by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 1, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) helps support education in a variety of ways, including grants from donor advised funds. The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, Idea Fund, and Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund are currently accepting grant requests to support local schools in the 2025-2026 school year. Applications are due by October 1 through CFFC’s online grant system: https://bit.ly/cffcapplynow
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests from $750 up to $10,000 to be considered 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.
“It’s always great to see the variety and creativity in the fall grant requests, and we’re happy to help connect our donors with those projects,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Last fall, these donor advised funds at CFFC awarded a total of $25,934 to support the purchase of LEGO® education kits, whiteboard and lab tables, library collections, technology, science equipment, and more.
Further details about the grant applications and previous grant awards can be found at www.cffayettepa.org.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 25, 2025 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County invites you to learn more about the ways we are building a stronger Fayette County and how you can get involved!
7.25 Mid Year Newsletter
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 9, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Seniors in the Carpentry program at Connellsville Area Career & Technical Center (CACTC) were recognized on May 8 in a ceremony lead by Nick Farris, the Carpentry instructor. Farris introduced each student, shared their plans for after graduation, and gave insight to their personality and work ethic. After their bio, each student received a tool bag filled with equipment and a boxed circular saw. The Carpentry program was also presented with a grant award from the Sturge Hughes Memorial Fund.
The Sturge Hughes Memorial Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC), has awarded a grant to CACTC for nine years in a row to help build up the trade programs. The fund was created by Regina Hughes in honor of her late husband, Sturge, to continue his legacy in the community and in the carpentry industry. Previous grants have also supported the Masonry program at CACTC.
Jerry Matthews, retired CACTC Carpentry instructor, recalls Regina sitting down with him and asking “how can I help?” Her generosity has provided support for field trips, projects, tools, and other needs of the program.
Regina’s son, Jeff Butela, and grandson, Ryan Butela, spoke to the seniors about their careers as home builders — both in management and hands-on construction. They emphasized the value of trade skills, whether the students would pursue it as their primary career or keep it as another tool in their toolbox for the future (pun intended).
The Sturge Hughes Memorial Fund is a meaningful way for the family to honor Sturge and his dedication to helping young people learn, start a career, and grow in the carpentry field. Regina shares that same passion for mentoring the younger generation, which she applied during her career at a utility company and continues to do through her charitable giving.
Photo courtesy of CACTC: Ryan Butela, Nick Farris, Rebecca Wardle, Jeff Butela
“These Carpentry students are learning workforce-ready skills. Their projects building sheds, picnic tables, and benches are able to go straight out into the community, and the foundation is happy to facilitate support for that,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
CACTC provides thirteen (13) technical programs and academic courses. Part of the Connellsville Area School District, 9th and 10th graders can attend technical programs during morning or afternoon sessions, while 11th and 12th grade students can attend full-time. This year, there were eleven (11) seniors in the Carpentry program.
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.