Building our youth for the future

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Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) helps drive social impact in Elk County. ECCF believes that our youth are our future, and it’s important for us to invest resources in initiatives and programs that have a positive impact on the youth in our community.

Since 2000, the 176 charitable funds at ECCF have invested millions into programs that impact our youth, helping our area’s thinkers and dreamers create meaningful change through the funds they established. Children’s programs in many different categories have been supported by ECCF grants over the past 20 years. These grants have had a major impact in life in Elk County, providing a generation of our youth with programs that directly affect the physical, social and emotional well-being of our children and their families.

Many community and school libraries have received grants for creation of programs like children’s areas, story hours, book collections, technology equipment, teen reading lounge, and early reader programs. Funding was awarded for a Rosetta Stone software license, books for Dickinson’s Literacy Van, a homework club at the Boys & Girls Club, and SMAHS Certified Nursing Assistant Program.

Our park systems and school playgrounds have grown and thrived with financial assistance for playground equipment for Ridgway YMCA, Johnsonburg Borough, St. Leo School and Johnsonburg and Ridgway school districts, the restoration of Kaulmont Park in St. Marys, Borough of Ridgway skate park, Johnsonburg Knothole playground and park, Memorial Park Playland, maintenance at Angela Huey Park, picnic tables for Highland Township, batting cage at Sandy Park, pavilion construction at Ridgway Community Pool, and a portable ice rink for St. Marys Recreation.

Youth sports received much needed funding at various parks and schools for renovation of backstops, dugouts, fences, gates, restroom construction, court lighting, batting cages, press box for girls’ softball, archery program, and a basketball funnel. Grants were awarded to the St. Marys Sportsmen for their Youth Field Day, to Ridgway schools to refurbish the gym floor, and to St. Marys Little League to send their senior team to districts.

Music and the arts were supported with grants for the Missoula Theater program, a trailer for band equipment, band camp, a fourth grade instrument program, artist in residence, drama club support, funding for live performances, and the establishment of a Creative Corner.

Our students have benefited from technology grants for their schools and clubs for digital streaming, robotics club, I-pad lab, video conferencing equipment, computer carts, wireless connectivity, technology upgrades, interactive whiteboards, STEM lab, elementary school science lab, foreign language computers, LCD projectors, and drafting technology. 

Social issues were addressed with grants for programs by CAPSEA, the Guardian Angel Center, the Christian Food Bank, the United Way’s Success by Six program, Dickinson’s Autism program, American Red Cross First Aid Class, the DARE program, Camp Flutterbye, Special Olympics, a teen obesity feasibility study, after school programs, and other community programs.

Grants have support Rails to Trails in both Ridgway and St. Marys, giving families a beautiful walking and biking area to enjoy. Friends of Twin Lakes are utilizing grant dollars to repair trails and conduct a study to help ensure the future of the park.

The list could go on and on. Our youth, our families, and our communities have benefited from the generosity of the donors who established their own funds, and those who have donated to the general funds of the Elk County Community Foundation. Our future lies in ensuring that our youth have the education and community resources they need to help them develop into caring, responsible adults.

By connecting donors, community leaders, and nonprofits, the goal of the Elk County Community Foundation is to help build a thriving area where possibility and opportunity are available for all. For more information, contact the Foundation at 834-2125 or eccf@elkcountyfoundation.org.

Scholarship funds offer a lesson in caring

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The family of Corporal Adam Wolfel created a scholarship in his memory after his passing in 2014

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) manages scholarship funds established by people and organizations with a passion for education, and many times, to honor or remember someone who has made a lasting impact in their lives and their community. ECCF administers 98 such scholarships, and has awarded two million dollars in educational aid to Elk County students in its 20-year history.

Anyone can establish a scholarship for higher education, including businesses, community groups, individuals, or groups of individuals. Scholarships take on many forms with eligibility criteria determined by the donors. These can include academics, financial need, student demographics, geographic, community involvement, overcoming adversity, athletic ability, career choice, etc. There are so many different reasons why people and organizations choose to start a scholarship.

