Women Who Care awards $45,300 in grants at Annual Meeting

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Local organizations were presented with their grant awards by Women Who Care committee members

Photo:  The members of Women Who Care awarded $45,300 in grants to 13 local organizations at their 2023 annual business meeting held at the Johnsonburg Firehall. Grant recipients were presented with checks by members of the Women Who Care Steering Committee.

Front:  Leslie Bauer, Elk Co. Humane Society; Women Who Care Steering Committee Members, June Sorg, Kris Kronenwetter, Barb Duffy, Diane Colgan, and Paula Micale; Elizabeth Mader, Faithful Quilters.

Middle: Harriet Stahli and Gloria Molella from Helping Hands Food Pantry; Kathy Ford, Neighbors Feeding Neighbors; Chi Catalone, PSU Suicide Prevention; Laura Funaki, Friends of Twin Lakes.

Back: Elizabeth Erich, Humane Society; Sean Rockmore, Cen-Clear; Joe Jacob, Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys; Nick Burdick, St. Marys Ambulance Association; Bob Asti and Bill Kraus, Crystal Fire Department.

Grant recipients missing from photo were Special Olympics, Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services and Tri-county Rails to Trails.

Women Who Care awards $45,300 in grants at Annual Meeting

Women Who Care (WWC) awarded $45,300 in grants to local nonprofit organizations after 190 members of WWC cast their votes for their favorite projects at the Annual Meeting in October. Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic leadership and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving.

The 2023 annual meeting was held at the Johnsonburg Firehall. Attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner, grant presentations and voting, entertainment by the Allegheny Harmonizers, the awarding of grants, and a delightful social evening with members and guests.

The Women Who Care organization holds a donor advised fund at the Elk County Community Foundation. Since its inception in 2009, the WWC fund has awarded over $391,000 in grants to enhance local nonprofit programs. The fund was established and is perpetuated by a group of community-minded women who continue to work together to address and support issues that are important to women. WWC membership now numbers 281 amazing women who generously donate each year to the fund. The financial impact of the combined donations of so many women has made a huge difference in our communities. In addition to the grants given by Women Who Care, another goal of WWC is to educate the membership on the type of financial needs encountered by our nonprofit organizations as they work to provide their services to families in our communities.

WWC offers the opportunity for every woman to become a member and participate in charitable giving in their community. Members each donate a very affordable $100 or more annually. All donations are pooled together each year to determine the amount available for granting that year. WWC extends an invitation to all area women to join their organization.

For more details about Women Who Care membership please contact the Elk County Community Foundation at 814-834-2125 or by email at eccf@elkcountyfoundation.org.

The Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation are affiliates of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.

Take a look at the Elk County Community Foundation’s Annual Report online

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Take a look at the Elk County Community Foundation’s Annual Report online

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) 2022 Annual Report, “Reaching New Heights Through Community Partnerships”, is now available online at the Foundation’s website, www.elkcountyfoundation.org. The annual report presents an overview of the accomplishments and partnerships that have inspired positive change in our communities over the past year.

From its beginning in 2000, ECCF has been blessed with the support of charitable-minded individuals, organizations, and businesses that have invested in the future of our communities. The 200+ funds established by these generous donors have given millions of dollars to programs and projects in our area. ECCF’s impact in the community continues to grow as generous donors open new charitable funds at the Foundation each year.

In 2022 alone, ECCF awarded over $1.1 million dollars, giving out 193 grants and 203 scholarships. This amount includes $250,000 in grants administered and distributed by the Elk County Community Foundation through a major partnership with the Elk County Commissioners from a portion of the funds from Elk County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The publication tells the story of donors and recipients, types of funds, and the ways in which these funds have benefited our community through grants to non-profit organizations, schools, and municipalities, as well as through scholarships awarded to hundreds of students.

The annual report can be found online at www.elkcountyfoundation.org under About/Publications. A complimentary printed copy can be picked up at the foundation office in the Franklin Center located at 32 South St. Marys Street.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit organization that provides the administrative and investment management services that make it easy for donors to accomplish their charitable wishes with their tax-deductible donations while improving the quality of life in our communities. For more information, please contact ECCF at 814-834-2125.

Apply by September 15 for ECCF’s Borough of Ridgway Charitable Fund grants

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The Elk County Community Foundation is accepting applications through September 15 for Borough of Ridgway Charitable Fund grants.  The purpose of the fund is to provide support to organizations that contribute to the quality of life of the residents of the Borough of Ridgway.

Grants are available to nonprofit organizations, municipalities, schools, and churches that benefit the Ridgway area. Awards may be considered for start-up funds, new projects, or to enhance well-established programs. The deadline to submit a grant application is September 15.

