Women Who Care Grant Gives a Lift To Grieving Children

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

This is the 6th 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, PA

Women Who Care (WWC) is a woman’s philanthropic organization that brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic leadership and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Since its beginning in 2019, WWC, a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, has awarded nearly $225,000 to local non-profit organizations that serve women and their families. In 2011, one of their first grants was a $2,500 award to the Community Nurses to help expand Camp Flutterbye, a camp for children who are grieving the death of a loved one.

Camp Flutterbye is offered in a relaxing, beautiful environment with fun activities structured to help kids, K-12, understand that grieving the loss of a loved one is healthy and normal. The camp is offered twice a year, normally a two-day camp in the summer and a one-day event in late fall to prepare the children for dealing with the holiday season. Along with Community Nurses staff and volunteers, Dickinson Center, Inc. staff and summer workers offer their expertise, time and talents to the Camp Flutterbye program.

Research indicates children who experience a loss through death are at a much greater risk for depression, suicide, poverty and substance abuse. Untreated grief in children can have a significant impact on their wellbeing as an adult. Joanne Straub, MSW, Community Nurses Social Worker, stated, “The goal of our grief program is to make available to families the resources they need to deal with their grief. It’s essential that we address the grief needs of children. Flutterbye gives them the opportunity to understand their feelings and gives them the tools to work through grief in a healthy and positive way.” There are no fees charged for bereavement programs and services.

The over 240 members of Women Who Care award grants each fall to worthy projects like Camp Flutterbye that make a difference in the lives of women and their families. A member of WWC can be any philanthropic woman seeking to support community needs in Elk County. Membership is on a yearly basis with women making a membership donation each year. All donations are pooled together and awarded in the form of grants at their annual meeting to local non-profit organizations. New memberships are still available for this granting year. Membership dues are due by the end of June to allow members to vote on grant awards at the 2020 fall annual meeting.

For more information on Women Who Care and Elk County Community Foundation funds and programs visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

Photo: Camp Flutterbye, a project of Penn Highlands Community Nurses, lifts the spirits of children who are grieving due to the death of a loved one. In 2011, Women Who Care, provided a $2,500 grant to expand the camp and provide more services to the kids and their families.

Every Community Foundation Scholarship Has A Story To Tell

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

This is the 5th 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, PA

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) scholarship program has a favorite saying: “Educational Support Can Change a Life.” The over 100 scholarships administered by ECCF were created by community-minded individuals, families, and corporations who want to provide a path to higher education for future generations. These scholarships have helped thousands of Elk County students pursue their college dream and start them on their journey toward a successful and fulfilling career. Every scholarship has a story to tell.

Shane Schneider was one of our local scholarship recipients who received the Helene L. Bowley scholarship upon graduation from SMAHS in 2006. Helene Bowley was a dedicated lifelong resident of Ridgway and the owner of the local Helene’s Ready-to-Wear Shop. She felt it important to give back to the community by investing in the future of our young residents through scholarships that help them reach their education goals. With the help of this scholarship, Shane went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State Behrend in 2010.

Just like Helene, Shane is committed to giving back to his community. After college graduation he worked for a few years in Philipsburg, PA then returned home to St. Marys. Shane now lives in St. Marys with his wife, Leah Kneidel Schneider. For the past 10 years Shane has utilized his engineering degree while working at GE Thermometrics, now known as Amphenol. Shane stated, “I always knew St. Marys was home. I am a family oriented, outdoors type of guy and enjoy the kind of life we have here.”

That community-oriented attitude still shows in Shane through his interest in local activities, and his involvement in the St. Hubert’s Committee at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Now the current president, Shane describes the group as offering “a different way for people of all ages to be involved with the church community”. St. Hubert’s gets church members involved with outdoor related activities, sponsoring hikes, kayaking trips, and an annual sauerkraut fundraising dinner. The committee plants, harvests and makes their own sauerkraut for the dinner which usually attracts several hundred people. Another project currently underway, but halted for the time being due to Covid-19, is the building of your own fishing pole, with kits being supplied to all participants by the committee.

Every donor who establishes a scholarship fund has a story to tell, and every scholarship given out by that fund writes a story of its own. With many former scholarship recipients just like Shane investing their time and talents in the place they call home, the goodwill shared by the donors comes full circle to make our communities a better place in which to live, work and learn.

The Community Foundation makes it easy for individuals, businesses, and organizations to establish a scholarship fund. Donors find that creating a scholarship fund through the Foundation is simple, convenient, and cost-effective, and much more affordable than you might think. 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. The Foundations manages all the administrative details of funds for the donors.

Since 2000, the Elk County Community Foundation has worked with donors to establish 103 funds and has awarded over $1.76 million in scholarships to deserving high school seniors and adult learners. By establishing a uniquely-named scholarship, a donor has the ability to designate eligibility requirements including education level, the field of study, geographic area, etc. Many scholarships are established to honor parents, a family member, or someone who influenced your life. Most scholarship funds at the Foundation are permanent endowments, with the annual earnings used to provide the scholarships.

