online at www.fayettegives.org by August 29.
To participate, charities must be a 501c3 nonprofit, must not be a private foundation, must be located in or providing services in Fayette County, and must file an annual 990.
Fayette Gives is hosted by the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) in an effort to build a stronger Fayette County by supporting local charities and engaging the community in philanthropy. In its first five years, Fayette Gives has raised over $2.5 million for more than one hundred (100) Fayette County charities.
“This is a one-stop-shop for charitable giving. We want to make it easy for everyone to give back and support the good work of our amazing Fayette County charities,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Each participating charity will have a profile on the website, where the public can learn more about their mission and how they impact the community. Starting in early September (exact date TBD), CFFC will accept check donations, IRA contributions, and donor advised fund donations. Online donations will be available for a 12-hour period on November 6 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org. Cash prizes will be awarded each hour during Fayette Gives day, to incentivize donations and boost fundraising.
“Fayette Gives offers a tremendous opportunity for nonprofits, businesses, and individuals to see a more complete picture of the amazing services that are available to Fayette County,” said Paula Millsaps, Founding Director/President of Joel 2 Missions.
“Fayette Gives provides us with non-restricted funding that we can use on anything we need for our initiatives in the County,” said Laurel Ross, Planner/Grant Writer of Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette.
CFFC is accepting sponsorship for Fayette Gives. Please direct questions to Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator at rebecca@cffayettepa.org or 724-437-8600 x203.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 27, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program offers tuition assistance for Pre-Kindergarten and K-12. Tuition assistance is available to Fayette County, PA students attending a participating private school. Please contact your school administrator to inquire about the school’s participation in this EITC Program.
To apply for this tuition assistance, you must contact your school administrator to obtain an EITC Tuition Assistance Application, which are available now.
Submit your completed application to CFFC, 5 South Mt. Vernon Ave., Uniontown, PA 15401. All applications must be post-marked on or before July 31, 2025.
Families who will receive tuition assistance are typically notified in October.
We are grateful for the generosity of our Pennsylvania business partners. For more information on how your business can receive tax credits and participate in this program, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) website.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 22, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has selected eleven (11) projects for spring grant awards. The Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, CFFC’s general grantmaking fund, awarded $25,000. Four field of interest funds, which support specific areas of focus, awarded $11,603.
“The foundation is able to support a variety of organizations and causes, thanks to generous donors. Each of the awarded nonprofits is serving the community in a meaningful way, and we look forward to sharing more details about these projects in the coming months,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Participants and staff members at the Fayette County Community Action Agency’s Senior Center
Building a Stronger Fayette Fund: supporting projects/programming or nonprofit capacity building
These awards are made with combined funding from the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund; Fayette County Charities Endowment; Franklin K. and Jean Smith Family Fund; GIVE Fayette County; Levi Komarinski Memorial Fund; Thompson Fund.
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA – Legal Advocacy Equipment
Dress for Success Pittsburgh – Employment Readiness
Fayette County Community Action Agency – Senior Activity Center
Fayette Friends of Animals – Spay/Neuter/Vaccine Clinics
Mary House, Inc. – Confidence in Dentistry Care
The Salvation Army – Uniontown Corps – Feeding Program Enhancements
Touchstone Center for Crats – Staff Expansion Equipment
Renee Couser, Tammy Barnhart, and Tanya Vokes with the Dress for Success mobile unit
Photo courtesy of FFOA: Luke Szymanski, Keeley Forrestel, Amanda Mehalic, and Rebecca Wardle outside of the Fayette Friends of Animal shelter
Burchinal Family Endowment Fund: supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents
Wesley Health Center, Inc. – Health Services
Marilyn Weaver and Renee Couser at Wesley Health Center
Community Beautification Fund: supports landscape improvements (including but not limited to planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers) for community beautification projects
Borough of Dunbar – Flowers for Dunbar & Honor Roll
Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund: supports organizations that provide transportation for Fayette County senior citizens
Crosskeys Human Services, Inc. – Transportation for Elderly Meals
Photo courtesy of Crosskeys Human Services: Bernie, a volunteer for Crosskeys’ meal delivery program
Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund: supports projects and programs in the areas of community gardens and/or science/environmental education
Crosskeys Human Services, Inc. – Park and Garden Area
To learn more about the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s grants, visit the Building a Stronger Fayette page.