by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 1, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s 5th annual Fayette Gives “day of giving” will take place on Thursday, November 7th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org!
By hosting Fayette Gives, the Community Foundation of Fayette County aims to build a stronger Fayette County by supporting local charities and engaging the community in philanthropy. In the first four years of Fayette Gives, the community has raised over $2 million to support local charities. This year, there are 96 local charities participating in Fayette Gives to raise money for the good work that they do across Fayette County. All money raised will be used to benefit Fayette County.
As a special incentive, over $50,000 in cash prizes are available for charities to win throughout Fayette Gives day. Thanks to the Fayette Gives sponsors, this extra pot of money will boost the fundraising for charities and engage donors for different prizes each hour. Prizes and prize rules are listed on the website.
Community Sponsors: Charity Fund; Swimmer Family
Generosity Sponsors: COE Distributing; Nemacolin; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing
Humanity Sponsors: NiSource Charitable Foundation/Columbia Gas; First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County; Montgomery Medical; Uniontown Walmart Supercenter; Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network – Highlands Wealth Management; WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital
Visit www.fayettegives.org to learn more about the 96 participating charities and how they make a positive impact in our community. You can search for charities by name, location, or cause. To learn more about a charity, click on their name to view their profile.
Online donations will be available on Thursday, November 7th from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org. Donors will add charities to their “Gift Basket”, select donation amounts ($25 minimum), and complete their payment. Once submitted, donation receipts will be sent by email.
Throughout Fayette Gives on November 7th, the website will display live results and leaderboards. A new addition this year is the “Donor Wall”, which will display recent donations (if the donor chooses to share their name and donation amount). The charity prize winners will also be displayed on the website throughout November 7th.
“Fayette Gives has been a great way for the foundation to facilitate charitable giving. You can donate to multiple charities, all in one place – all in one day. It’s an impactful day for the county and for the wonderful charities that work so hard to help others,” said Angela Braun, DC, CFFC Board Chair.
The Community Foundation of Fayette County has been accepting “offline donations” since early October. These donation methods include check, donor advised fund gifts, charitable IRA distributions, and stock transfers. Offline donations require a Check Contribution Form to designate their selected charities and donation amounts, and offline donations must be received at the foundation office by 8 p.m. on November 7th to be included for Fayette Gives. Click here to download the Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form.
Learn more in the Donor FAQs at www.fayettegives.org. We hope you all join us in building a stronger Fayette by supporting local charities through Fayette Gives on November 7th!
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 22, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is awarding a $50,000 Catalyst for Change Grant to WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital to support their Infant and Child Safety Program. The grant will be used to provide 358 convertible car seats and car seat training to new mothers at the hospital’s new Birthing Center, which will open in January 2025. This program will support expectant mothers, infants, and children in Fayette County.
Pictured from left to right: Bonnie Ryan, Karen Merryman, Beth Konick, Dawn Hunchuck-Piccolomini, Renee Couser, Carrie Willetts, Garnet Gordon, Meredith Aumer
This is CFFC’s second $50,000 Catalyst for Change Grant, following last year’s grant for “ENCORE!”, Main Street Theatre Company’s Fayette County high school musical showcase. These grants are funded through CFFC’s Gala of Giving ~ Catalyst for Change event proceeds.
“The foundation launched the Gala of Giving in 2022 to raise money for bigger and bolder grants. We know there is a need for healthcare services in the county, and we’re happy to support maternal and child welfare through this grant award,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital partners with Head Start of Fayette County for the Infant and Child Safety Program. Their partnership addresses critical transportation needs for prenatal and pediatrician appointments. Transportation is cited as a significant barrier for low-income mothers seeking high-quality healthcare resources, often resulting in missed appointments and inadequate prenatal and pediatric care. Head Start provides transportation for expectant mothers and children up to age four in their program, and WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital will provide convertible car seats and car seat installation/training to patients who give birth at the hospital.
“By integrating transportation assistance with the provision of convertible car seats, the program addresses a key barrier to healthcare access for low-income families in Fayette County,” said Bonnie Ryan, BSN RN, Manager of Patient Experience/Patient Advocate at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital. The hospital anticipates a reduction in appointment cancellations and an increase in routine wellness visits, testing, and adherence to immunization schedules.
The Catalyst for Change Grant will fund the purchase of 358 convertible car seats that will accommodate a child’s growth, up to 100 pounds. The grant also supports car seat technician classes for staff, enabling eight (8) staff members to educate parents and caregivers on how to properly use car seats.
CFFC will continue raising money for grants that can affect change and growth in Fayette County by hosting the fourth annual Gala of Giving ~ Catalyst for Change on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Fairchance Construction Company is the Presenting Sponsor.
The formal event features a cocktail hour, silent auction, dinner with a brief program and open bar, live auction, live music and dancing, and an after-party. CFFC is accepting sponsorships, ads, and auction items for the event. Individual tickets will be available in February. To learn more, visit cffayettepa.ejoinme.org/2025galaofgiving.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 5, 2024 | CFFC News
View CFFC’s mid-year letter below. Make sure to click to the second page to see the back of our flyer!