The Borough of Ridgway Charitable Fund was established from a gift received from the estate of Sara-Jane Stackpole in 2006. This is the 17th year of distributions for the fund. With the awarding of the 2022 grants, the fund has given nearly $291,000 back to organizations that serve the Ridgway residents.

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.

PHOTO: In 2022, the St. Leo School in Ridgway received a $5,000 grant from the Borough of Ridgway Charitable Fund for updates to their playground. St Leo students are enjoying one of the new additions to the playground, a GaGa Ball Pit.

Community Foundation’s Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund awards $14,225 in Grants

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The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) was pleased to award a total of $14,225 in grant monies from the Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund. These dollars will go toward several different projects that will serve and aid the community. This is the second year that the endowed fund has awarded grant dollars to eligible organizations, schools, and religious groups that benefit the residents of the Johnsonburg Area School District.

From this year’s distribution, grants were awarded to Helping Hands Food Pantry to assist in food purchasing, Johnsonburg Area School District for select teachers to attend an educational technology expo and conference, Johnsonburg Senior Citizens Club for basement doors, Johnsonburg Borough for public trash cans downtown, Johnsonburg Community Trust for new bay window roofs, and the Johnsonburg Fire Department for saws and other equipment.

The Johnsonburg Area Endowment Fund has awarded over $28,000 in granting dollars since its establishment in 2021. This endowment was created with a check from the selling of the Johnsonburg Community TV Company, with the intention of helping the residents of the Johnsonburg Area School District.

The Elk County Community Foundation oversees multiple granting cycles throughout the year. For more information about grant opportunities or an interest in establishing a fund through ECCF, visit our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. Our office can also be contacted at 814-834-2125. Feel free to check out our social media pages for updates. 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 partnering with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals.

Pictured Left to right seated is the Johnsonburg Area Endowment Advisory Committee, Janice Carnovale, Alfred Maletto, Barb Duffy and Charlie Constable. Standing is Paula Fritz Eddy, Community Foundation Executive Director, Ron King of Helping Hands Food Pantry, Rachel Kilhoffer from the Johnsonburg Borough, Stephanie Distler of the Johnsonburg Community Trust, Larry Pistner of the Johnsonburg Area Senior Center Club,  Tom Costanzo and Neal Constable of the Johnsonburg Fire Department and Karen Haberberger from the Johnsonburg Area School District.

Elk County Catholic awarded $74,585 from Community Foundation Funds

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The Elk County Community Foundation, (ECCF) was pleased to award a total of $74,585 in grants to the Elk County Catholic School System (ECCSS). The grants are awarded annually to the school system through distributions from four individual funds that were established to benefit the school. The fund donors have entrusted the Elk County Community Foundation with administering these funds as they carry out the charitable wishes of each of the donors.

The Elk County School System Fund is an Agency Endowment Fund. The school was one of the original supporters of the Foundation when they created this fund many years ago. These funds are established by nonprofit organizations to provide perpetual income in support of future operations. A percentage of the fund is available each year to the agency. The fund distributed $600 this year to ECCSS.

The remaining three funds are Designated Funds. These funds are established by donors who wish to support the good work of one or more designated organizations. Almost any 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, municipality, or faith-based organization can be designated to receive support for its mission. The annual distribution of the fund dollars is managed by the Elk County Community Foundation.

The Edna Geitner Bennett Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded $1,475 to the school. This scholarship fund awards at least $1,000 annually to a student. The fund makes an annual distribution that is split between the scholarship and the general needs of the Elk County Catholic School System.

The Harold C. and Marguerite M. Lenze Tuition Assistance Fund for the St. Marys Catholic Elementary and Middle Schools awarded $42,019. This designated fund was left to ECCF in the estate plans of Harold and Midge Lenze. The fund makes an annual distribution to SMCEMS to be used for tuition assistance for families in need regardless of income.

The R. Thomas and Mary Rita Valentine Charitable Fund for the Elk County Catholic School System is a designated fund left to ECCF in the estate of Tom and Mary Rita Valentine. It distributed $30,491 to ECCSS this year. The fund makes an annual 2.5% distribution to be used for tuition assistance for families and to support the operation of the school system.

The Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies (CFNA) is the parent company of the Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation. CFNA 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. Donors can learn more about establishing a fund by contacting the Foundation at 1-814-834-2125, or visiting the ECCF website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) presented a check for $74,585 to the Elk County Catholic School System as an annual distribution from four individual funds administered by the Foundation. Sam MacDonald, President of ECCSS, Franki Herzing, Director of Advancement, Paula Fritz Eddy, ECCF Executive Director, and Tom Wagner, President of ECCF Board of Directors.