by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 8, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
More than 150 local students performed in the inaugural “ENCORE!” production on May 5, 2024 at the State Theatre. This program is the first of its kind in Fayette County, showcasing musicals from local high schools and bringing select students together for a special opening and closing number. Main Street Theatre Company produces ENCORE! and collaborates with State Theatre Center for the Arts for rehearsal and performance space. Students were recognized for music, theatre, and visual arts with the presentation of the Fayette County Cultural Trust‘s Achievement in the Arts awards.
Photo credit: Kelly Tunney/KGTunney Photography
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded its first-ever $50,000 Catalyst for Change Grant in the fall of 2023 to launch ENCORE!
Catalyst for Change Grants are made possible by the Gala of Giving event proceeds, an annual event that raises money for bigger and bolder funding projects in Fayette County.
Kelly Tunney/KGTunney Photography
“We were excited to award our first Catalyst for Change Grant for a project that includes people from all across the county and sparks economic growth by bringing people together for a special show in town,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
“This event truly unites our school students and communities, all while highlighting the talent we have here in Fayette County and underscoring the vital importance of arts education,” said John Wager, Artistic Director of Main Street Theatre Company.
ENCORE! engages student performers, local arts organizations, family members, friends, and people across – and beyond – the county. Students from seven local schools will participate in this year’s production on May 2, 2025.
Kelly Tunney/KGTunney Photography
“CFFC’s board of directors was happy to support the first year of ENCORE! and it’s clear that this county-wide program will make a meaningful impact each year,” said Couser.
To date, the foundation has hosted four Gala of Giving events and awarded two $50,000 Catalyst for Chang Grants, with a third grant award anticipated for the summer of 2025.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Mar 7, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
About 1,950 Fayette County students saw Galileo Galilei come to life on stage during an “edutainment” musical performance from the Pittsburgh CLO. “The Next Galileo” musical is part of the Pittsburgh CLO’s Gallery of Heroes series, which highlights the lives and accomplishments of significant historical figures through mini-musicals at local schools. A donor advised fund at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) brought the program to the Uniontown Area High School auditorium and covered transportation costs for the students.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
“We see students’ faces light up as they enter the auditorium and look around, clap at the end of songs, and raise their hands for a chance to ask the performers a question during the Q&A. When asked if this was anyone’s first time seeing a musical, a number of kids raised their hand,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Photo credit: Archie Carpenter and Pittsburgh CLO
The performance followed a young student, Gabriella, as she journeys back in time to meet Galileo Galilei. Together, they experience the joy of scientific discovery and the importance of curiosity, from questioning Aristotle’s belief that the Earth was at the center of the universe to realizing that Galileo’s telescope could be used to see what was above Earth in the sky.
Students attended from Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Laurel Highlands, Uniontown, and St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School. Back in the classroom, teachers can use a guide provided by the Pittsburgh CLO to help students think about the themes and learnings from the performance.
This is the tenth year that Gallery of Heroes has come to the stage for Fayette County students, thanks to a generous donor at the community foundation who values bringing the arts to young people.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Jul 11, 2023 | Building a Stronger Fayette
John Lewis preaching for the first time, Rosa Parks singing a tune about “good trouble”, Martin Luther King, Jr. sharing inspiring words… these are all scenes that local students witnessed during a performance from the Pittsburgh CLO. Since 2014, the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has provided grants to bring the Pittsburgh CLO’s “Gallery of Heroes” series to Fayette County students, through a Donor Advised Fund. The series of educational and entertaining mini-musicals highlight significant historical figures.
In February, students gathered for “Hero: The Boy from Troy”, which told the story about John Lewis and how his heroes in the Civil Rights movement inspired him to protest injustice and get into “good trouble”. In attendance were fourth and fifth graders from Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Laurel Highlands, and Uniontown School Districts and students from St. John the Evangelist Regional Catholic School, grades four through eight. They saw historical figures come to life on stage and participated in a short Q&A session with the cast after the performance.
There are many ways to build a stronger Fayette, and CFFC is happy to provide personalized donors services to help each donor with their charitable giving goals. “Charitable giving enables the community foundation to support special educational experiences like this. We’re happy to provide funding for programs that our donors are passionate about,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.