Memorial scholarships are a wonderful way to remember a loved one who has passed. U.S. Marine Corporal Adam M. Wolfel was born in 1991 in St. Marys, the son of Michael and Jane Ritter Wolfel. His family and friends established the Corporal Adam M. Wolfel Memorial Scholarship fund in 2015 to honor Adam’s memory with a scholarship to be awarded to a graduating senior that will be attending technical trade educational program. Adam graduated from SMAHS in 2009 and joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a rifleman and machine gunner. His natural leadership qualities were evident throughout his deployments to Marjah, Afghanistan and Okinawa, Japan. After his honorable discharge in 2013, he was employed by Allegheny Electric Service and then enrolled in the Electrical Technology program at the Pennsylvania College of Technology. After his passing in 2014, the family decided to honor Adam’s memory with this scholarship established in his name. The Wolfel family remains active in raising awareness in Elk County for PTSD and suicide prevention.

The purpose of a scholarship is sometimes targeted for a specialized area that was meaningful to the person for whom the scholarship is named. Music, the arts, medicine, and trade schools, are some of the areas of interest chosen by scholarship donors. For example, a few of the scholarships established at ECCF are: Taylor Schutz Lady Dutch Basketball, Golumbic Art Award, Michele M. Spence Nursing, Herbert Lenze RASD Marching Band, Nicholas A. Sinibaldi Music, Ram Gridiron Football, Jacqueline M. Renaud National Honor Society, the Greiner/Roof Law scholarship, the Gus and Helen Wolf Memorial Scholarship for St. Vincent College Students, and many more.

Creating a scholarship fund can be a great way to help students realize the value of a good education and reach their educational goals. In 2011, Dr. Francis Grandinetti established the Grandinetti Educational Scholarship Fund. Dr. Grandinetti is the former administrator for the Ridgway Area School District and wanted to help future educators from this school district. The scholarship is awarded to a Ridgway Area High School graduating senior who has been accepted to a university in Pennsylvania as an education major and plans to pursue a career as an elementary or secondary classroom teacher or specialist.

The beginning of the Johnsonburg Alumni & Friend’s Scholarship grew out of the group’s initial thought to have all graduating classes from Johnsonburg Area High School come together and enjoy the evening with classmates and friends, an idea that became a reality and has met with great success over the years. They also chose to establish an annual scholarship that would be offered to a graduating senior to benefit the student’s college funding. The group stated, “the scholarship will give our future graduates a start for their continuing education. We are inspired that our goal will give them opportunity for success.”

Many local companies and organizations create scholarships to help increase their philanthropic presence in the areas they serve. ECCF holds scholarship funds established by several American Legions, Rotary Clubs, and Lion Clubs throughout Elk County. The Ridgway Rotary Club stated the purpose of their scholarship, “to recognize and reward students who have demonstrated outstanding service to their school and community. Scholarship winners will be inspired to build goodwill and peace in the world.” All of these organizations have a special interest in supporting their youth and are dedicated to providing service to their communities.

Although each of the 98 scholarships at ECCF tells its own story, all of the funds are designed for donors who are interested in helping students of all ages achieve their goals. The Community Foundation makes it easy for individuals, businesses and organizations to establish a scholarship fund. A fund can be created in as little as one meeting, with a short fund agreement, and a single gift. Or a fund can be set up with an initial gift that is added to in the future. A fund can also be started as part as your estate plan. ECCF manages all the administrative details of a donor’s fund. Contact the Elk County Community Foundation at 834-2125 or eccf@elkcountyfoundation.org for more information on scholarships.

Local doctors are past recipients of ECCF scholarship

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Four local doctors are proof that the investment made by the donor who established the Joseph A. Williams Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund has had long-lasting effects for our communities. Amy Kelly, DO, Julia Wonderling, MD, Tim Vollmer, DO, and Blake Housler, OD are past scholarship winners from this fund. They have all returned to the area to share their talents and expertise with their hometown friends and neighbors.

As the saying goes, giving is not just about making a donation, it’s about making a difference. The 98 scholarships administered by the Elk County Community Foundation have surely made a tremendous difference for many students in our area.

Financial assistance is a necessity for many college students, particularly those planning careers that require many years of education beyond the undergraduate level. Every student’s situation is unique, but one thing is all too common: a financial gap that needs to be filled with parental contributions, scholarships, money-saving efforts or more time at work. By taking some of the financial pressure off of students and families, we can enable greater success in college. Every bit of assistance helps deserving students who want to graduate with their degree and give back to society. The Joseph A. Williams Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund helped four of our local doctors reach their goal.

Julia Wonderling, MD, was the recipient of $4,200 from the Williams Scholarship Fund in 2003.  Dr. Wonderling serves her community as an Emergency Room physician at Penn Highlands Elk. Dr. Wonderling

graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia and did her Emergency Medicine internship and residency at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. 

