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 | 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 | Jun 5, 2024 | Building a Stronger Fayette
At Ben Franklin Elementary/Middle School: George Belch, Building Construction Instructor; Fayette CTI students who constructed Buddy Benches; Bernadette Ptak; Nate White, Instructional Supervisor
Think back to the excitement of the playground during grade school recess… the bright sunshine as you exit the school building, the smell of freshly cut grass, the feeling of mulch under your feet as you navigate through the jungle gym, and the energy of your classmates around you. Children may have some days when they feel isolated from all of that action though, and a local couple has worked with the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) to help.
The John and Bernadette Ptak Family Fund, held at CFFC, is a donor advised fund that was created by its namesake. The fund provided a grant for Buddy Benches at Ben Franklin Elementary/Middle School, Lafayette Elementary/Middle School, Marclay Elementary School, and Wharton Elementary School. One bench was installed at each of those four schools in the Uniontown Area School District.
Buddy Benches are used on school playgrounds as a way for students to signal to others that they are feeling lonely and need a friend to play with or someone to talk to. When a child sits on the Buddy Bench, other classmates are encouraged to invite that child to play with them.
The Ptaks knew they wanted to utilize their charitable giving to install Buddy Benches at local schools, and CFFC was ready to make that happen. Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director, reached out to Fayette County Career & Technical Institute (CTI) to ask if they could construct the benches. George Belch, Building Construction Instructor, said it was a go.
Fayette CTI students – six in particular – constructed the four benches. The John and Bernadette Ptak Family Fund grant provided funding for materials to construct the Buddy Benches.
When seeing a Buddy Bench for the first time, Mrs. Ptak gratefully said to the Fayette CTI students, “Thank you so much. You did a wonderful job.” The bench installations at the school playgrounds will serve as a tool for kindness for years to come.
Featured on KDKA-TV’s “Community Compass” segment: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/video/four-buddy-benches-created-for-four-uniontown-area-school-district-playgrounds-community-compass/
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Aug 16, 2019 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) opened the Career Café, a student-run store that sells food items, clothing, and supplies in May 2019. Following CACTC’s mission and vision to prepare every student with academic, technical, and career skills needed to enter the workforce and to pursue continuing education, the Career Café provides unique opportunities to build skills.
The CFFC awarded CACTC a Fall 2018 grant for the Career Café, which is operated by the Building and Trades Program students under the supervision of their teacher, Mr. Bill Guess. The goal is to help improve secondary transition opportunities that will prepare students for life after high school, including post-secondary education or training, employment, and community living.
Dr. Shawna Little, Workforce Development Coordinator, noted the importance of soft skills in the workforce, such as customer service, communication, and conflict resolution. The Career Café provides students with real-world work experience in the popular, and in-demand, industry of retail. Particularly for students with disabilities, these opportunities help develop transferable skills that target goals set in their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
Before the Career Café opened for business, there were ten students who put their vocational skills to work by organizing the space. They built the counter area and helped transform the classroom, which was brought to life with the Appalachian Creativity Center’s full-room mural. “The students worked as a team, communicated and collaborated effectively, and created a finished project from scratch,” said Dr. Little. To learn more about CACTC, visit their website!