For more information on scholarships contact the Elk County Community Foundation at 814-834-2125 or visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

Photo: The Helene L. Bowley scholarship was established in 2003, in the early years of the Elk County Community Foundation. She felt it important to give back to the community by investing in the future of our young residents through scholarships that help them reach their education goals. Shane Schneider was the recipient of this scholarship in 2006, and just like Helene, is committed to giving back to his community.

Wilcox Library Receives First COVID-19 Assistance Grant from the Elk County Community Foundation

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Wilcox Library Receives First COVID-19 Assistance Grant from the Elk County Community Foundation

In response to the ongoing pandemic, the Elk County Community Foundation has established the COVID-19 Assistance Fund. We are excited to announce our first grant distribution of $1500 to the Wilcox Public Library.  The COVID-19 Assistance Fund is made up of public donations. We invite donors to join in this effort. By pooling our funds, we can collectively support our community nonprofits and make a bigger impact on their needs. The Elk County Community Foundation will waive administrative fees on all donations and will distribute 100% of all donations to those agencies in need by an open grant process.

Since mid-March the Wilcox Library building has been closed, but the library is currently supplying eBooks, digital audiobooks, online classes, and databases through a variety of suppliers, and they are continuing to explore more offerings.  In addition, the library has gathered multiple digital resources to support the area’s at-home learning students. Their website at www.wilcoxlibrary.org has some great resources as does the Wilcox Public Library Facebook page. With the closure of the library, they have not been able to perform their fundraising events or annual letter campaign so with this small grant the Community Foundation hopes to help them through this unusual time.

The Community Foundation will administer grants from the COVID-19 Assistance Fund to nonprofit organizations in Elk County that are serving the vulnerable populations.  Like the Wilcox Public Library, support may also be given to nonprofits who have seen detrimental impacts to their fiscal and administrative operation as a result of a loss of revenue, fundraising, or staffing, with focus on education and health care throughout Elk County.

This outbreak has been impacting our community in many ways. By establishing the COVID-19 Assistance Fund in Elk County, our purpose is to bolster and coordinate philanthropic response to the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our neighbors, our community and the nonprofit agencies that serve them.

Donations to this new fund can be mailed to the Elk County Community Foundation at P.O. Box 934, St. Marys, PA, 15857, with check made payable to the ECCF – COVID-19 Assistance Fund.   Online donations will also be accepted through our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.  Use the Donate Now button on the top of the page and please indicate the COVID-19 Assistance Fund as the fund name.

For questions about applying for a grant or making a donation to the Fund, feel free to contact the Foundation office at 814-834-2125.

Schneider Was First Recipient of Pheasants Forever Youth Outdoor Adventure

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

This is just one of 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, PA

It was just 10 years ago, in March of 2010, when North Central PA Pheasants Forever Chapter 630 established their Youth Outdoor Fund at the Elk County Community Foundation. As the administrator of over 170 funds that offer support for innovative projects, grants, and scholarships, the Community Foundation impacts our communities by connecting people who care with causes that matter to them. For Pheasants Forever Chapter 630 their cause is to provide outdoor adventures to youth with serious physical limitations or life threatening illnesses who have an interest in the out of doors, but have limited opportunities to enjoy activities such as hunting, fishing and other outdoor events. Soon after establishing its fund, Chapter 630 began making plans for its inaugural Youth Outdoor Adventure weekend.

In 2011, Emily Schneider as a 9-year-old was one of the first PF Youth Outdoor kids to experience this yearly event that makes children’s dreams come true. Emily is now 20 and a sophomore studying Early Level Education at Pitt Bradford.

Emily shared, “I was so nervous the first year. It turned out to be an amazing experience. The Pheasants Forever volunteers became like family to me over the years.” Her dad Tim stated, “Emily was very shy and introverted. I give Pheasants Forever credit for bringing her out of her shell. She developed an enthusiastic interest in the outdoors and still loves participating in hunting, fishing, and various group events.”  Emily has continued to help out at the annual youth outdoor weekend along with her parents, Mary Jo and Tim, who prepare and cook the meals for families attending the event each year. Through Pheasants Forever, Emily also got involved with Hunt of a Lifetime adventures, bagging her very own moose on a hunt in Vermont.

Each fall Pheasants Forever has taken 2 to 3 youth and their families on an outdoor adventure weekend that often turns out to be the experience of a lifetime. Dick Bodenhorn, long time past president of the chapter, stated, “Our volunteers are very creative. They can adapt activities like hunting, fishing, geocaching, horseback riding, kayaking, and UTV riding to be accessible to kids with any kind of disability. We have hosted kids with inoperable brain tumors, spina bifida, leukemia and various forms of cancer, as well as those born without the use of an arm, kids confined to wheelchairs, and many other conditions.” Many of the youth go on to participate in future years in various other events hosted by the organization. Bodenhorn added, “we have created some real hunting enthusiasts!”.

