by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 3, 2026 | CFFC News
Photo courtesy of Mr. Arnold with Laurel Highlands School District
Last fall, three donor advised funds at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded over $25,000 to support education at Fayette County schools. CFFC is now accepting grant requests for the 2026-2027 school year, inviting teachers and administrators to apply online by September 15 at 5:00 p.m.
As donor advised funds, the fund creators of the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, Idea Fund, and Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund have ongoing involvement with how the funds’ charitable dollars support the community. “The lasting impact of these three funds speaks to the fund creators’ deep belief in the power of education,” said CFFC Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hajek-Bates. “We are grateful to see their passion continue to open doors for students and educators through this year’s fall grant cycle.”
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests from $750 up to $10,000 for reusable education items to enhance the classroom. Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply.
The Idea Fund was created by a donor who strives to help teachers to achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows all students to succeed. All school districts in Fayette County are eligible to apply for an Idea Fund grant in the amount of $2,500.
The Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund is accepting grant requests from Uniontown Area School District’s middle schools or high school to enhance STEM teaching and learning. An award of $500 is intended to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials.
With last year’s grant award, elementary STEM teacher Daniel Arnold purchased robotics and STEM kits with computer-controlled motors, sensors, and lights. “This project is impacting roughly 300 students in 16 classes at our elementary schools in the Laurel Highlands School District. The students can build over 30 activated models and, in the future, can engineer their own designs,” said Arnold.
“We look forward to helping our donors support more amazing projects like this!” said Hajek-Bates. More details about the criteria and how to apply can be found on the “Nonprofits” page at www.cffayettepa.org.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 6, 2026 | 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 Fayette County, PA students attending a participating private school. To apply, families can obtain an EITC Scholarship Application from their school, then submit the completed application to CFFC, 250 West Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401. All applications must be received or post-marked on or before July 31, 2026.
CFFC’s Participating K-12 Schools:
- A.G. Montessori School
- Calvary Chapel Christian School
- Chestnut Ridge Christian Academy
- Conn Area Catholic School
- Geibel Catholic Junior-Senior High School
- Grace Academy
- Mt. Carmel Christian School
- Mt. Moriah Christian School
- St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School
- Verna Montessori School
CFFC’s Participating Pre-K Schools:
- A.G. Montessori School
- Asbury Preschool
- Bright Beginnings Center for Learning
- Calvary Chapel Christian School
- Calvary United Methodist Church Preschool
- Chestnut Ridge Christian Academy
- Conn Area Catholic School
- Grace Academy
- Mt. Moriah Christian School
- St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School
- The Learning Lamp
- Verna Montessori School
“We are grateful to COE Distributing, Laurel Technical Institute, PNC Bank, and United Concordia Insurance Company for their generous support of our EITC program,” said CFFC Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hajek-Bates. “Their commitment to education helps create meaningful opportunities for local students, and we deeply appreciate their partnership in investing in the future of our children.”
Businesses can learn more about how to receive tax credits and participate in this program by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) website.
Families who are selected to receive tuition assistance are typically notified in October. Please direct any questions to CFFC’s Accountant Celena Valentine by telephone at 724-437-8600 x114 or by email at cvalentine@cffayettepa.org.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Feb 2, 2026 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2026-2027 school year. With the support of the foundation’s scholarship fund creators, fifty-one (51) scholarships are available for individuals pursuing post-secondary education. Applicants must submit through CFFC’s online scholarship portal by April 10 at 5:00 p.m.
“By working with our donors, the foundation is able to support local students and strengthen the future of Fayette County,” said Jessica Hajek-Bates, CFFC Chief Executive Officer. “We have opportunities for graduating high school seniors, current post-secondary students, and nontraditional students.”
Applicants will complete a “universal” application to determine their eligibility for the various scholarship opportunities. A list of matching scholarships will display; each will have additional questions and must be submitted individually. There are also four (4) stand-alone applications that are listed outside of the “universal” application within the portal; those opportunities must be applied for individually. All local students are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities.
The foundation awards scholarships based on academic achievement, community service, financial need, extracurricular participation, area of study, school preference, and other criteria. The Garbart Memorial Scholarship is a new addition this year, supporting a student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher who shows financial need – with preference to Engineering or Education majors.
Last year, nearly one hundred (100) students received scholarships totaling more than $250,000.
