by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 19, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 13, 2025 in partnership with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. This commemorated the foundation’s purchase and relocation to 250 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401.
Casey Leonard, Michael George, CJ Callahan, Ron Gabriel, David Hughes, Renee Couser, Jessica Hajek-Bates, Jim Higinbotham, Larry Kiefer, Terry Burden, Josh Ellsworth, Ed Balling
This strategic move, funded through the foundation’s operating reserve, marks a significant milestone in CFFC’s evolution. Until now, CFFC has operated out of leased spaces, most recently at 5 South Mt. Vernon Avenue in Uniontown. The new facility offers a substantial increase in square footage, allowing for expanded staffing and more opportunities to host events and presentations on-site. The first floor features a large conference room area with mobile desks and chairs, a kitchen, multiple restrooms, three offices, and two additional work stations. The lower level has a large office and storage rooms. The foundation requests that you park in the lot at the rear of the building and enter through the back door when visiting the office.
The large conference room enables CFFC to host events and convenings on-site.
Before the ribbon cutting, guests gathered at the front of the building for special remarks.
Muriel Nuttall, Fayette Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, welcomed everyone and highlighted that this milestone sparks a renewed energy and increased visibility to the foundation’s work as they continue in their mission. Local elected officials also shared remarks about the foundation’s philanthropic work and the excitement of seeing the organization grow. Remarks were shared by Senator Pat Stefano, Debbie Hoone from the office of Representative Charity Grimm Krupa, County Commissioner Scott Dunn, County Commissioner Vince Vicites, and County Commissioner Dutch Kaufman.
Debbie Hoone, Senator Pat Stefano, Commissioner Dutch Kaufman, Ron Gabriel, Renee Couser, Jessica Hajek-Bates, Commissioner Vince Vicites, Commissioner Scott Dunn
Renee Couser, CFFC retiring Executive Director, shared that the 250 West Main Street purchase and relocation helps to achieve the three goals of the foundation’s strategic plan: growth and impact; awareness and engagement; organization and operations. “This facility gives the foundation the infrastructure to grow, the visibility to engage our community more effectively, and the operational foundation it needs to succeed,” said Couser.
Jessica Hajek-Bates, CFFC Chief Executive Officer, said, “This ribbon cutting is not just about a building; it’s about opening doors to new opportunities, partnerships, and a stronger Fayette County.” She recognized the efforts of the foundation board members and staff to make this milestone possible, and she thanked Fairchance Construction Company for their support throughout the building’s renovation.
Ron Gabriel, Chair of the CFFC Board of Directors, also shared gratitude to the late Robert and Elouise Eberly, whose investment in the foundation decades ago made the purchase and renovation of the building possible. He credited Renee Couser for encouraging the vision of the foundation having its own home in this building. Gabriel underscored the importance of this new location being a home for not just the foundation board and staff, but also the community, with new opportunities for growth, impact, and inclusion with on-site events and programs.
Board members in attendance joined Couser and Hajek-Bates for the ribbon cutting, followed by refreshments and mingling throughout the new office.
Customized hats were created at the Stahls hat bar to showcase CFFC’s new logo
Stahls’ provided a “hat bar” with a selection of baseball hats, CFFC logo patches, and additional fun patches that guests picked and saw come to life as their customized hat was heat pressed and presented to them. With CFFC’s recent launch of a new logo, this special experience helped kick off CFFC’s new branding efforts to increase visibility of the foundation throughout Fayette County.
The foundation’s mission is to build a stronger Fayette County by inspiring charitable giving, supporting nonprofits, and nurturing positive community impact. “To scale that impact and meet our goals, we need space to grow and a strong identity that reflects our mission, vision, and values,” said Gabriel.
To learn more about the foundation’s philanthropy and how you can get involved, call our office at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 6, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is looking for a passionate and detail-oriented individual to join our team as our Operations & Scholarship Coordinator.
If you’re ready to make a meaningful impact in Fayette County and work as part of our dedicated team, apply today!
Click here to download the job description or view below.
CFFC OSC Position Description 2025
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 1, 2025 | CFFC News
New Location, New Logo, Same Mission
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is entering a new chapter of growth with the purchase of its first-ever owned headquarters at 250 West Main Street in Uniontown. This strategic move, funded through the foundation’s operating reserve, marks a significant milestone in CFFC’s evolution. It is a reflection of growth, momentum, and continued commitment to serve the county. The relocation is planned for October 23, accompanied by the launch of a refreshed CFFC logo.
David Hughes, a long-serving member of the CFFC Board of Directors, has seen the foundation’s growth over the years. “Last year, we celebrated our twenty-fifth anniversary and developed a Strategic Plan to guide our future growth and impact. Expanding our office space is a key part of that vision—and it’s also a chance to modernize our look as we continue to raise awareness about the work we do,” said Hughes.
The Strategic Plan outlines three focus areas: Growth and Impact; Awareness and Engagement; Organizations and Operations.
