by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 16, 2024 | CFFC News
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has hosted three annual Gala of Giving ~ Catalyst for Change events, awarded a $50,000 Catalyst for Change Grant from the proceeds, and will be awarding another $50,000 grant this fall. The momentum will continue to build with the next Gala of Giving on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Fairchance Construction Company is the Presenting Sponsor, once again generously supporting the Gala of Giving.
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. Proceeds from the Gala of Giving will be invested in projects that can affect change and growth in Fayette County.
CFFC is accepting sponsorships, ads, and auction items for the event. Download the Sponsorship Packet. Individual tickets will be available at a later date. To learn more, visit https://cffayettepa.ejoinme.org/2025galaofgiving. Please direct questions to Trish Desvarro, Gala of Giving Event Manager, at desvarro@gmail.com or call the CFFC office at 724-437-8600.
“The Gala of Giving is the foundation’s effort to raise money for bigger and bolder grants that will spark change in Fayette County. We’ve had amazing support from the start, and we thank everyone who is getting on board for another successful event,” said Angela Braun, DC, CFFC Board Chair and Gala of Giving Chair.
The first Catalyst for Change Grant was awarded in fall of 2023 to Main Street Theatre Company, for their Fayette County high school musical showcase, called “ENCORE!”. CFFC’s $50,000 grant made it possible for them to launch this new program, collaborating with State Theatre Center for the Arts and Fayette County Cultural Trust. “Local theater transcends across organizations, schools, and counties. It is a community. It is a family. ENCORE! not only solidified the bonds these organizations share, but allowed the community to be a part of celebrating students in their accomplishments in the arts,” said Megan Clark, Treasurer of Main Street Theatre Company.
CFFC will announce a second grant soon, selected from this spring’s Catalyst for Change Grant requests.
Sponsorship Packet 2025
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Oct 7, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Photo courtesy of DVSSP from their Board Training
Around each corner was a touch of purple and a smiling face during a site visit to Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA (DVSSP). Their signature purple color raises awareness of domestic violence, and their team provides safe housing, counseling, legal advocacy, and other critical services to those who are abused or being threatened with abuse. To support their impact in the community, the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) has awarded DVSSP two capacity building grants from the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund.
In 2023, the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund grant provided a half-day training for board members and a six-session training for the soon-to-be CEO. At the time of the grant, DVSSP was preparing for a transition of CEOs and was looking to provide additional education that would “position the organization for future growth and maturity”.
Megan Hegedus started her role as CEO in 2024, and her training was developed specifically for new or emerging Executive Directors and CEOs, addressing the various elements of being a nonprofit CEO. She explained that Nonprofit Sidekick, the facilitator of the trainings, also helped board members identify their strengths and how to use them to best support DVSSP’s work.
DVSSP staff members
In 2024, DVSSP was awarded a capacity building grant to update the office computers at their Fayette County Safe House. “It becomes problematic when we are trying to enter reporting information or complete time-sensitive tasks, and our outdated computers are running so slow that staff struggle to access the programs they need,” said Hegedus.
“The stronger our local nonprofits are, the stronger our entire community will be. CFFC is happy to provide funding for tools and resources that will help,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Aside from competitive grant awards, DVSSP receives annual grants from CFFC’s Strawberry Patch Fund, a fund that was created through an estate gift to support designated charities in perpetuity. This endowment has granted over $21,000 to DVSSP through yearly distributions.
DVSSP is headquartered in Brownsville and serves Fayette, Greene, and Washington Counties. To raise money for their services to Fayette County, they have participated in Fayette Gives for the past fours years and have raised over $10,000.
CFFC is happy to support local nonprofits like DVSSP through various philanthropic efforts, thanks to the many people who join in charitable giving.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 12, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
“Over the years, I’ve learned that students learn best when they are having fun and completely involved and engaged in their learning,” said Michelle Mowry, Kindergarten Teacher. Mowry teaches at Bullskin Elementary, part of Connellsville Area School District. In 2023, the school was awarded a grant from the Idea Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Fayette County, to enhance Mowry’s classroom.
The grant provided funds for felt story boards, puppets, and building blocks for hands-on learning experiences. Mowry quoted students saying “This is the best ever!” and “It’s real life Minecraft!” (in reference to the materials to build structures).