“Being the first in my family to attend a higher level of education, I’m excited to begin this journey and make my family proud. I look forward to continuing my education and taking all that I learn back to my hometown to inspire others,” said CFFC scholarship recipient Jamire Braxton.
“With the daunting cost of college, this scholarship has helped me feel less overwhelmed,” said CFFC scholarship recipient Hanna Lucente.
Visit the Scholarships page at www.cffayettepa.org for more details and call the CFFC office for assistance at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jan 8, 2026 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded a total of $79,018 this past fall to support education in Fayette County, and projects are now in motion at each of the six school districts. This funding includes grants from three donor advised funds and two programs through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).
Nine grants totaling $25,828 were awarded from the Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, the Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund, and the Idea Fund. As donor advised funds, the creators of these funds have ongoing involvement with their charitable giving through the foundation.
Laurel Highlands School District was awarded five grants for math class whiteboard tables, LEGO® Spike Prime kits, display screen and printer for a classroom Entrepreneurial Hub, books for a media center, and occupational therapy supplies. Uniontown Area School District was awarded a grant for a chemistry fire kit and thermal imaging camera, and two grants for different calculator models to be used at the high school. Frazier School District was awarded one grant for physics lab equipment.
In addition to supporting education through competitive grant opportunities, CFFC is approved as an Educational Improvement Organization through the DCED and provides funding for innovative educational programs. Each of the six Fayette County school districts received a $3,000 grant, thanks to the generous businesses who contribute to the program. With the funds, Penn State Extension 4-H will provide programming for a STEM and Computer Science Initiative at Albert Gallatin Area School District, Brownsville Area School District, Frazier School District, Laurel Highlands School District, and Uniontown Area School District. At Connellsville Area School District, funds will provide programming for a STEM Science program at the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center.
Through DCED programming, CFFC also supports local families with tuition assistance for Fayette County students attending Pre-K and K-12 private schooling. The foundation awarded $9,000 in Pre-K tuition assistance and $26,190 in K-12 tuition assistance. Participating schools include A.G. Montessori School, Calvary Chapel Christian School, Calvary United Methodist Church Preschool, Conn Area Catholic School, Chestnut Ridge Christian Academy, Geibel Catholic Junior Senior High School, Grace Academy Christian School, Mt. Carmel Christian School, Mount Moriah Christian School, St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, and Verna Montessori School.
The foundation’s innovative educational program grants and private school tuition assistance awards are possible through the donations from COE Distributing, Laurel Business Institute, Mid Penn Bank, PNC Bank – Pittsburgh Market, Somerset Trust Company, and United Concordia Insurance Company. More details about these programs can be found at www.cffayettepa.org.
“These funding opportunities show the variety of ways that people can support a cause and children in Fayette County through charitable giving,” said Jessica Hajek-Bates, Chief Executive Officer. “The foundation is honored to allocate this $79,000 in grants to local schools to help students and classrooms thrive.”
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 13, 2025 | CFFC News
A group of ninety-seven (97) local students are receiving a total of $252,890 in post-secondary scholarships from the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) for the 2025-2026 school year. These students were selected for awards from forty-five (45) scholarship funds held at the foundation, for the purpose of supporting local students in their pursuit of higher education.
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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.
The foundation enlists the help of community volunteers to serve on the scholarship committees. “The volunteers carefully consider hundreds of applications and select students based on the criteria for each fund. Our team of reviewers is always so impressed with the bright students, and so we share our congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients and wish them all great success,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
“I will be attending Penn West California, majoring in biology and I plan to pursue a career in the medical field. I am beyond grateful for having received this scholarship as this will help me offset some of the tuition costs,” said Ms. Hannah Legarsky.
“I will be majoring in Computer Science and look forward to the opportunities and growth college will bring. These scholarships will make a meaningful impact on my journey, and I appreciate the confidence you’ve shown in my potential and future,” said Mr. Casey Karwatske.
Those interested in supporting higher education can donate to CFFC’s Educate Fayette Scholarship Fund or contact the foundation’s staff at 724-437-8600 to learn more about charitable giving options.
