New scholarship at ECCF honors the memory of John & Bette Wachob

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John and Bette Wachob were life-long Johnsonburg residents and active community members. The Elk County Community Foundation is pleased to announce The John and Betty Wachob Scholarship Fund established in their memory by their family. This scholarship will award $1000 annually to a graduating senior from Johnsonburg Area High School pursuing a teaching, education, or healthcare degree.

John and Bette were both graduates of Johnsonburg Area High School and cared deeply about the school and town they lived in for their entire life. They believed in Johnsonburg and valued the education they, and their family, received in the Johnsonburg Area schools.

Bette worked for many years at the Elk County General Hospital and the St. Mary’s Area School District as the Cafeteria, Food Service Director. She was a member of the Democratic Women, Lady Elks and an avid bingo player.

John was a World War II Army veteran and active with a variety of organizations in town, but most notably, was a founding officer of the Johnsonburg Knothole Association, Johnsonburg Lions Club, and the Biddy Basketball Program and started the Green Hornets grade school basketball team. John was a local businessman, sports enthusiast, and in his retirement years a longtime school bus driver.

Community Foundation is one of 40 statewide partners with PATH (Partners for Access to Higher Education). Students who receive a scholarship award from the Community Foundation may qualify for matching dollars through PHEAA and the PATH program if they attend a PA school. In 2022, 58 students received a total of nearly $75,000 in matching funds through ECCF.

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.

Students: apply now through March 7 for scholarships

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Students can apply now for scholarships: deadline is March 7

Over 170 scholarship opportunities are available to area students who are attending colleges, universities or vocational schools.Students can apply for the scholarships through the Elk Community Foundation (ECCF) and the McKean County Community Foundation (MCCF), who are both affiliates of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies. The deadline for the submission of their online applications is March 7. 

Students can access applications on the Foundation websites: www.elkcountyfoundation.org for ECCF and www.mckeancountyfoundation.org for MCCF. Students should go to the “Scholarships/Information for Students” section on the website that gives detailed information on the wide variety of scholarships available. Here they can begin the application process through an online portal. There are opportunities for everyone who is attending a post-secondary education or vocational school, including non-traditional students.

Students will create an account on the online portal where they will take an eligibility quiz that will automatically match them to all the scholarships that are available to them based on the criteria they enter. Each student will then fill out applications online. Students can easily upload letters of reference and transcripts to their applications. Applications can be worked on, saved, and then completed at a later time. Students are able to track the status of each application. The online program will keep applicants on track with their scholarship reporting requirements with automated email reminders and online reporting forms.l

Between Elk and McKean County there have been 15 new scholarship funds added just this year. Donors established these scholarships in memory of, in honor of, or on behalf of groups or individuals who believe in the power of education and want to help local students.

The Community Foundation is one of 40 statewide partners with PATH (Partners for Access to Higher Education). Students who receive a scholarship award from the Community Foundation may qualify for matching dollars through PHEAA and the PATH program if they attend a PA school. In 2022, 58 students received a total of nearly $75,000 in matching funds.

Visit our websites to see what is available. For further details, contact your guidance counselor or the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125 or 1-844-238-2289.

Blumle Nursing Scholarship established at ECCF

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The Elk County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of the Judy Enstrom Blumle Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarship is now available to a graduating senior from Cameron County High School who is pursuing a degree in nursing. Her family and friends wish to honor her educational commitment by endowing a scholarship in her honor to assist many students over time in furthering their education in the Nursing field.

Students can apply for the Blumle scholarship on the Foundation website: www.elkcountyfoundation.org. For detailed information go to the “Scholarships/Information for Students” section and click on the last green button for “Schools located in these Counties or School Districts”. Here they can begin the application process by accessing the Foundation’s online portal. Students will create an account on the online portal and follow the instructions to complete their application.

Judith (Judy) Enstrom Blumle passed away in 2021. Though often soft-spoken, Judy had a strong will and personality and put a high value on education. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Muskingum College in 1961 and later moved with her husband in 1976 to Emporium, PA. She was very committed to her family, friends, and to the town of Emporium. For many years, Judy worked as her husband’s (Dr. Charles A. Blumle – “Chuck”) partner in his dental practice. Over her years in Emporium, she volunteered locally throughout the community.

The Blumle scholarship will award $1,000 to a high school senior from Cameron County High School who is pursuing a post-secondary degree in nursing or a nursing certificate, is active in school and community, and demonstrates need. Students who receive a scholarship award from the Community Foundation may also qualify for matching dollars through PHEAA and the PATH program if they attend a PA school.

The Elk County Community Foundation 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.

ECCF’s Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund awards $31,960 in grants

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Community Foundation’s Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund awards $31,960 in grants

The Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund, under the management of the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF), recently awarded $31,960 in grants to eight non-profit organizations. The Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund (RBCF), an endowed fund, was established from a gift received from the estate of Sara-Jane Stackpole. 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.

An advisory committee made up of Ridgway community leaders and residents is appointed by the Board of Directors of ECCF to review grant applications and distribute grants each year. This is the 16th year of distributions for the RBCF. With the awarding of the 2022 grants they will have given nearly $291,000 back to organizations that serve the Ridgway residents.

The following are the list of grantees for 2022:

The Elk County Community Foundation encourages local residents and businesses to consider making a tax-deductible donation to help grow this community-oriented fund and increase the granting dollars available each year. Donations to the Ridgway Charitable Fund can be sent in care of the Elk County Community Foundation at PO Box 934 in St. Marys. For more information, visit the Community Foundation’s website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org or contact ECCF at 834-2125. ECCF 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.