2024 Mid Year Flyer
The Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) 25 years of philanthropy would not be possible without the generosity and support of donors. Thanks to many individuals and businesses over the years, CFFC stewards nearly 200 charitable funds and has grown to over $24 million in assets. Each year, a percentage of these charitable assets is used to support nonprofits and local students, in an effort to build a stronger Fayette County.
Throughout the past 25 years, CFFC has granted over $15 million to the community.
This spring, over $22,000 in grants were awarded to nine local nonprofits. Grants supported a pregnancy medical center, a garden that will be used for educational sessions and a culinary program, transportation for meal deliveries to senior citizens, and plants for a park. The Building a Stronger Fayette Fund awarded “capacity building” grants to strengthen nonprofits’ sustainability and their efficiency in serving the community. This included funding for equipment, board training, and technology updates.
Will you help us build a stronger Fayette?
Please join us, by making an anniversary gift to our Building a Stronger Fayette Fund.
This endowment awards grants to local nonprofits each year, addressing a variety of community needs. Your donation will benefit Fayette County today, tomorrow, and forever.
Donate Now! Make checks payable to CFFC with “BASF Fund” on the memo line. For other giving options i.e. stocks, donor advised funds, IRAs, and RMDs please call CFFC.
In honor of our 25th anniversary…
Please consider making a gift of: $25 $250 $2,500 $25,000
The third annual Gala of Giving ~ Catalyst for Change black-tie event was held on April 13, with over 300 guests attending at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Proceeds will provide funding for projects that spark change and growth in Fayette County.
The first $50,000 Catalyst for Change Grant was awarded to Main Street Theatre Company, State Theatre Center for the Arts, and Fayette County Cultural Trust last fall. Their program “Encore! A Showcase of Local Talent” on May 9 was the first of its kind in Fayette County.
CFFC has created a Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 with goals and actions for our growth!
The foundation is awarding over $200,000 in post-secondary scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year. Thanks to scholarship fund donors, we are able to support local students. This, in turn, supports the future of Fayette County and helps to strengthen our local workforce.
CFFC received re-accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. Community Foundations National Standards® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.
Save the date for Fayette Gives on November 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org. The community has raised over $2 million in the first four years of this 12-hour fundraising marathon. Join us again for this community-wide “day of giving” and celebrate the power of giving back.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 31, 2024 | CFFC News
Each year, the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) proudly selects a variety of local students for post-secondary scholarship awards. The foundation holds forty-seven (47) scholarship funds, which are created specifically to support local students in their pursuit of higher education. This year, $207,924 is being awarded in scholarships to ninety-one (91) students.
Watch the slideshow!
“Thank you so much for awarding me this great honor and continuing to support my lifelong goal of becoming a physician…. I hope to one day practice in Uniontown and continue giving back to our community!” said Nina D’Andrea, a Laurel Highlands High School graduate and current medical student at West Virginia University. CFFC has awarded scholarships to D’Andrea for seven years in a row throughout her higher education.
Scholarship funds are one of the many ways that the foundation helps people make a difference through charitable giving. Scholarship funds are created in honor or memory of a loved one, to support certain career paths, or to simply give back to the community. CFFC works with donors to determine criteria for each scholarship fund, including qualifications related to academic achievement, community service, financial need, extracurricular participation, area of study, or school preference.
“Congratulations to all of the scholarship recipients. Our scholarship program is strong, thanks to our generous donors and our dedicated review committee – all of them are passionate about supporting these students and the future of Fayette County,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Through CFFC’s partnership with the Pennsylvania Access to Higher Education Program, qualifying students may have their scholarship awards matched by the state.
A CFFC scholarship can be created in honor or memory with a gift of $25,000, or donations in any amount can be made to the Educate Fayette Scholarship Fund. To learn more about CFFC’s scholarship program, visit the Scholarships page at www.cffayettepa.org.