Amy Kelly, DO, specializes in Family Medicine and now serves area residents through Penn Highlands Healthcare. Dr. Kelly was awarded $4,200 from the Williams Scholarship Fund in 2004. She graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and did her Family Medicine internship and residency at Altoona Hospital.

As a Pain Management specialist, Tim Vollmer, DO, practices at the Penn Highlands Interventional Pain Center. Dr. Vollmer graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, and completed his residency in Anesthesiology and a Fellowship in Multidisciplinary Pain Medicine at the University of Florida. He was awarded a $1,750 scholarship in 2010 and a $1,000 scholarship in 2011, both from the Joseph A. Williams Medical Scholarship Fund. Dr. Vollmer stated, “The Williams Medical Scholarship and my time spent job shadowing various physicians at Elk Regional Hospital as a high school and college student were certainly my gateway into a career in medicine. Prior to this experience I had very little experience in healthcare and a limited understanding of possible healthcare related careers. This scholarship helped form my path into developing the career I have today, and more importantly, it granted the opportunity to utilize that career in improving the healthcare of the population in my hometown that I care so deeply about. I hope the foundation and scholarship continue to grow into the future to help develop additional physicians who will ultimately serve our own local community.”

Dr. Blake Andrew Housler resides in St. Marys and is an Optometry Specialist at Allegheny Eye Care in Kane and Smethport. He graduated with honors from Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2015. Dr. Housler received a $1,000 scholarship in 2011 from the Joseph A. Williams Memorial Medical Scholarship Fund. Dr. Housler stated, “I can’t believe it’s been almost 10 years since I’ve been awarded the Joseph A. Williams medical scholarship. I am honored to be among this list and I am blessed to be back to help serve members of the community that mean so much to my family and myself.”

Scholarships matter. ECCF has awarded nearly two million dollars in scholarships to Elk County students since 2000. Scholarships help students pursue degrees that impact their community and instill a greater sense of belonging – and motivation – to make it through their higher education.

Scholarships are more important than ever from a financial perspective — and scholarship programs are crucial to the students in our community. To learn more about establishing a scholarship of your own, contact the Foundation at 834-2125 or email eccf@elkcountyfoundation.org. The Elk County Community Foundation 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.

WWC Annual Meeting goes virtual in 2020, reaches quarter million mark

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This WWC Steering Committee group staged the 2020 virtual annual meeting from the Elk County Community Foundation office.

The 2020 Fall Business meeting of Women Who Care (WWC) was held virtually on October 1st with 182 WWC members voting on grant funding for their favorite organizations and projects. The membership awarded $36,979 in grants to eleven non-profit organizations.

Women Who Care saw its beginning on October 8, 2009, when one hundred women from all walks of life came together at the St. Marys Country Club for one express purpose: how do we collaborate to effect a change to improve the lives of our families today and in the future? After a year of organizing, that question was answered when WWC began granting their pooled donations in 2010 to support local non-profit organizations. As of today, a total of $268,400 dollars in grants have been invested into worthy projects that enhance life in our communities.

Every fall since 2010, WWC members have gathered at their annual meeting to vote on their organizations and projects to receive a grant that year. Then came the fall of 2020, when COVID-19 changed everything.

Even though the annual in-person meeting could not be held this year, the women of WWC showed their spirit of philanthropy and happily participated in the “Girls Night In” 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting. All organizations applying for a grant were asked to submit a short video on their project. The videos were compiled and placed on YouTube for members to review prior to placing their vote.

An annual meeting packet mailed to all members included their voting ballot as well as the opportunity to pre-order turkey dinners to be picked up at one of three drive-thru locations in the county, and to purchase chances on two beautiful mega-baskets and a 50-50 drawing. After picking up 159 turkey dinners the night of the event, many members gathered safely with small groups of trusted friends at someone’s home to enjoy their dinners and tune into the Live Facebook event that announced the winners of the grants, door prizes, baskets and 50-50. Additional income from our member’s tremendous support of the raffles allowed every grant request to be funded this year.  The event was a huge success with more votes being cast for grant recipients than any past year.

