by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 14, 2026 | CFFC News
Hosted in partnership with Dress for Success Pittsburgh‘s EmployHER Pittsburgh initiative and CFFC, the first-ever EmployHER Fayette County Opportunity Fair was hosted on March 24 at the CFFC office. Thank you to all who participated and made it a great day!
Twenty-one (21) women attended and had access to local employers actively hiring and nonprofit organizations offering resources tailored to women’s personal and professional growth.
Attendees also received:
- Wardrobe and makeup support to help them look and feel their best
- A complimentary professional headshot
- Employment readiness guidance, including résumé and interview support
- Free lunch during the event
Photo credit: Kgtunney Photography
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Mar 13, 2026 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Women who are pregnant and seeking resources can turn to Alternatives.Yes Pregnancy Support Ministries. The nonprofit provides services 100% free of charge, empowering women to make healthy, informed choices and supporting the family through and beyond pregnancy.
In 2025, Alternatives.Yes created an agency fund at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) to provide a steady source of income each year. They will receive an annual grant distribution to support their nonprofit, and the fund will be invested for growth.
“We were blessed by the opportunity to set up an agency fund. This fund not only provides annual support, but its existence also loudly conveys to our donors that our ministry is committed to being a long-term presence in our community – saving lives, providing support, and improving early maternal health outcomes for years to come,” said Andrea Pritts, Alternatives.Yes Executive Director.
The creation of this fund comes after years of partnership between Alternatives.Yes and CFFC. The nonprofit has participated in Fayette Gives (CFFC’s day-of-giving) for six years, raising a total of $124,000. They have also received grants from Burchinal Family Endowment Fund and the Building a Stronger Fayette Fund, totaling $20,000 over the past five years. These grants have supported the nonprofit’s conversion to a medical facility and their ongoing programs.
photo courtesy of Alternatives.Yes
2024 was the first full year that Alternatives.Yes offered pregnancy tests and ultrasounds performed by trained medical professionals in their newly formed medical center, the Alternatives Laurel Highlands Pregnancy Center. This added to existing programs like “Earn While You Learn” – mothers earn a “baby buck” for each educational class they complete. A digital curriculum covers hundreds of topics related to pregnancy, labor/delivery, infant care, and life skills. Mothers use the “baby bucks” they earn to purchase items from the Alternatives.Yes pantry, such as car seats, strollers, cribs, clothing, toys, diapers, formula, and other supplies.
Services are also available to help other family members who are caring for an infant under the age of one, including grandparents who take emergency custody of an infant. Additionally, Alternatives.Yes provides around 1,000 referrals to clients each year, connecting them with other nonprofits and social service resources based on their needs and circumstances.
Their recent relocation to a facility at 1829 University Drive in Dunbar houses all their medical, educational, and referral services under one roof. CFFC is happy to be a source of support as they help mothers and families across Fayette County.
Featured photo: Lacey Krysak and Andrea Pritts creating an agency fund for Alternatives.Yes
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Mar 3, 2026 | CFFC News
Women across Fayette County are invited to take part in the Fayette County Spring Opportunity Fair on March 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC), 250 West Main Street, Uniontown.
Hosted in partnership with Dress for Success Pittsburgh, EmployHER Pittsburgh, and CFFC, the free event is designed to remove barriers, build confidence, and connect women with the tools they need to advance in their careers.
The fair will feature local employers actively hiring, along with nonprofit organizations offering resources tailored to women’s personal and professional growth. Attendees will also receive:
- Wardrobe and makeup support to help them look and feel their best
- A complimentary professional headshot
- Employment readiness guidance, including résumé and interview support
- Free lunch during the event
“We’re excited to host this empowering event and bring together a variety of resources for local women,” said Jessica Hajek-Bates, CFFC Chief Executive Officer. “Women may register in advance, and walk-ins are welcome.”
