ECCF’s Greater DuBois Area Community Endowment Fund awards inaugural grants

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PHOTO: Elk County Community Foundation Executive Director Tiffany Boschert, on right, and committee members from the Greater DuBois Community Endowment Fund presented representatives of Cultural Resources with their grant award. The $2,330 grant will be used for Reitz Theater light and sound and updating the computer network system inside the main theater building and annex, operating the theater office and ticket sales system with increased efficiency, and installing security cameras both outside the facility and inside the theater.

From left:
Amanda Maicki and Joe Mitchell– Greater DuBois Fund (GDF) committee members, Lisa Witherite-Rieg – member of the Reitz Theater grants committee, Jane Heverley- President of the Reitz Theater, Judy Smith – Treasurer of the Reitz Theatre, Paul McCloskey – GDF committee member, Tiffany Boschert – ECCF Executive Director
Missing from photo: GDF committee member: Jan Strosky & Marsha McCurdy

ECCF awards inaugural grants from Greater DuBois Area Community Endowment Fund

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is pleased to announce the awarding of the first round of grants from The Greater DuBois Area Community Endowment Fund. The fund was established this past year at the Elk County Community Foundation through the estate of a generous donor. The intention of the fund is to benefit the residents of the DuBois area through charitable distributions to community organizations, with the hopes to continue to grow the fund through donations from the community.

During this inaugural granting cycle, five area organizations were the recipients of a total of $15,000 in grant funding to support programs that improve the quality of life for area residents. Grants were awarded to:

  • DuBois Area School District for a communication board at the playground at Juniata Elementary ($2,250)
  • We Care For Kids for a Clothing Closet for three schools ($3,000)
  • DuBois Central Catholic High School for Technology in the Classroom to purchase equipment for STREAM ($2,420)
  • The Salvation Army for their Love in a Backpack program for take-home nutritional support to get children through the weekend ($5,000)
  • Cultural Resources, Inc. (CRI) for Reitz Theater wiring for light and sound and updating the computer network system inside the main theater building and annex, operating the theater office and ticket sales system with increased efficiency, and installing security cameras both outside the facility and inside the theater ($2,330)

In partnership with the Elk County Community Foundation, a committee of residents from The Greater DuBois Area reviews all grant applications and chooses successful applicants. The Foundation administers the funds, accepts the grant applications, and distributes the grants to community organizations.

The Elk County Community Foundation, a non-profit grant making organization, is dedicated to enhancing community life by partnering with philanthropic donors to achieve their charitable goals. The Foundation provides administrative and investment management services to facilitate charitable giving and community improvement. ECCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.

Harrison & Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund to offer grant funding to local groups

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PHOTO: A 2024 grant for $5,000 from ECCF’s Harrison & Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund was awarded to the St. Marys Public Library. The grant funded a series of STEAM events that were offered to the public throughout the year. One popular program was dissection camp with Dr. Orin James. A new grant cycle is now open for 2025 grants.

Harrison & Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund to offer grant funding to local groups

Elk County organizations are invited to apply for grants through the current round of funding available through the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund, held at the Elk County Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2025.  

The fund offers an open grant process that seeks to support causes and projects that improve the quality of life in our Elk County area. Their mission is to ensure that the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund continues the good works that both Mr. & Mrs. Stackpole had done in our community during their lifetime and to support the philanthropic causes that were important to both of them.

For instructions on how to apply for a grant, go to the Foundation website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. Please call our office at 814-834-2125 with any questions. ECCF, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit organization that strives to strengthen our region through development, stewardship and grant making as it works with donors to achieve their philanthropic goals.

LEC established fund at ECCF for children’s before/after school and summer programs

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PHOTO: Photo: This Leadership Elk & Cameron team is collaborating to launch a meaningful project to establish a fund to support safe and engaging before and after-school programs for our youth. From left, group members include: Emma Schatz, LSW, Dickinson Center Inc.; Tiffany Boschert, Executive Director of the Elk County Community Foundation; Amanda Balon, Director of Big Maple Farm’s Natural Therapies; Ron Hammersely, Commonwealth Site Administrator for PA CareerLink Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter; Courtney Rieger, STEM Education Assistant at Community Education Center; and Alexandra Fleming, Community Office Manager at Fox Township CNB Bank

LEC establishes fund at ECCF for children’s before/after school and summer programs

A community-minded group of six participants from the current Leadership Elk & Cameron program recently established the School Aged Child Community Fund as their group project for the year. The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF)will administer this fund. The purpose of the fund is to help with tuition assistance for before-and-after school programs and summer programs for our youth in Elk and Cameron Counties.

This new fund will help many families in our communities that have difficulty affording quality before-and-after school programs and summer programs which play an important role in children’s development and well-being. The fund is in its initial stages and would benefit from donations from the community to help it grow and make a difference in many children’s lives.

LEC entered its eighteenth year in September 2024 with more than 235 participants completing the LEC program since the inaugural 2007 class. Leadership Elk & Cameron was created to educate its participants in the strengths and opportunities of the county to develop informed, civic-oriented volunteers to help direct the future of the region.

Individuals, businesses, and organizations that would like to be part of this project can donate any amount to support the fund. Donations can be made to the Elk County Community Foundation at PO Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857. Please write School Aged Children Community Fund in the memo line. Or donate online at www.elkcountyfoundation.org under Donate Now.

The Elk County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies. Contact ECCF for more information at 814-834-2125.

Mary Ann Wilhelm awards WWC Donor-for-a-Day grant to Christian Food Bank

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PHOTO: Women Who Care member, Mary Ann Wilhelm, center, awards her Donor-for-a-Day check for $250 to volunteers from the Christian Food Bank in St. Marys.

Wilhelm, WWC Donor-for-a-Day Winner, Awards Grant to Christian Food Bank

Members of Women Who Care (WWC), a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Four lucky members were able to award $250 to a favorite organization during this year’s WWC holiday membership drive.

Mary Ann Wilhelm awarded $250 to the Christian Food Bank in St. Marys; Connie Amendola presented her grant to Bowls of Love at St. Marys Methodist Church; Ann Bauer awarded her grant to the Boys & Girls Club; and Molly Gnan awarded a grant to CAPSEA. In total, Women Who Care has given $440,778 to area non-profits since 2010.

Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic donations and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Approximately 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Amendola awards WWC Donor-for-a-Day grant to Bowls of Love

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PHOTO: Women Who Care member, Connie Amendola, center, presented her award for $250 to Linda Johnson and Faye Whitmere from Bowls of Love at St. Marys Methodist Church.

Amendola, WWC Donor-for-a-Day Winner, Awards Grant to Bowls of Love

Members of Women Who Care (WWC), a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Four lucky members were able to award $250 to a favorite organization during this year’s WWC holiday membership drive.

Connie Amendola presented her grant to Bowls of Love at St. Marys Methodist Church; Ann Bauer awarded her grant to the Boys & Girls Club; Molly Gnan awarded a grant to CAPSEA; and Mary Ann Wilhelm awarded $250 to the Christian Food Bank in St. Marys. In total, Women Who Care has given $440,778 to area non-profits since 2010.

Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic donations and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Approximately 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.