Area organizations receiving 2020 awards were: Guardian Angel Center, $5,000 for a custom counter; WRC/Ridgmont Campus, $2,579 for Amazon Fire Tablets for face-to-face family contact; Friends of Twin Lakes, $3,500 to develop management plan; Ridgway YMCA, $1,500 for deep cleaning, 2 foggers & disinfectant; Boys & Girls Club, $5,000 to enhance & offset programs; Elk County Farm Bureau, $2,500 for AG Mobile Lab; Penn Highlands Elk, $2,000 for Jaxson bags; City of St. Marys, $5,000 for portable ice rink; Penn State Extension 4-H, $3,000 for virtual programming; St. Leo’s School, $2,400 for air purifier, and $500 for You Go Girl program; Johnsonburg School District, $4,000 for technology program.

The 2020 granting monies were made possible through donations made by the 255 area women who are members of Women Who Care, a philanthropic giving project of the Elk County Community Foundation

(ECCF). The women of Elk County have truly embraced the Women Who Care mission. WWC was built locally, and gives locally, covering issues like human services, recreational opportunities, women and girl equality, strengthening families, and education. Members find that with the same amount of money they would use to write a check to a charity, they get to make more of a difference to more organizations, spend more time with friends, and learn more about what their community needs. Two gatherings a year bring members together to socialize, learn about programs in our community, and vote on projects to support each year during its fall granting meeting.

With a goal to provide grants to local charitable organizations, women make an annual minimum contribution ranging from $100 to $1,000. Their donation entitles them to a vote on what agencies will receive the dollars as well as the opportunity to enjoy yearly events. All area women are invited to join Women Who Care. For more information, contact ECCF at 834-2125, by email at eccf@elkcountyfoundation.org, or visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

Nonprofits Create Rainy Day Accounts at ECCF

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Nonprofits Create Rainy Day Accounts at ECCF

ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future.  This is the 15th in a series of articles on the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) during its 20th anniversary year, highlighting its history and impact in the community

ST. MARYS: The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is known for helping area organizations fund their projects through grant awards, but ECCF offers other services to non-profits as well. Just like our families, agencies should have a “rainy day” fund in case there’s an emergency or to help plan for the future. The good news is that a number of local organizations have a plan in the form of an Endowment Fund with ECCF that can provide them with an annual income.

Just what is an endowment fund? Simply put, it works like a savings account or “401K” for an organization. The agency and its supporters make contributions directly to the fund, which generates income for the organization to use or reinvest to help the principle grow. An endowment demonstrates that an organization has made a long-term commitment to their mission. Endowment earnings can be used each year to help fund operations, programs, and unanticipated needs. The Community Foundation provides investment oversight of the funds and many other services.

Many local organizations have an established Endowment Fund at ECCF.  CAPSEA, Catholic Daughters of America, Crystal Fire Department, Dickinson Center Inc., Elk County Catholic School System, Elk County Council on the Arts, Elkland Search & Rescue, Friends of Twin Lakes, Johnsonburg Public Library, Oak Manor, Pheasants Forever Chapter 630, Potter County Education Council, Ridgway Free Public Library, Ridgway YMCA, Rita M. Sorg & Marcella A. Largey Fund for Elcam Community Center, St. Marys Area United Way, St. Marys Christian Food Bank, St. Marys Public Library, and Women Who Care have all established funds. It’s important for community organizations that enhance the lives of area residents to have a plan for long-term stability.

Some funds are established by the organization itself, while others may be started by an individual who took special interest in that organization and its mission. In some cases, people designate organizations for donations in their estate plan. Recently, endowment funds for the Crystal Fire Department and Elkland Search & Rescue were started with money bequeathed to them through the estate of a local gentleman who passed away.

When people give contributions to an endowment, they support the cause of perpetuity, and their money will support a community institution long after they’re gone. Donations, large or small, can be made at any time to support an endowment fund. An endowment provides a cash reserve that can help smooth out the ups and downs that every organization experiences over time.

There are many reasons why donors give their dollars and resources for charitable purposes. It brings more meaning to their lives, helps others in need, provides a tax donation, promotes generosity in their children, motivates family and friends to do the same, gives them a personal connection to the cause of the organization, and makes them a part of growing their communities.

The Community Foundation is an ideal vehicle for building an endowment to help a nonprofit better meet current challenges and provide long-term stability for the future of the organization. Donations to any endowment fund will help support both the agency and the many programs they offer that enhance the lives of our families. ECCF provides the administrative and investment management services that make it easy for donors to accomplish their charitable wishes. For more information, visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org or call the office at 834.2125.

Photo: The St. Marys Public Library Endowment Fund serves as a “rainy day” account for the organization. The fund’s yearly earnings are often used to support their popular summer reading program.