Until now, CFFC has operated out of leased spaces, most recently at 5 South Mt. Vernon Avenue in Uniontown. The new facility offers a substantial increase in square footage, allowing for expanded staffing and more opportunities to host events and presentations on-site.
Michael George, Renee Couser, Ron Gabriel, and Ed Balling with the 250 West Main Street agreement of sale.
The foundation’s mission is to build a stronger Fayette County by inspiring charitable giving, supporting nonprofits, and nurturing positive community impact. “To scale that impact and meet our goals, we need space to grow and a strong identity that reflects our mission, vision, and values,” said Ronald Gabriel, Chair of the CFFC Board of Directors.
Jessica Hajek-Bates, Chief Executive Officer of CFFC, added, “We’re excited to open the doors to the community! This new space gives us room to grow, connect, and work together with the vision of a thriving Fayette County.”
To celebrate the new office location, CFFC is partnering with the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 13 at 1:00 p.m.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 1, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Photo from the board training courtesy of Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County.
From 2023 to 2024, the Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County reported a 149% increase in clients. To meet the needs of the community, the nonprofit is prioritizing its growth and sustainability to ensure that their services can help as many residents as possible.
Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County (CVC) offers a 24-hour crisis hotline, counseling, and advocacy services for victims of violent crimes. They also provide educational and training classes for children and adults across the county at low to no cost.
“Due to our funding structure, we have strict guidelines and standards that we must follow,” said Andrea Hibbs, CVC Executive Director. For example, government grants cannot be used for fundraising efforts, but the nonprofit identified that as an important area for growth. To spearhead these efforts, they hosted two training sessions for board members and the executive director. The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) supported the trainings with a 2024 grant from the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund.
CVC partnered with consulting company Nonprofit SideKick to take a closer look at the board of directors’ responsibilities, identify the type of board they are, and assess strengths and opportunities for growth. “CFFC’s funding provided us with an opportunity to gain important knowledge to increase awareness, sustain board members, and attain financial growth. This is vital in keeping with our mission to provide services to victims of crime in a supportive, inclusive, and safe environment,” said Hibbs.
Andrea Hibbs and Renee Couser with Crime Victims’ Center of Fayette County’s first grant from the Strawberry Patch Fund in 2021.
Beyond competitive grant awards, CVC has taken advantage of other opportunities to bolster their mission. They have raised over $17,000 through Fayette Gives. Each of the five years that CVC has participated, they have increased their fundraising and worked to raise awareness of their services in the community.
CVC also receives an annual distribution from the Strawberry Patch Fund, a donor designated fund at CFFC that was created through an estate gift to support specific organizations. Over $21,000 has been granted to CVC from the fund. They have the discretion to use these funds to address the organization’s most pressing needs and invest in resources that will benefit the residents they serve.
Charitable giving can help bridge the funding gap for impactful services like the ones that Crime Victims’ Center offers. Residents who experience a violent crime have somewhere to turn, with the support of CVC. This year marks the nonprofit’s 50th anniversary, and we applaud their efforts in building a stronger Fayette County.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 8, 2025 | CFFC News
This year’s Fayette Gives will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org. The website will host online donations, live results, and cash prize opportunities for charities throughout the day. A record-breaking 110 local charities are participating.
Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” hosted by the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) that engages the community in philanthropy and supports local charities. During this fundraising marathon, the public is encouraged to donate to participating charities and take advantage of special incentives that can help charities boost their fundraising.
Online donations will be available during the 12-hour period on November 6th. This includes credit/debit cards, mobile pay, and ACH payments (with eligible institutions).
Donors who prefer to donate by check can give now. Make one check payable to CFFC for the total amount, and mail it to CFFC, 5 South Mt. Vernon Ave., Uniontown, PA 15401 with a completed Check Contribution Form. Gifts can also be made through donor advised funds, charitable IRAs, or stock transfers. All donations must be received at CFFC by November 6th at 8:00 p.m. and the minimum donation is $25 per charity.
“Fayette Gives is a special opportunity to give back to charities in a community-wide effort. Over $2.5 million has been raised in the first five years,” said Ron Gabriel, Chair of the CFFC Board of Directors.
$50,000 is available in cash prizes for charities, thanks to Community Sponsors: Charity Fund; Erie Insurance; The Swimmer Family; Generosity Sponsor: Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing, LLC; Humanity Sponsors: Montgomery Medical; NiSource Charitable Foundation/ Columbia Gas; Well Fargo Advisors Financial Network.
New this year — CFFC is partnering with local libraries for Fayette Gives Pop-Ups throughout Fayette County. The public is invited to come to these pop-ups to learn about Fayette Gives and receive promotional items. Dates are as follows: September 13 at Brownsville Free Library from noon until 2:00; September 16 at Carnegie Free Library of Connellsville from 10:00 until noon; September 18 at the CFFC office from 10:00 until noon; October 21 at Uniontown Public Library from 10:00 until noon; October 23 at German-Masontown Public Library from 10:00 until noon.
Visit www.fayettegives.org to view the charities, download the Check Contribution Form, and learn more.
2025 Check Contribution Form