by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 18, 2022 | CFFC News, Grants
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) hosted the Spring 2022 Grants Presentation on May 17, 2022 at the Connellsville Canteen and announced $36,333 in grant awards. The fifteen (15) selected nonprofits received their grant check and spoke about their awarded project or program. From healthcare and environmental science to musicals and food assistance, CFFC is proud to fund a variety of community needs through these grant awards – thanks to the generosity of donors who create and support these charitable funds.
Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director, welcomed the group and highlighted the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, an endowment that CFFC created in 2020 to provide general grantmaking in perpetuity. EQT Foundation is one of the supporters of the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, donating $15,000 in 2021. Ellen Rossi, EQT Foundation President, spoke to the group about EQT’s presence in the region and their engagement with Fayette County.
To learn more about CFFC’s grantmaking program to or donate, visit www.cffayettepa.org.
Building a Stronger Fayette Grants
Support arts and culture; education; community and economic development; health and human services; and other areas of interest. These awards are made with the combined funding from: Building a Stronger Fayette Fund; Fayette County Charities Endowment; Franklin K. and Jean Smith Family Fund; Thompson Fund.
- Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Center: GrandFamily Program
- CASA of Fayette County: Operating – Software
- Christian Church of Connellsville: Community Lunch Program – Lunches Plus
- Christian Layman Corps.: Fayette County Emergency Beds Program
- Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center: Junior Firefighter Boot Camp
- State Theatre Center for the Arts: Summer at the State 2022
- The Salvation Army: Sally’s Café Household & Hygiene Pantry
- Uniontown Public Library: 2022 Summer Quest Program
Burchinal Family Endowment Fund
Supports charities that provide health and medical care for Fayette County residents.
- Fayette Emergency Medical Service: PPE Gloves
- Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc.: Breastfeeding Support in Fayette County
- Ohiopyle-Stewart Volunteer Fire Company: AED and Enhanced Medical Response
Community Beautification Fund
Supports landscape improvements (including but not limited to planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers) for community beautification projects.
- Fayette County Cultural Trust: Downtown Connellsville Beautification Project 2022
Mary and John J. Depcrymski Memorial Fund
Supports organizations that provide transportation for Fayette County senior citizens.
- Lafayette Manor: Senior Transportation
Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund
Supports projects and programs in the areas of community gardens and/or science/environmental education.
- Great Meadows Garden Club: Blue Star Memorial – Landscape Renovation & Maintenance
- Mountain Watershed Association: Ecology Education & Outreach in the Yough River Watershed
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 6, 2022 | Building a Stronger Fayette, Grants
Jacobs Creek Watershed Association (JCWA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of natural resources, rehabilitation of the creek and watershed, environmental education and recreation. They partner with the Fayette County Conservation District to host STEM and Science-based programs in summer: Tot Time for children ages 2-5 and Nature Explorers Camp for children ages 6-9. The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded a grant to support the 2021 Tot Time and Nature Explorers Camp.
Photos submitted by JCWA
JCWA staff coordinated exciting and informative stories, crafts, and games around the theme of “Habitats Surround Us” for the four-week program. Topics included forest/trees, grass/meadows, wetlands, and water. In light of the pandemic, JCWA provided themed kits for families registered in the watershed. The kits had sub-sections for each week with materials to perform each activity, written instructions, and instructional videos. Some used the kits for a family night and sent photos of the activities in action.
The goal of Tot Time and Nature Explorers Camp is to introduce basic ecology and environmental science to preschool/elementary school children. “Thanks to the support of CFFC, Jacobs Creek Watershed Association was able to continue our mission and provide easily accessible and affordable STEM opportunities to our watershed community in 2021,” said Denise Wilkins, JCWA Executive Director. JCWA is happy to resume in-person programs at Greenlick Lake for 2022.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 12, 2022 | Building a Stronger Fayette, Grants
Renee Couser, CFFC Executive Director; Randy Miller, LHSD Director of Curriculum & Instruction; Dr. Jesse Wallace III, LHSD Superintendent
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded $12,855 to Laurel Highlands School District (LHSD) from the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund in 2021. Teachers submitted requests to purchase reusable items to enhance their classrooms, and five projects were selected for grant awards.
