Scholarships for Adult Learners, College Students

/in /by

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ADULT LEARNERS, COLLEGE STUDENTS

St. Marys, PA: News flash! Not all scholarships are targeted for graduating high school seniors! The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) offers a number of scholarships for adults, current college students, and graduate level students who are pursuing an education.

These non-high school students log into the ECCF website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org to learn about all the scholarships that are available to them. The Information for Students section features easy-to-navigate buttons that take you to the scholarships that are appropriate for each type of student. It also includes a Q & A section to answer the most frequently asked questions. Adult learner scholarship applications can be downloaded from the website, filled out, and returned to the Foundation for review. Deadline dates for each application are indicated on the website, all applications must be returned by March 25th at the latest.

Scholarships are available for those seeking an education in general, technical, vocational, and specialized fields of study. Current scholarships available are: Abagail Veronica Dobson Memorial Scholarship, Inez Bull Piano Scholarship, Ole Bull Violin Scholarship, Michele Campbell Memorial Nursing Scholarship, David L. Delullo Sr. Memorial Scholarship, Hasselman/Hopton Memorial Scholarship, Seth T. Hockman Memorial Scholarship, Leroy C. Krise Memorial Scholarship, Dr. Sandra Calkins Kowalski Nursing, Ella McElhany & Maude B. Schimmelfeng Scholarship,  Ruth E. Reed Nursing Scholarship, Eugene & Naomi Brady Memorial Scholarship,  Catherine M. Moran Memorial Scholarship, Greiner/Roof Law Scholarship, Dr. Maurus Sorg Memorial Scholarship, and the Joseph A. Williams Medical Scholarship.

As an added bonus due to ECCF’s partnership with PATH (Partners for Access to Higher Education), some students who receive a scholarship through the Foundation may qualify for matching dollars through PHEAA and the PATH program. In the 2019 over $50,000 was matched to our local students.

Visit the ECCF website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org for more details on the various scholarship opportunities that exist for both high school and non-traditional students. Many of the scholarships honor or memorialize individuals who have touched the lives of our Elk County residents. The Elk County Community Foundation provides donors with a simple but powerful and highly personal approach to achieving their philanthropic goals while enhancing the quality of life for the people of Elk County. For further details, contact the Foundation at 834-2125.

PICTURE: The Dr. Maurus Sorg Memorial Scholarship was established in 2019 to honor his lifetime of service to his patients and his community. This scholarship is available to both adult learners and graduating seniors.

Initial Stackpole-Hall funding sparks 20 years of growth

/in /by

Initial Stackpole-Hall funding sparks 20 years of growth

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

This is the 2nd 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, February 25, 2020:

In 2000 a group of community leaders made a decision that would impact our communities for years to come. After 18 months of discussion, and a brief affiliation with the Erie Community Foundation, the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) received its designation as a 50lc3 organization. The foundation embarked on its mission with a

$50,000 investment from The Stackpole-Hall Foundation for each of three years to fund its start-up operations. ECCF’s first Board of Directors then began the work of building this charitable organization that would invest over  $5 million into community projects over the next two decades.

Richard Masson became the first board president, working alongside the board’s twelve additional members in creating the framework for the foundation’s growth and success. Future board presidents would include Bea Terbovich, Charlie Constable, Judith Manno Stager, Dan Straub, Don Vallone, Jake Meyer, Gennaro Aiello, and current board president, Tom Jesberger, all of whom served to develop its vision and build on the momentum of those who served before them. These officers along with many talented individual board members with unique backgrounds and diverse experience have been a great asset to the Community Foundation over the years.

Martha Engel was appointed as the first Executive Director to oversee the business of the foundation. She served in this capacity until 2005 when Paula Fritz Eddy took over the director position, which she currently holds today. These women have been responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the organization.

The Elk County Development Fund and the Benn Goodrich Fund were the initial funds that came into the Elk County Community Foundation. When the old Elk County Development Foundation dissolved, their dollars were turned over to the Elk County Community Foundation and became the Elk County Development Fund. The Benn Goodrich Fund was established in memory of Mr. Goodrich, the first chairman of the Stackpole Hall Foundation Board of Directors. ECCF now administers a total of 170 funds. “Our foundation gratefully acknowledges the Stackpole-Hall Foundation for not only their financial support but also for their guidance and leadership that made the Elk County Community Foundation a reality”, stated Paula Fritz Eddy, ECCF Executive Director.

