Elk County Cruisers create fund at the Community Foundation

Photo: The Elk County Cruisers recently established the Elk County Cruisers Car Club Fund at the Elk County Community Foundation. From left to right are Tim Robinson, Communications; Andy Hoy, Treasurer; Tiffany Boschert, ECCF Executive Director; and Joe Walker, President.

Elk County Cruisers establish fund at the Community Foundation

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is pleased to administer a new fund that was recently established at the Foundation by the Elk County Cruisers Club. The Elk County Cruisers Car Club Fund is a donor-advised fund with the goal of supporting their communities for years to come.

The Cruisers were founded in 2010 by a group of friends who love cars. To date, they have donated over $25,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys, the Crystal Fire Department, and the St. Marys Area Municipal Airport. This past year, the club has raised funds toward the construction of a flagpole and monument at Shawmut Park in St. Marys to hold activities such as Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day ceremonies.

The club hosts several car events and activities in the area including cruise-ins at the Elk Country Visitor Center, Dairy Queen, Rick’s Doughboys, and the Fall Fest. They are hoping to do more throughout Elk County. Members also participate in car shows, events, and parades throughout the region.

Their biggest fundraiser is the Annual Car Show in August at the American Spirit Aviation Festival at the St. Marys Area Municipal Airport. This year is their 15th annual car show, and they also sponsor the “Pistons, Planes and Pinups” contest at the Aviation Festival. They hold a monthly Cruise-In at the Straub Brewery Visitor Center & Tap Room from May through October. The next one is July 17th, rain or shine.

Donations to help support the charitable goals of the Cruisers and grow this fund and can be made online at www.elkcountyfoundation.org by clicking on the Donate Now button, or checks can be mailed to ECCF, PO Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857. Please put the name of the fund in the memo line.

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.

Photo: The Elk County Cruisers recently established the Elk County Cruisers Car Club Fund at the Elk County Community Foundation. From left to right are Tim Robinson, Communications; Andy Hoy, Treasurer; Tiffany Boschert, ECCF Executive Director; and Joe Walker, President.

Grant opportunities now available at the Community Foundation

Photo: In 2024, the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund at the Elk County Community Foundation awarded a $5,000 STEAM grant to the St. Marys Public Library. One of the many interesting programs funded by this grant was their Dissection Camp for young scientists. A new granting cycle is now open for qualified organizations with an application deadline of July 15.

Apply until July 15 for grants from two Elk County Community Foundation Funds

Grant opportunities are currently available from two of the open grant funds held at the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF). The deadline for applying for this round of grants is July 15, 2025. Grants are awarded through an open, competitive grant process open to any 501c3 organization, school, municipality, or organized religion for qualifying projects that serve the general public.

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund and the Elk County Development Fund welcome grant applications for worthy projects that provide services for the residents of our communities. Their goal is to support causes and projects that improve the quality of life in Elk County.

Applicants can access information on the funds, instructions on how to apply, and the grant application on the Elk County Community Foundation website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. If you have questions about the application process, whether or not your organization qualifies, or would like to speak to someone about your project, please call the Foundation office at 814-834-2125.

The Elk County Community Foundation provides administrative and investment management services that make it easy for donors to accomplish their charitable wishes, while improving the quality of life in our communities. The Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies is the parent company of the Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation.

Grants from ECCF’s Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund are now available

PHOTO: The Johnsonburg Area School District Elementary School was awarded a $1,500 grant last year to purchase books for their Book Vending Machine. The Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund, administered by the Elk County Community Foundation, awarded over $15,000 in grants to seven local organizations in 2024. The granting cycle for 2025 is now open. Applications are due by June 30.

Apply until June 30 for grants from the Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund

The Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund, held at the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF), is now accepting grant applications for the current granting cycle. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2025.

Grants are awarded through an open, competitive grant process open to any 501c3 organization, school, municipality, or organized religion that benefits the residents of the Johnsonburg Area School District. Qualified applicants with a cause or project that improves the quality of life in the Johnsonburg area are encouraged to apply.

The Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund awarded $15,239 in grants in 2024. Grants were given to the Johnsonburg Borough, $2,500 for public trash cans; Helping Hands Food Pantry, $3,000 for food supplies; Wilcox Presbyterian Church, $1,609 for a public access AED station; Johnsonburg Little League, $2,950 for new roofing on dugouts; Johnsonburg Fire Department, $1,680 for EV emergency plug and hose fitting for brush fire skid; JASD Elementary School, $1,500 for storybooks for book vending machine; and Johnsonburg Community Center, $2,000 to refinish windows.

For instructions on how to apply for a grant go to the Foundation website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. Feel free to contact the Foundation office at 814-834-2125 with any questions. The Elk County Community Foundation is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by partnering with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals.

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

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

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.