April marks World Autism Month, and two of the awarded projects provided items to support students with autism throughout the whole year, and for years to come. With a grant for their autistic support/life skills sensory room, Marshall Elementary purchased a bubble fountain, light projections, chairs and cushions that enable movement for students, and more. “A sensory room helps students to develop their visual, auditory, and tactile processing as well as fine and gross motor skills,” explained Patricia Spurlin, an autistic support teacher at Marshall Elementary.
A student in motion in the sensory room (submitted by Patricia Spurlin)
“In the past six years, I’ve raised over $8,000 for our sensory room,” said Spurlin. She has run t-shirt drives and “penny wars”, a competition between homerooms to collect pennies in a jar for prizes – but these fundraisers were paused during the pandemic the past two years. An additional sensory room was added at Marshall Elementary, and the reusable items purchased through this grant will also benefit students who use the space for physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions. “Sensory rooms help to teach students with autism and other behavioral deficits to challenge their bodies in a way that helps them achieve success in the classroom. These students all deserve a chance to be independent, self-functioning members of our school population, and improving our sensory room is a great tool to help us help them succeed in that goal!” said Spurlin.
Hutchinson Elementary received a grant to purchase items like sensory water beads, activity books, an alphabet puzzle, and a squeeze and scoop ice cream set – all activities to help students with fine motor skills and sensory input. “In the past couple of years, the [Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund] grants have changed the lives of so many of my students and enhanced and improved my classroom beyond belief,” said Tia Wadworth, an autistic support teacher at Hutchinson Elementary.
LHMS reading teachers Kara Hixson and Jill John at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Inchy the Bookworm
CFFC’s Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund also enabled the purchase of a creative reading-related item at Laurel Highlands Middle School – Inchy the Bookworm. This book vending machine is part of the school’s PRIDE program (Positive, Respectful, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence). Students earn golden coins for their positive behaviors and can use their coins to select books from the vending machine. “We look forward to an increase in reading and positive behaviors in the near future. Inchy the Bookworm Vending Machine will be an asset to Laurel Highlands Middle School for years to come,” said Jill John, a reading teacher at LHMS.
Students using the flight simulator (submitted by MSgt. Daniel Cervone)
Turning to STEM education, Laurel Highlands Senior High School received a grant for a flight simulator for their Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program (AF JROTC). The simulator allows them to “fly” indoors when they are unable to use their drone outside, and it creates the effects of weather during takeoff, in flight, and landings. The flight simulator also shows different emergency situations and how the pilot must react quickly and calmly. “Since placing the simulator into our classroom, the students have been able to fly multiple aircrafts and see how they are all the same, but different at the same time…. Overall the students have definitely become more interested in our flight simulator/drone/rocket program,” said Master Sergeant Daniel Cervone.
Joy Frederick, a 4th grade math, science, and social studies teacher at Marshall Elementary, used grant funds for a variety of educational games. “I love how games excite a student to learn, and how they think they are playing but they are learning,” said Frederick. Purchased items include math flash cards, multiplication dominoes, states geography board game, a time-telling clock, and more to support the Common Core Standards she teaches.
CFFC is proud to support a variety of educational topics, and the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is a great example building a stronger Fayette through charitable giving. “We created this annual grant program to help bring innovative and interesting new teaching tools into the classrooms at Laurel Highlands and Uniontown schools,” said Ron Gabriel, creator of the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund. Teachers, school counselors, and administrators at Laurel Highlands School District and Uniontown Area School District are encouraged to apply for this funding opportunity during CFFC’s annual fall grant cycle.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 7, 2022 | CFFC News, Gala of Giving, News Releases
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) thanks everyone who attended and supported the inaugural Gala of Giving – “Catalyst for Change” on March 26, 2022 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. It was a fabulous evening, and the ballroom was full of enthusiasm.
“It’s clear that the mission of this event has resonated with people… we all want to see a bigger change, a bolder impact, and a better Fayette County,” said Dan Gearing, Gala of Giving Chair.