2025-2026 CFFC Scholarship Awards List
Alfred E. Jones, Jr. and Anna B. Jones Scholarship
Bailey Lemansky
Allen Craft Memorial Scholarship
Delaney Angel
Cameryn Crouch
Luke Grimm
Jack Jeffries
Elle Mancini
Maddox McAllister
Jacob Shaffer
Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Scholarship
Kylee Kurnot
Malcolm Patton
Valentina Gulino
Brooklyn WIlliams
Betty Bayne Barnes Scholarship for Women
Ashley Secrest
Burchinal Family Endowment
Grace Bosnic
Kirra Davis
Olivia Girasia
Kristy Pan
Riley Rankin
Erica Rishel
Jenna Schnatterly
Ashley Secrest
Mattalynn Schiffbauer
Michael Ulery
Lena Venersky
Career and Technical Education Scholarship
Brayden Tankalavage
Carl S. Micarelli Memorial Scholarship
Kadance Mickey
CFFC Board of Directors Scholarship
Arianna Cooper
Daisy Sanders
Chris G. and Alice Omiros Scholars Fund
Delaney Booker
Cupelli Family Scholarship
Grace Bosnic
Darrell L. and Norma R. Uphold Family Scholarship
Jack Jeffries
Deana Martorella Memorial Scholarship
McKenna Shields
Dr. Dennis F. Brestensky Scholarship
Logan Hoffer
Dr. Paul Pipik Scholarship for Study in the Health Sciences
Gracie Mowry
Educate Fayette Scholarship
Kirra Davis
George M. and Anna W. Hochheimer Scholarship
Riley Rankin
Helen Hulvey Scheggia Nursing Scholarship
Benjamin Diamond
Henry J. Oppermann Scholarship
Cameron Stern
Hughes Family Scholarship
Elle Mancini
Johnson Matthey Scholarship
Molly Rhodes
Caeden WIlliams
Kathleen DiMarco Gulino Memorial Scholarship
Delaney Angel
Laurel Business Institute Scholarship Fund in Memory of Ruth and Milton Decker
Thomas Shaffer
Angelica Baeza
Joshua Curry-Jones
Laurel Highlands Mustang Academic Scholarship
Casey Karwatske
Maura Nagle
Lillian’s Legacy Scholarship
Autumn Bartos
Whitney Bobish
Savannah Tracy
Lena Venersky
Lulu A. Dudley Scholarship
Brandy Sickles
Mary Jane Dailey Wood Scholarship
Autumn Bartos
Christopher Cook
Hannah Legarsky
Cadence Marrs
Morgan Matthews
Steven Shearin
Trey Whitehead
Emma Young
Maurice M. Bortz and Bessie D. Rinehart Memorial Scholarship
Kelan Milsom
Melvin J. and Beatrice Vance Keller Memorial Scholarship
Abigail Humbert
Michael S. Carbonara Memorial Scholarship
Jacob Kalich
My Mother’s Legacy Scholarship
Faith Bachinski
Anna Sedlak
Nancy Vance Jones Scholarship
Delaney Angel
Whitney Bobish
Hannah Legarsky
Brianna Marzano
Palmer F. Sabatine Scholarship
Jadeyn Clymer
Parker A. Hess Memorial Scholarship
Natalie Meyer
Delaney Reposky
Cameron Stern
Rita P. Peters Scholarship
Lauren Klink
Robert and Marjorie Rager Scholarship
Kadance Mickey
Robert E. and Elouise R. Eberly Scholarship
Haley Filcheck
Sergeant Eric Hull Memorial Scholarship
Christopher Cook
Suzanne J. McMonagle Nursing Scholarship
Lauren Colgan
Tolstoi Family Scholarship
Kendra Firestone
Brianna Guziak
Ryleigh Jose
Dalton Kelley
Tylar Andaloro Memorial Scholarship
Casey Karwatske
Matthew Schwertfeger
Uniontown College Club CFFC Scholarship
Delaney Booker
Mia Medved
Anna Mitchell
Virginia Eberharter Scholarship
Kennedy Orndorff
Lily Show
Virginia Springer Memorial Scholarship
Julie Cooper
Ava Crofcheck
Nina D’Andrea
Lauren Klink
Kaleb Walls
Wolford Swimmer Memorial Scholarship
Caylee Balabon
William Barton IV
Austin Basinger
James Brown
Emily Burkus
Elli Cook
Yelena Ford
Grayden Gillott
Jocelyn Gratchic
Madison Gratchic
Luke Grimm
Jacqueline Maendel
Brianna Marzano
Paige Miller
Addison Milsom
Anthony Muccioli
Maximus Nassar
Emma Nicholson
Braylin Slaisbury
Steven Shearin
Sophia Solomon
Kaelyn Suba
Alexia Swisshelm
Emily Teeter
Zackery R. Nelson Memorial Scholarship
Kristy Pan