The organizers, all volunteers, develop a program for each youth participant depending on their interests, providing each of them with a weekend of memories. The youth and their families spend the weekend, free of charge, at one of three host sites.  All meals, comfortable lodging, outdoor activities and equipment are provided by the organization. On Saturday evening, a catered banquet is held for the participants and their families. All past participants and their families are invited to attend each year, with many new friendships formed between the youth and their parents.

Tim Rowan, current president of Pheasants Forever Chapter 630, said, “about 25 kids have participated since 2011, with 100% of them having a very positive experience, many of whom are able to experience these outdoor activities for the first time. Some families have told me it’s the best weekend as a family they have ever had.”  Getting the word out about this opportunity is the group’s biggest challenge. They want families to know that they are very adaptive to a child’s needs, both physical and emotional, and are committed to providing the family with a wonderful weekend of memories. Rowan stated, “You may come in as a stranger, but you’ll leave as family. If you know of anyone who might benefit from this life changing outdoor experience give us a call to find out more about it”.

Residents of Elk and all of the surrounding counties are eligible to apply. The event is offered to youth with serious physical limitations or life threatening illnesses, and their families, free of charge.  Pheasants Forever and the Elk County Community Foundation invite anyone interested in this opportunity to contact them with any questions.  Visit the Pheasants Forever website at www.northcentralpapf.org, talk to any member of Pheasants Forever, or contact the Community Foundation at 834-2125 . The mission of the Elk County Community Foundation is to strengthen our region through development, stewardship, and grant making as donors achieve their philanthropic goals.

Photo: Emily Schneider has found a lifelong interest in outdoor activities since she participated in the first Pheasants Forever Youth Outdoor event in 2011. She and her family now help out at the event each year and encourage all kids with serious physical limitations to apply for this amazing weekend. “I love seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces”, Emily said, “and I love the Saturday night banquet that brings all the families together that have participated over the years.”

Hospital Equipment Program Thrives With Help From Grants

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ECCF: 20 Years: celebrating our past ~ inspiring our future

This is the 3rd 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

Hospital equipment program thrives with help from grants

St. Marys, PA,  March 24, 2020:
The Fox Township Hospital Equipment Program is well known throughout the area as a resource for people to borrow hospital equipment for use in their homes to assist with their medical needs. All of the equipment the program lends out is either donated by individuals or purchased through grant money. That is where the Elk County Community Foundation comes in.

Over the years, numerous grants have assisted the American Legion in Fox Township with expansion of their program. The Elk County Community Foundation awarded many grants to the program through the years including:  $1900, $3500, and $10,500 grants from the Elk County Development Fund; $1000 and $5000 grants from the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Fund; and a $950 grant from the GKN Pass-Through Fund. These grants helped fund the purchase of hospital equipment, updates and maintenance, and additional storage and building expansion.

George Mosier and his wife Norma were active with the program for over 45 years before they retired just two years ago. According to George, it all started many years ago when an outfit came in selling magazines and enlisted the American Legion to be involved. The Legion would receive points for every magazine sold, and could purchase hospital equipment with a certain number of points. George said, “We bought two hospital beds with those points, that was our start. Then people began donating their used equipment to us. Originally only Fox Township residents could borrow the equipment, but as our inventory grew we expanded our outreach to everyone who needed help.”

The original name of the program was the American Legion Hospital Equipment Program. When growing pains created the need for additional funding they changed the name to the Fox Township Equipment Program and obtained their 501c3 status which made them eligible to apply for grant funding.

Their first location was on the second floor of the Legion building. Beds and equipment had to be carried up and down the stairs. When the Legion needed the upstairs rooms for other purposes, the equipment was moved to the abandoned ambulance garage in the lower level.  Grant money they received from the Elk County Community Foundation helped them update and add onto the building to accommodate their growing program.

According to Fox Township Legion representatives, today the hospital equipment remains in very high demand, with calls ranging from 2 a week, to 30 a week. In fact, the demand is constantly going up due to insurance limitations. Remaining in your home environment during and following an illness requires many adjustments in the home, including the need for wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and more.

The Fox Township Equipment Program has been a valuable resource to help keep people safe and comfortable in their homes. This loan program provides a cost-effective way to borrow needed equipment which can then be returned at a later time to pay it forward to others in need. The program serves anyone who is in need in the area.   Request have come as far away as Brookville, PA. Equipment can be borrowed or donated by calling 885-6117 and leaving a message on the answering machine. Someone will return your call to make arrangements.

Improving the lives of people in Elk County is what the Community Foundation is all about. ECCF makes it easy to support the causes you care about, whether you want to make a memorial or honorary donation, give to an existing fund, or create a plan to establish your own fund for future charitable giving. Philanthropic giving from generous donors over the 20-year history of the Community Foundation has made possible the many wonderful projects and programs that enhance the lives of our residents. For more information on the Elk County Community Foundation, call 834-2125 or visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.