The generous support of event sponsors, auction item donations, program ads, individual ticket purchases, and volunteers made this event possible. And the support continued throughout the entire evening. Guests bid on a wide variety of silent and live auction items… from high-end jewelry, golf foursomes, and wine… to tropical get-aways, sports memorabilia, and arts and entertainment tickets.
J.D. Ewing, CFFC Board Chair, addressed the ballroom, saying in part: “We’re proud of [CFFC’s] impact in the community, and we know there’s a lot more work that needs to be done to help Fayette County reach its full potential. The Gala of Giving is our new effort to spark change and growth on a higher level – on a bigger scale – than ever before. The foundation wants to invest in projects that will make a significant change, and we know it takes time, money, and partnerships to make that possible.”
In the spirit of partnership, Gala of Giving guests were asked to complete a feedback card to list what they believe to be the top three challenges that Fayette County faces. CFFC will review the responses and use them as a guide for selecting an initiative to fund, in the goal of being a “catalyst for change” in Fayette County.
CFFC extends a sincere thank-you to everyone who made it possible to raise over $280,000 for the inaugural Gala of Giving! Guests have already asked to reserve tickets for next year’s event, and we look forward to continuing this bold new effort to help Fayette County reach its full potential. Community members can join the effort by donating to the Gala of Giving Fund.
Special Thanks to our Generous Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors: COE Distributing; Ford Office Technologies; Gismondi Family Foundation; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing; Sprowls Insurance Group; Wells Fargo Advisors.
Gold Sponsors: 84 Lumber Company/Nemacolin; Fairchance Construction Company; Fayette Pipe Company; First National Bank; Arthur Gabriel; Joyce’s Jewelry; Mountain Creek Properties; Neubauer’s Flowers; Pine Hollow Mechanical, Inc.; Radcliffe Law, LLC; Joshua and Maria Swimmer; Stahls’; Stoney’s Brewing Company; Time Out Batting Cages; Janney Montgomery Scott LLC –Uniontown Office; United Bank; WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital.
Silver Sponsors: The Braun Family; Edward and Julie Capuzzi; First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County; Liberty Steel; McClure & Wolfe; Montgomery Medical; PNC; Somerset Trust Company; State Farm, Lauren Yohman; John and Lisa Sunyecz; Watson Mundorff LLP.
Bronze Sponsors: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield; Highlands Hospital; Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus; Unity Printing.
Patron Sponsors: Todd and Beth Casteel; Charlie and Renee Couser; DiMarco’s; Donald M. Miller Inc.; Mid Penn Bank; Zodiac Management Services, LLC.
Hospitality Sponsors: Reschini Agency; Sunbelt Marketing, Inc. Employee Sunshine Fund; Universal Steel Company.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Mar 18, 2022 | Building a Stronger Fayette
As spring approaches, we look forward to blooming begonias and varying vegetables in our gardens. Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. (FCCAA) supports multiple gardens here in Fayette County to involve community members in growing fresh produce. In 2021, the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded a Jack and Diane Hughes Family Fund grant to support FCCAA’s gardening efforts.
“Through our grant we were able to provide 60 gardeners with tools of their own to use while gardening, such as hand tillers, shovels, and gloves,” said FCCAA’s Rita Masi. They worked on raised beds in Uniontown, Lemont Furnace, and Connellsville.
FCCAA partners with organizations such as East End United Community Center, and provided materials and tools for a rain water collection barrel to be used at the gardens across the street from the Center. They also provided water hoses to some sites, adding to the necessary tools to keep these gardens going for multiple seasons.
“The experiences throughout the spring, summer and early fall were firsts for many of the participants and they are looking forward to the 2022 growing season. Many have shared their desire to return and help in these beds again,” said Masi. “But we feel the greatest accomplishment of this grant is the community-building and positive changes in mental health. The gentlemen who worked in the gardens [at FCCAA’s permanent housing sites] loved doing this and took such pride in their achievements,” she explained.
In addition to community garden projects, FCCAA addresses nutrition through the SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program, the Republic Food Enterprise Center (RFEC), the FCCAA Food Bank, and more. CFFC is happy to support organizations and programs, like these, that are building a stronger Fayette.
Photo submitted by FCCAA