2024-2025 CFFC Scholarship Awards
Alfred E. and Anna B. Jones Scholarship
Taney Basinger
Allen Craft Memorial Scholarship
Jamire Braxton
Madison McClean
Addyson Nose
Jocelyn Radcliffe
Owen Reed
Dominic Scott
Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Scholarship
Valentina Gulino
Kylee Kurnot
Malcolm Patton
Bridget White
Brooklyn Williams
Betty Bayne Barnes Scholarship for Women
Kadie Keslar
Burchinal Family Endowment
Taney Basinger
Grace Bosnic
Bethany DuBois
Diana Fink
Brianna Hensh
Connor Kalich
Kadie Keslar
Josh Lomax
Aubriana Pesuti
Erica Rishel
Career and Technical Education Scholarship
Shelby Hall
CFFC Board of Directors Scholarship
Laila Suarez
Chris G. and Alice Omiros Scholars Fund
A’kira Dade
Cupelli Family Scholarship
Brianna Hensh
Darrell L. and Norma R. Uphold Family Scholarship
Mattalynn Schiffbauer
Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship
Bella Carroto
Dr. Dennis F. Brestensky Scholarship
Logan Hoffer
Dr. Paul Pipik Scholarship for Study in the Health Sciences
Lauren Klink
Dr. William C. Thomas, Jr. Perseverance Scholarship for past recipients
Karsyn Lucy
George M. and Anna w. Hochheimer Scholarship
Josh Lomax
Helen Hulvey Scheggia Nursing Scholarship
Haley Filcheck
Henry J. Oppermann Scholarship
Grace Bosnic
Ian Zerecheck
Hughes Family Scholarship
Timothy Lacek
Johnson Matthey Scholarship
Lauren Colgan
Elyse Hughes
Kathleen DiMarco Gulino Memorial Scholarship
Matthew South
Laurel Business Institute Scholarship in Memory of Ruth and Milton Decker
Zaidan Bochnak
Kevin Morrison
Eric Reed
Laurel Highlands Mustang Academic Scholarship
Addyson Nose
Matthew South
Legacy Scholarship of Ernst Gottlieb Braun
Joshua Dankle
Lillian’s Legacy Scholarship
Paige Miller
Maximus Nassar
Melisha Robinson
Lulu A. Dudley Scholarship
Brooke Eutsey
Kennedy Orndorff
Frances and George J. Plava Educational Award
Hadyn Chipps
Lauren Colgan
Mary Jane Dailey Wood Scholarship
Ava Crofcheck
Kennedy Roskopp
Dominic Scott
Maurice M. Bortz and Bessie D. Rinehart Memorial Scholarship
Connor Kalich
Melvin J. and Beatrice Vance Keller Memorial Scholarship
Tagan Basinger
Michael S. Carbonara Memorial Scholarship
Madison McClean
My Mother’s Legacy Scholarship
Avery Maldovan
Jaylee Moorhead
Nancy Vance Jones Scholarship
Madison McClean
Rebecca Mihalko
Jaylee Moorhead
Magdalen Williams
Palmer F. Sabatine Scholarship
Khalia Batie
Parker A. Hess Memorial Scholarship
Parker King
Aubriana Pesuti
Rita P. Peters Scholarship
Bella Miller
Robert and Marjorie Rager Scholarship
Kirra Davis
Robert E. and Elouise R. Eberly Scholarship
Benjamin Diamond
Sam’s Symphony of Love Scholarship
Bella Carroto
Sergeant Eric Hull Memorial Scholarship
Tate Musko
Suzanne J. McMonagle Nursing Scholarship
Kiera McLaughlin
Tolstoi Family Scholarship
Jace Deli
Shelby Hall
Landen Taylor
Tylar Andaloro Memorial Scholarship
Kathryn Chiado
Aubriana Pesuti
Uniontown College Club CFFC Scholarship
Hadyn Chipps
Casey Fijalkovic
Lindsay Klink
Virginia Eberharter Scholarship
Jodi Lowery
Delaney Reese
Virginia Springer Memorial Scholarship
Julie Cooper
Nina D’Andrea
Rebecca Mihalko
Grace Taylor
Kaleb Walls
Wolford Swimmer Memorial Scholarship
Emily Angelo
Caylee Balabon
Tagan Basinger
Chaz Berkshire
James Brown
Iris Burd
Sienna Dean
Jocelyn Gratchic
Gabriel Kemp
Hanna Lucente
Eva Lypson
Noah Maceiko
Jacqueline Maendel
Natayah Moten
Cecilia Mrosko
Anthony Muccioli
Vincenzo Muccioli
Bella Palm
Madison Rosier
Braylin Salisbury
Serenity Swihart-Fullem
Autumn Taylor
Colby Voyten
Ian Zerecheck
Zackery R. Nelson Memorial Scholarship
Aubriana Pesuti
###
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | May 10, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) was founded on November 15, 1999… making this year our 25th anniversary year!
Founding Community Members: John Buchanon; Charles Cluss; Lee Frankhouse; Albert Skomra; Lynda Waggoner; Robert Eberly Sr.
Founding Private Foundations: Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation; Eberly Foundation; Richard King Mellon Foundation; McCune Foundation
With the generosity of many individuals and businesses over the years, CFFC has grown to over $24 million in assets and stewards nearly 200 charitable funds. Every year, a percentage of these charitable assets are used to support a number of nonprofits and local students.
We value each donor’s charitable giving goals and take pride in the trust and relationships we’ve built. Continuous accreditation since 2008 affirms the foundation’s commitment to meet and exceed the national standards for philanthropic services.
CFFC is here to help make an impact for today, tomorrow, and forever. Join us in building a stronger Fayette County through charitable giving.
Please consider making a 25th anniversary gift to support our Building a Stronger Fayette Fund. This endowment provides grants to Fayette County nonprofits every year, to address a variety of community needs.