Bob Esch welcomes Jim Evans as CFNA Board President

Bob Esch welcomes Jim Evans as CFNA Board President

Photo: Bob Esch, outgoing Board President of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies (CFNA), welcomes Dr. Jim Evans, on right, to the Board President position for the 2024-2026 term of office. CFNA is the parent company of the Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation.

St. Marys, PA: The Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies (CFNA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jim Evans to the position of Board President. Bob Esch, outgoing President, welcomed Evans as the new President at the February meeting of CFNA.

Mr. Esch spearheaded the establishment of the McKean County Community Foundation (MCCF), working with area business and civic leaders to explore the establishment of a community foundation in the McKean County area. As a result, MCCF was established in 2017. The Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, became the parent company of both the McKean County Community Foundation and the Elk County Community Foundation, which was established in 2000. Esch will remain on the Board of Trustees, continuing to inspire philanthropy and contribute to the growth of our communities.

Dr. Jim Evans is a philanthropic advocate for the McKean County area. Dr. Evans retired from Pitt Bradford in 2018 as the longest-serving administrator in the college’s 54-year history and the longest-serving chief student affairs officer in the history of the University of Pittsburgh. He has made an impact at the university and throughout the community through service to many organizations including United Way, Futures Rehabilitation Center, the Guidance Center, Bradford Ecumenical Home, the Friendship Table, and Bradford Rotary Club, as well as the McKean County Community Foundation. His expertise in community leadership will provide expert guidance to the CFNA Board of Trustees.

The Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies is the parent company of the Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation. With a shared vision to inspire philanthropy and strengthen our unique communities, our affiliate Foundations are making an impact in the Northern Alleghenies by providing the administrative and investment management services that make it easy for donors to establish funds that accomplish their charitable wishes. For more information contact the Foundation at 1- 844-238-2289.

Community Foundation announces Executive Director Transition

PHOTO:  Tiffany Boschert will assume the position of Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies upon the retirement of current Executive Director, Paula Fritz Eddy.

Community Foundation announces Executive Director Transition

The Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies is pleased to welcome new leadership. Tiffany Boschert is coming aboard as the new Executive Director, while we wish all the best to Paula Fritz Eddy, current Executive Director, who will be retiring in the coming months. The Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies is the parent company of the Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation.

Tiffany comes to the Executive Director position with a strong background in philanthropy, leadership, management, and community development. As the past Director of Development at Catholic Charities Counseling and Adoption Services, Erie, PA, Tiffany brings with her a wealth of experience in donor relations, grant writing, and budget management, along with a passion for positive change within our communities. Her professional expertise includes Family Development Specialist at The Guidance Center, Pregnancy and Parenting Counselor at Catholic Charities Counseling and Adoption Services, and Executive Director at the Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys.

The board initiated a comprehensive search process to find an individual with the experience, dedication, and vision to effectively manage and grow the Community Foundation well into the future. “Our Board of Trustees is thrilled to introduce a leader of Tiffany’s caliber into our community to guide our Community Foundation,” said parent Board President, Jim Evans. “It was evident to the committee almost immediately that Tiffany’s ability to perform at the highest level along with her experience in development and philanthropic leadership would align very well with the work of the Community Foundation.”

Evans continued, “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Paula for her excellent leadership of the Community Foundation. She will be retiring after a tremendous 19-year career as Executive Director. She has grown the Foundation to great heights and leaves us well positioned for success into the future.”

Tiffany stated, “This commitment perfectly mirrors my own passion for philanthropy and community betterment. I am enthusiastic about the prospect of leading the Elk and McKean County Community Foundation to new heights of community impact.”

Paula Fritz Eddy added, “I could not be happier to welcome Tiffany as the new Executive Director. She is well suited to lead our well-loved organization that consists of an extremely talented team and a long history of dedicated donors and nonprofit partners. She will continue to build on the Foundation’s achievements of the past 24 years and expand our impact in our communities.”

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 844-238-2289.

Women Who Care Member Nancy Hoffman awards grant to Senior Junction of Ridgway

PHOTO: Women Who Care member Nancy Hoffman awarded a $250 grant to the Senior Junction of Ridgway (SJR). Pictured left to right: Mary McGrath, SJR Treasurer; Michelle Bogacki, SJR Secretary; Nancy Hoffman, SJR Vice President and WWC Donor for a Day; Ray Imhof, SJR Board Member and Ridgway Mayor; Deb Imhof, SJR Steering Committee; Donna Bjorkquist, SJR Steering Committee; Jane Bryndel, SJR Steering Committee and WWC Board Member.

