Women Who Care grants $30,000 to local non-profits

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The Fall Business meeting of Women Who Care (WWC) was held at the Highlands in St. Marys on Thursday, October 4, 2018 with over 170 members, guests and presenters attending. The membership awarded $30,000 in grants to nine non-profit organizations.

Area organizations receiving awards were: Christian Food Bank $2,000 for storage shed; St. Marys Area School District $3,600 for Food for Friends backpack program; Community Nurses $1,790 for ATA transportation for clients; Boys &  Girls Club of St. Marys $5,000 for start-up funds for 2019 Summer Program; Messengers Supporting Recovery $3,000 for A Home for MSR ; Big Maple Farms Therapy $5,000 for arena base and permanent seating; Johnsonburg Area School District $4,000 for character education classes; Elk County Humane Society $5,000 for low-cost spay and neuter clinics; and Elk County Historical Society $610 towards technology upgrades.

An additional Donor Advisor for a Day award is presented at each Annual Meeting when a member in attendance has the opportunity to award a $500 gift to the non-profit organization of her choice. Lynette Kraus was the lucky winner of the drawing and awarded her gift to the Elk County Humane Society. During the meeting Doris Stackpole, a founding member and the first chairperson of WWC who passed away this year, was remembered for her role in establishing the organization. The crowd was entertained by a fascinating slide presentation of beautiful wildlife photos presented by Kane photographer, Rocky Holland and his wife Marcy.

The 2018 granting monies were made possible through donations made by the 229 area women who are members of Women Who Care, a philanthropic giving project of the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF). WWC has granted a total of $188,200 to community organizations since its inception in 2009.

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 two social and entertaining events each year. 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 new website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

Community Foundation makes Grant to Elk County Historical Society

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Recently Gennaro Aiello, president of the Elk County Community Foundation Community met with volunteers from the Elk County Historical Society to present a $5,000 check from their recent granting cycle for their microfilm project.  This was one of six grants totally $35,400 that were awarded this year from the Elk County Community Development Fund.  This Board of Directors reviews applications bi-annually and the criteria is such that they generally look to support community development initiatives that will enhance the economic and community well-being of Elk County.  Distribution from the grants can be used to meet special project or program needs of organizations serving the people of the County.

 

This grant will help provide the funds needed to have CompuCom convert the Elk County Historical Society’s newspaper collection from microfilm to digital images that will be searchable. The total cost of the project is $19,750.  The Society’s goal is to preserve Elk County’s history in the best way possible. The group met in the genealogy room at the Historical Society where they showed Aiello just a few of the 333 rolls of microfilm. It is their hope that by having the newspapers digitized from rolls of microfilm they will not only be able to better preserve the information held therein, they will also make the data searchable and thus, more useful. This project will enable the Society to share the region’s rich history with more people, faster.  Several Board members were educators and they have volunteered to create lessons that can be used with school students as well as our community.  The newspapers date back to​ ​1885​ ​and include the following publications: The Ridgway Advocate: Jan 15, 1885  to Dec 26, 1929; The Ridgway Daily Record: (now known as Ridgway Record) Dec 1, 1903 to 2017; The Weekly Herald: (St Marys-Kersey area)  July 14, 1889 to 12-24-1904.

The Community Foundation also administers a number of other funds that makes grants throughout the year.  Upcoming grant cycles include the Ridgway Bough Charitable Fund with a deadline of September 15 and the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund with a deadline of October 15. Check out these and the other grant applications on their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com or contact Paula Fritz Eddy at 814-834-2125.  The Elk County Community Foundation is a non-profit organization that manages endowed funds established by donors for area non-profit organizations.  Donor gifts are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Pictured left to right:

Linda von Hacht, Darla Schutz, Gennaro Aiello, Nancy Peterson, Kay Kinkead

St. Marys American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship

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The Elk County Community Foundation recently announced the St. Marys American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship winner. On the right, Cathy Johnson from the St. Marys American Legion Auxiliary is shown presenting Brandi Clyde from ECCHS with their first award for $500. Also on hand were Leslie Gore beside Brandi and Charlene Fledderman on the far left.
This scholarship was established to encourage our youth to discover the veterans within their family and their community and to learn about their service. The Auxiliary also wanted to recognize and create awareness of what the veterans have done for our country and to honor both the past and present veterans.
The Elk County Community Foundation Board extends their gratitude to the St. Marys American Legion Auxiliary who saw a need and believes in the youth of today. Anyone interested in establishing a scholarship can contact the Foundation at 814-834-2125 or get more information from the website, www.elkcountyfoundation.com

Joseph A. Williams Medical Scholarship

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Recently, the Joseph A. Williams Medical Scholarship for $4475 was awarded to Sophia Yanak of Weedville, by the Elk County Community Foundation. Sophia is attending Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).

Joseph A. Williams (1876-1979) was interested in the education of local students pursuing a medical degree so he established this scholarship through his estate plans. Mr. Williams was a very hard and dedicated worker who was employed by the Kaul and Hall Lumber Company for over 67 years. He later became president of various lumber and clay industries. Mr. Williams was president of Eastern Clay Products, which comprised all clay products industries east of the Mississippi River. As one of the founders of the Industrial Council of St. Marys, Joseph Williams was always interested in civic matters. He held leadership positions with the American Red Cross; United Fund; Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital and the Historical Society of St. Marys and Benzinger Township.

The Community Foundation currently administers nearly 100 scholarship funds and if you are interested in establishing a scholarship fund please contact the Foundation at 814-834-2125 or check out their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

Pictured L to R
Sophia Yanak and Kris Kronenwetter, Scholarship Manager of the Elk County Community Foundation.

Michelle A. Campbell Memorial Nursing Scholarship

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The Michelle A. Campbell Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund, administered by The Elk County Community Foundation, recently awarded $1,700 to Courtney Collins, a 2015 graduate of St. Marys Area High School from Kersey. Courtney is heading into her junior year studying nursing at Penn College of Technology.
Michelle Campbell, the number one student in her nursing class, was dedicated to helping others and learning to be the best nurse she could be. Pictured with Courtney, center are Michelle’s sister, Candy Frey (left) and her mother, Joyce (right). Michelle’s family established this scholarship in her memory.
The Elk County Community Foundation Board extends their gratitude to the Campbell family who have seen a need to support the youth of today. If you have questions about the Foundation or are interested in establishing a scholarship, please contact us at 814-834-2125 or check out our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.