A community foundation is a vehicle for people of all means to make a lasting difference in their community. The Elk County Community Foundation administers funds of all sizes, providing a simple, powerful and personal approach to giving. For 20 years ECCF has played a key role in identifying opportunities and supporting programs that solve community problems. Through the years the foundation has been supported by donors who established charitable funds or donated to existing funds. Hundreds of grants for community projects and scholarships for students have been awarded. The vision of the founders of the Foundation has truly impacted the lives of thousands of our area residents.

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

Elk County Scholarship Applications Are Now Available

/in /by

Elk County Scholarship Applications Are Now Available

St. Marys, PA: Attention All those attending Colleges, Universities or Vocational schools! The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies added twenty new scholarships this year.  This has increased the total scholarship awards by the Foundation to nearly $250,000 available for students across seven counties. The Community Foundation has distributed all post-secondary or vocational school scholarship applications to the high school guidance departments throughout the area and also have information on our website.   Please visit: www.elkcountyfoundation.org, look for the Scholarship page and the “Information for Students” tab!

Each scholarship that is available has a different focus, so check each one out and see if it is right for you. Some of the new scholarships are the Joseph & Delores Frey Family Scholarship, Lisa Lepovetsky Memorial Scholarship, VanVranken Scholarship, Jordan Adams Memorial Award, Abagail Veronica Dobson Memorial Scholarship, McGrady Family Fund Scholarship and James “Wes” Jones Memorial Scholarship.

Post-secondary music students and high school seniors are also eligible to apply for the Inez Bull Piano or the Ole Bull Violin Scholarships as long as they graduated from a high school in Potter, Tioga, Elk, McKean, Cameron or Clinton County.

The Community Foundation is one of 40 state wide 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. In 2019 over $50,000 was matched to our local students.

Additional graduate level and non-traditional scholarships are also available for music, law, medical, vocational nursing and many more. Visit the website to see what is available! For further details and deadlines, contact your guidance counselor or the Community Foundation at 814 834-2125.

Pictured are the recipients of the Elk County Foundation Scholarships from 2019.

 

Executive Director of Elk County Community Foundation speaks to Johnsonburg Rotary

/in /by

Executive Director of Elk County Community Foundation speaks to Johnsonburg Rotary

On Monday, February 17th, the Johnsonburg Rotary’s program chairperson, Dr. Pamela Allegretto-Diiulio, introduced Paula Fritz Eddy, the Executive
Director of the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF).  Paula updated Rotarians on the status of the Alva K. Gregory Scholarship. This fund has
provided in the last 15 years, scholarships to 29 different students from Johnsonburg Area High School and Elk County Catholic High School.  Over
$20,500 has been given out in scholarships.
In the past twenty years, ECCF has given over $650,000 in the Elk County area in grants and scholarships.  They oversee 205 funds of which 110 are
scholarship funds.  Mrs. Eddy wrapped it up with “we are about connecting people who care with causes that matter.”  She distributed the annual report to Rotarians, which is testimony to the many philanthropists and charitable acts that make the Foundation a vital part of the community in providing assistance to students and non-profitable organizations.

Winners of WWC Membership Drive Award Grants to St. Leo School

/in /by

Winners of  WWC Membership Drive Award Grants to St. Leo School

St. Marys, PA, January 28, 2020:  Women Who Care, a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, held its annual membership drive in December. All women who renewed their membership or became a new member by December 27 were eligible to win the opportunity to give their favorite charity a special $500 grant. The lucky winners this year were Molly Cerrone and Irene Smith. Both Molly and Irene chose St. Leo School as the recipient of their grant money. Women Who Care invites all area women to join their caring group of 246 area women. This women’s philanthropic organization continues to grow and make an impact throughout our communities.  Women interested in joining this giving circle of Women Who Care about their community can pay their membership dues until June 1 and have voting privileges for the fall granting meeting. For more information visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org or call the Community Foundation at 834-2125.

Pictured left to right: First Grade Students, Luca Aiello, Haddie Beimel, Molly Cerrone, Lynne Kucenski, St. Leo School Principal, Irene Smith, and  First Grade Students Lynn Julia Gilmore, and Nicholas Tutton.