Dress for Success Pittsburgh’s EmployHER Pittsburgh initiative works to ensure women have access to the support, opportunities, and community they need to define success on their own terms. Pop-up opportunity fairs like this one help eliminate common obstacles—such as limited childcare or transportation—by bringing multiple resources together in one accessible location.
Women interested in registering along with local employers and nonprofits interested in participating are encouraged to contact elizabeth@dressforsuccesspittsburgh.org for details.
Attendees and partners are asked to park behind the CFFC building and use the rear entrance.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Nov 25, 2025 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Tammy Barnhart admired the perfect match of a baby blue blouse with a beige and blue plaid blazer that a woman selected from the racks. Reading that, you might picture a department store, but this shopping experience did not involve a trip to the mall or any price tags – it was on wheels and free of charge. Barnhart is the Mobile Services Coordinator for Dress for Success Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that helps unemployed and underemployed women achieve economic independence by providing no-fee programs, development tools, and professional attire to thrive in work and in life.
“Of the 4,000 women we served last year, 2,500 were from the mobile units,” said Tanya Vokes, Dress for Success Pittsburgh’s Chief Executive Officer. Their three mobile units bring professional clothing, accessories, and hygiene products to women across the region.
In Fayette County, they partner with community organizations, such as Good Works Life Recovery House, Brownsville Free Public Library, and Legacy of Hope Center, to get referrals for clients and to bring their van to locations on a recurring basis. Though Dress for Success no longer has an office in Uniontown, the mobile services that they started in 2019 continue to help local women. Vokes says they plan ahead for their mobile services, stocking the racks on the van with clothing that fits the needs and the sizes of the women they will be meeting.
The Community Foundation of Fayette County (CFFC) awarded a Building a Stronger Fayette Fund grant this spring to support mobile services to Fayette County.
Renee Couser, Tammy Barnhart, and Tanya Vokes in front of the mobile services unit.
“A suit, a dress, or scrubs is more than just an outfit — having appropriate attire for a job or an interview can be crucial. Dress for Success is helping women with this important step in employment readiness, and they’re making great connections along the way,” said Renee M. Couser, CFFC Executive Director.
Dress for Success Pittsburgh notes that at least 96% of their clients are considered low-to-moderate income and approximately 40% rely on public transportation. Bringing services directly to community centers helps address these barriers as women are taking the next step in their career journey.
by Community Foundation of Fayette County | Apr 6, 2021 | Building a Stronger Fayette
Mary House, Inc. serves Uniontown area women who are homeless and/or in need of transitional housing, providing a safe and secure environment based on a common lifestyle of the residents. Mary House, Inc. was eager to leverage their Fayette Gives 2020 participation to raise awareness of their mission and raise funds to support their work. Among over forty charities, they placed third for number of donors and eighth for amount fundraised.
Fayette Gives is a unique opportunity for charities to participate in a collective effort to strengthen Fayette County, embracing the diversity of their missions and how they all play a role in our community. Participating charities are encouraged to spread the word, explain how their mission impacts residents, and energize their donors for this “day of giving.” Mary House, Inc. did just that, and their donor response was successful as a result.
Co-Directors of Mary House, Inc. – Sister Annette Frey, S.C. and Sister Jean Augustine, S.C.
“Fayette Gives and the preparations for it brought many unknown benefits to Mary House, Inc. Before this day, we were best known through “word of mouth.” More people are now aware of the needs of our area and the role CFFC plays in Fayette County,” said Sister Annette Frey, Co-Director of Mary House, Inc.
Charities can incorporate Fayette Gives into their annual fundraising plan, using this ready-made opportunity to engage with their donors and the larger community. Local businesses can also get involved by supporting all participating charities through a Fayette Gives sponsorship. The CFFC hopes for even more anticipation and excitement for Fayette Gives 2021, which will take place on November 16. Mary House, Inc. has already registered, alongside over twenty other charities so far. Register and learn more at www.fayettegives.org.
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