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 the WWC holiday membership drive. Nancy Hoffman awarded a grant to the Senior Junction of Ridgway; Lisa Salter provided funding to the St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group; Debby Bressler awarded her grant to the Johnsonburg Senior Center; and Andrea Allegretto awarded to the Helping Hand Food Pantry in Johnsonburg. Women Who Care has given $391,580 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. More than 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care. WWC is looking to grow its membership to make an even greater impact in the Elk County area. For a minimal donation you can make a difference for our communities. Find out all about Women Who Care on our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

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.

New ECCF scholarship funds offer more opportunities for students

PHOTO: The Tyler Bender EMS Scholarship Fund is just one of the new scholarship funds established at the Community Foundation this past year. High school seniors and adult learners can explore the scholarships available to them by logging on to www.elkcountyfoundation.org.  

 

Several new scholarship funds were established this past year at the Elk County Community Foundation. ECCF offers donors the opportunity to create funds to make their own philanthropic impact in the community. Donors can choose from a variety of fund types including scholarship, donor advised, designated, and agency endowment. ECCF administers a total of 122 scholarship funds in Elk County. These five scholarships funds are among those newly created in 2023-24.

Tyler Bender established the Tyler Bender EMS Scholarship Fund. This young man recently graduated from the Center for Emergency Medicine and felt compelled to give back by starting a scholarship to encourage other individuals to consider the EMS field. Tyler hopes the scholarship will help attract individuals to this field and help answer the constant demand for well-trained and qualified EMS professionals.

The Leo and Margaret Blumle Scholarship Fund was established by Leo’s brother, Charles Blumle, to satisfy the couple’s final wishes to help students from Cameron County pursue a higher education. Leo and Margaret placed a high emphasis on family, church, and service. During their life they lived in many places, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania before moving to Virginia. After Margaret’s death Leo decided to move back to Emporium, PA where he was born. The Blumle legacy will live on in the form of this scholarship for Cameron County students.

The Donn Elizabeth Walker Munz Memorial Scholarship Fund was created by her family and friends. Donn was a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School Class of 1996 and passed away on October 29, 2021. Honoring the faith that guided Donn and knowing the value and impact of her relationships and friendships she experienced at ECCHS, it was the family’s desire to establish a fund in her memory. The award will be given to a current ECCHS student who exhibits the qualities that Donn possessed.

The Staff Sgt. Carl Enis Military Scholarship Fund honors Carl Enis who died at the age of 31 in a helicopter incident on the Syrian Iraq border and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. With ties to the McKean County area, Enis visited family often and loved the outdoors in Pennsylvania. As a Pararescueman in the United States Airforce, he lived by the Pararescue Creed: “These things we do, that others may live.” To honor Enis, they renamed the Tally Ho Bridge in the Kinzua Creek region on Route 219 as the Staff Sgt. Carl Enis Memorial Bridge. This scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior at McKean, Cameron, Potter or Elk County High Schools or an adult learner. Adults must be a member of the National Guard, reserves, active duty in any branch of the service. Adults or high school seniors may be enrolled in the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC). Must be serving under honorable conditions.

The Kelley Hritz Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Kelley (Musselman) Hritz. Kelley moved to St. Marys in 2006 with her husband and son after graduating from high school in New Paris, and the Pittsburgh Technical Institute with a degree in Graphic Design. During her time in St. Marys, she worked in the areas of serving people with disabilities, quality management, home healthcare, and banking. But as an artist at heart, she loved music, theater, poetry, drawing and painting. Kelley’s scholarship is open to a high school senior from Elk, McKean, Cameron Counties, and Chestnut Ridge High School in New Paris, PA. Kelley’s love for the arts will live on through this scholarship, helping future artists to create amazing and beautiful things. The scholarship is open to high school seniors from Elk, McKean, Cameron Counties, and Chestnut Ridge High School in New Paris, PA

Students can apply for these scholarships and many more by logging onto the Foundation website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. 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.

Women Who Care Member Allegretto awards grant to Helping Hands Food Pantry

Women Who Care member Andrea Allegretto presented a check for $250 to Gloria Molella, Helping Hands Food Pantry Director. Members of Women Who Care, 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 each able to award $250 to a favorite organization during the WWC holiday membership drive. Women interested in joining or learning more about Women Who Care are welcome to contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.