Donor advised funds, like the Idea Fund, provide flexibility and ongoing involvement for the donor to support charitable causes. As part of the foundation’s fall grant cycle, the Idea Fund accepts applications from all school districts in Fayette County to help teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. Particular attention is paid to applicants who demonstrate that the funds will be used to address the needs of students in the classroom who may not be top grade earners, can show the sustainability of the program, and are willing to go beyond traditional teaching styles to reach students.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support causes close to your heart, contact the Community Foundation of Fayette County at 724-437-8600.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Sep 9, 2024 | CFFC News
Ninety-six (96) local charities are participating in this year’s Fayette Gives, hosted by the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC). Twelve of the charities are first-time participants. In the first four years of this 12-hour fundraising marathon, over $2 million has been raised for Fayette County charities. The foundation is anticipating continued generosity for this year’s Fayette Gives on Thursday, November 7 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.fayettegives.org.
Fayette Gives is a “day of giving” that aims to build a stronger Fayette County by supporting local charities and engaging the community in philanthropy. On Fayette Gives day, donors will visit www.fayettegives.org to donate to one or more of the ninety-six participating charities. All money raised will be used to benefit Fayette County, helping to support the participating charities and their services to local residents.
Donors will search for a charity by the name, location, or cause. By clicking on a charity name, donors can view the charity’s profile to learn more about their work in Fayette County. “We’re excited for donors to see the new Fayette Gives website, because there are more opportunities for charities to show what they do with photos and videos on their charity profile,” explained Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
The Fayette Gives website will have a “Gift Basket” in the top right corner, where donors will add one or more charities for donations. A minimum donation of $25 per charity is required to donate by credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet. To donate by ACH transfer, the minimum donation is $100. “The website walks you through your donation and makes it easy for anyone to give back. That’s part of the appeal for Fayette Gives – we want everyone to get involved!” said Couser.
New to this year’s Fayette Gives are hourly cash prizes for charities. Over $50,000 in cash prizes will incentivize donors and keep people engaged all throughout Fayette Gives day. Prize details and rules will be posted on www.fayettegives.org closer to Fayette Gives day.
Cash prizes are supported by the 2024 Fayette Gives Sponsors. The Community Sponsors are the Charity Fund and the Swimmer Family. Generosity Sponsors are COE Distributing; Nemacolin; Specialty Conduit and Manufacturing. Humanity Sponsors are 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.
Another new addition this year is the Donor Wall, which displays recent donations. Donors can select which information to display on the Donor Wall (name, donation amount, personal message), with an option to remain anonymous. Same as previous years, the Fayette Gives website will have live results and leaderboards so the public can track the fundraising of their favorite charities. All of these features invite the public to engage and see the impact of community-wide giving.
“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.
Aside from online donations on November 7, donors can also give by check, donor advised fund, IRA charitable distribution, and stock transfer. These “offline” donation methods require a Check Contribution Form, an official Fayette Gives document to designate charities and donations amounts. The Check Contribution Form is available at www.fayettegives.org and “offline” donations are being accepted now.
Click here to download the 2024 Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form.
Click here to view the list of 96 participating charities.
To learn more, visit www.fayettegives.org or contact Rebecca Wardle, Communications & Grantmaking Coordinator, at 724-437-8600 x203.
2024 Fayette Gives Check Contribution Form
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 23, 2024 | CFFC News
Last year, nearly $20,000 was awarded in the Community Foundation of Fayette County’s (CFFC) fall grant cycle to support an aeroponics indoor garden, plant nursery, coding robot, items for a sensory room, a drone coding project, microscopes, hands-on learning, and more. The grants were made from three Donor Advised Funds held at CFFC – Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund, Idea Fund, and Patricia and Robert Metz Educational Fund. These funds are currently accepting grant requests to support local schools again for the 2024-2025 school year.
Submitted by Luke Rice, Laurel Highlands School District – Aeroponic Tower Garden. “Students gathered data by measuring growth, different ratios of nutrients, light schedules, and by testing pH.”
Submitted by Michelle Mowry, Connellsville Area School District – Hands-on Learning. “Over the years, I’ve learned that students learn best when they are having fun and completely involved and engaged in their learning.”
“Donor Advised Funds give donors flexibility with how grants are used to support charitable causes, and the donors have ongoing involvement,” explained Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director. “The fund holders partner with us to support projects that match their passions,” said Couser.
The Arthur and Millicent Gabriel Legacy Fund is accepting grant requests for reusable items that will enhance the classroom(s). Any teacher, school counselor, or administrator in the Laurel Highlands School District or Uniontown Area School District is encouraged to apply. Requests from $750 up to $10,000 will be considered.
The Idea Fund was created by a donor who is interested in helping teachers achieve a level of creativity in the classroom that allows students of all learning styles to thrive. 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 to enhance STEM teaching and learning at the Uniontown Area School District’s middle schools or high school. An award in the amount of $500 is intended to support teacher or student activities or the purchase of classroom materials.
Applications are due by October 4 through CFFC’s online grant system, which can be found on the “Grant Seekers” page at www.cffayettepa.org. Further details are listed online for each fund’s criteria.