Valone Recongized

Don Valone, on the left, was recently presented a plaque by Gennaro Aiello, newly elected Board President of the Elk County Community Foundation for his dedicated service. Don had been on the Board of Directors and served in many leadership roles for over 12 years. He was active on the Investment Committee for most of his tenure and also served as Secretary, Vice President, President and chaired the nominating committee. Don assured the group that he will continue to support the Foundation and serve if needed. The plaque presented reads:
Thank you for your dedication and perseverance during the formative years of the Elk County Community Foundation. Because of your willingness to volunteer your time, treasures and expertise with us, we have grown and will continue to give back to the community for generations to come.

The Dobson Fund Supports Education

The Dobson Fund Supports Education

The Doug and Charlotte Dobson Memorial Fund, a donor advised fund at the Elk County Community Foundation, recently made a grant award to Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary school. The award funds experiential learning experiences using eight different special learning opportunities through Mrs. Marcia Raubenstrauch’s classroom. These programs have provided students with the ability to make connections between formal learning and real life…. Opportunities beyond the traditional classroom allow students to become excited, adventurous, and to be able to think differently. Annually the family of Doug and Charlotte Dobson has the opportunity to direct dollars to projects that enhance the community in which they lived. The Dobson Fund is one of over 140 funds held at The Elk County Community Foundation.

Recently one of the programs funded by the grant took place. Gifted students from fourth through eighth grade were provided an incredible experience where they were able to work closely with Gene Boni and Roland Boni, the local artists who own and run MudSlide Pottery. The students were engaged in learning about the history of pottery, the chemistry of glazing, and understanding both the artistic side of design and the business of running a pottery shop. Students worked with the artists at school and then went to the studio to learn how to produce pottery. Throughout this project the emphasis was on critical thinking and solving problems in the real world.

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. Its vision is to connect people who care with causes that matter. The Foundation assists donors who have an interest in starting a fund to benefit nearly any charitable organization or cause that they have a vested interest in, whether as a named fund or in the memory of a deceased family member or friend. As mentioned, the Doug and Charlotte Dobson Memorial Fund is just one of many funds; each with a different story and each for a different purpose. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Foundation for more information either by calling 814-834-2125 or visiting its website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com

The Community Foundation’s Women Who Care Game Night

The Community Foundation’s Women Who Care Game Night

Women Who Care, a philanthropic giving circle of over 200 area women, held its spring membership meeting at The Dam Inn in Glen Hazel. Women Who Care is a project of the Elk County Community Foundation.

The evening began with a short presentation explaining the mission and purpose of the Women Who Care organization. Many members bring a guest to the event to help grow new membership. The members and their guests thoroughly enjoyed the Game Night theme with small games of chance and an opportunity to be part of the Women Who Care Family Feud game with Mark Jacob acting as host. Twelve teams competed in the popular TV game with the winning team being “The Buzzers”, consisting of Lucy Bobby, Nancy Hoffman, Bev Yates, Bea Terbovich and Abbi Peters. The teams competed for the top prize, the opportunity to award a $500 grant to a charity of their choice. The Buzzers chose the Elk County Council on the Arts as their charity to fund. The top two winning teams received consolation prizes.

Women Who Care members meet twice a year, at the spring event and at the Annual Meeting in the fall. Members contribute a minimum of $100 donation yearly. These donations provide the funding that allows local non-profits to apply for grants for projects that are important to women and families. At their Annual Meeting in the fall, the membership votes for the projects they want to fund with their annual donation. Between $20,000 and $25,000 has been awarded annually. Since 2009, including this evening’s $500 grant, the organization has given $130,200 back to the community. Membership dues for the 2017 granting cycle will be accepted until June 1. Any woman interested in becoming a member should contact the Elk County Community Foundation office at 814-834-2125 or the Foundation’s website at elkcountyfoundation.com.

Pictured: is the winning team left to right: Lucy Bobby, Nancy Hoffman, Bev Yates, Bea Terbovich and Abbi Peters

ECCF grants support Elkwood Arts woodworking

St. Marys, PA, October 3, 2017: The Board of Directors of the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is pleased to announce that Elkwood Arts, a program of Dickinson Center, Inc. was awarded grant for $7,400 from the Harrison & Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund and Elk County Community Development Fund to refurbish their well-used laser engraver machine.
Elkwood Arts is a licensed vocational facility providing training and sheltered employment to intellectually and developmentally disabled adults, producing excellent quality, hand-made wood products. The program has given individuals with these disabilities the chance to maximize their independence, integrate into the community, and above all, a chance to work.

Located at 43 Servidea Drive in Ridgway, Elkwood Arts teaches the skills to create, market and sell the products generated. The 15 consumers who participate in this program produce top quality products including cutting boards, favors, clocks, cabinets, bottle openers, waste baskets, frames, benches, wall signs, wine bottle toppers and many more unique products. Products can be viewed on their website at www.elkwoodarts.com or stop by and see for yourself the beautiful gift items that are the outcome of this vocational program.
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. For more information contact ECCF at 834-2125, by email at eccf@windstream.net, or visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.
Pictured left to right: Janet Leahy, Elkwood Arts Graphic Designer; Nancy Hoffman, Foundation Board member; Heidi Thomas, DCI Executive Director; Paula Eddy, Elk County Community Foundation Executive Director; Tim Thomas, Elkwood Arts Production Manager; Ken Staurt, Elkwood Arts Carpenter

A Scholarship Just for Hunters!

A Scholarship Just for Hunters!

The Elk County Community Foundation(ECCF) is very pleased to announce that the Wapiti Roost Local Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) has decided to partner with the Community Foundation to administer their local Scholarship. The NWTF will be offering a post-secondary academic scholarship of $500 to a student in Elk County. Scholarship applications are now available through all Elk County High School Guidance’s offices. Student who are avid hunters and are dedicated to preserving the hunting tradition would be an ideal candidate for this scholarship.

The National Wild Turkey Federation Scholarship is part of a nationwide program that has provided over $4,000,000 in scholarships since its inception. The recipient of the local scholarship will be eligible to compete for a $1000 scholarship funded by the Pennsylvania State Chapter of the NWTF. In turn, the State Chapter scholarship winner will be eligible to compete for a $10,000 national scholarship. Because of the progression of the state and national program, the deadline for this scholarship is different than other scholarship administered by the Foundation. To ensure there is enough time to submit to the state, scholarship application will need to be received to high school guidance’s offices shortly after the Christmas/Holiday break.

In addition to the $500 from the local scholarship the winner of this scholarship, like all others administered by the Community Foundation, may receive matching dollars from PHEAA through the PATH (Partners for Access To Higher Education) program. As one of only 37 approved organizations that are PATH partners, the Elk County Community Foundation will submit each student who receives one of the scholarships that they administer to PHEAA for additional matching funding. To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in an approved Pennsylvania College or career school and be PHEAA approved. Last year, students that received ECCF scholarships received over $63,000 in additional awards. This is one of the reasons that many donors come to the Foundation to establish their scholarships. This program can potentially double their scholarship award through the PATH program.

The Community Foundation assists donors who have an interest in starting a scholarship fund, whether as a general purpose or in the memory of a deceased family member or friend. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the foundation for further information on the matter or check out the information on their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

Pictured from left is Bill Olson from the Wapiti Wood Chapter of the NWTF and Kris Kronenwetter, Scholarship Manager at the ECCF