ECCF’s Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund awards $17,259 in grants

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St. Marys, PA, November 13, 2017: The Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund, under the management of the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF), recently awarded $17,259 in grants to six non-profit organizations, municipalities and schools. The Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund is an endowed fund established from a gift received from the estate of Sara-Jane Stackpole. The purpose of the fund is to provide support to organizations who contribute to the quality of life of the residents of the Borough of Ridgway. An advisory committee made up of Ridgway community leaders and residents is appointed by the Board of Directors of ECCF to review grant applications and distribute grants each year.
These 2017 grants were awarded to the following: Guardian Angel Center, $2,000 to provide clothing for children from needy families; Life and Independence for Today, $2,100 for Project Lifesaver ; Project Gifts for Kids, $1,000 for new toys at Christmas and in times of need; Ridgway Area School District, $5,659 for computer programming and robotics programs for FSG Elementary students; Ridgway Little League, $2,500 for re-grading and filling outfields; and PSU 4H Rifle Club, $4,000 for supplies for Air Rifle Program.
This year grant application requests totaled over $57,194. Grant monies were available to fund $17,259 of these requests. The Elk County Community Foundation encourages local residents and businesses to consider making a tax-deductible donation to help grow this community-oriented fund and increase the granting dollars available each year. Donations to the Ridgway Charitable Fund can be sent in care of the Elk County Community Foundation at PO Box 934 in St. Marys. For more information contact ECCF at 834-2125 or by email at eccf@windstream.net. ECCF 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.
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ECCF on board with local railroad

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St. Marys, PA, September 20, 2017: All aboard! The Bucksgahuda and Western, a local two-foot gage railroad and museum, was awarded a $5,000 grant by the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF). Grant monies will be used towards a new shop/storage addition to house and work on the preservation of their collection. Members of the next generation of the Bauer family are shown accepting a grant check from Paula Fritz Eddy, the Foundation’s Director.

The local railroad has been in operation since 1966 when the Bauer brothers purchased a German-built steam locomotive through an advertisement in Trains magazine, and shipped the engine from Germany through Philadelphia to St. Marys. Their children, family members and friends are continuing the tradition and now number twenty active personnel and another ten who help occasionally. The railroad is enjoyed by many area residents, children’s groups and organizations.

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.

Foundation Supports Catholic Education

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Through a number of different funds, the Elk County Community Foundation supports the efforts of the Elk County Catholic School System (ECCSS). There are four funds that contribute to ECCSS in various ways, totaling over $74,000 annually.

The annual distribution of the Harold C. and Marguerite M. Lenze Tuition Assistance Fund and a portion of the Thomas and Mary Rita Valentine Fund provide tuition assistance for students. The remainder of the Valentine Fund as well as a portion of the Edna Geitner Bennett Memorial Fund and the ECCSS Endowment Fund offer support for the general operations of the school system.

“It is critical for ECCSS to ensure that Catholic education remains affordable for the families we serve,” said ECCSS president Sam MacDonald. “The grants we receive from the Community Foundation help us provide first-rate programming in academics, extracurricular and faith formation while minimizing tuition increases. Along with other endowments held at the school, many of these dollars help all students while keeping the cost of tuition low.”

Both Harold and “Midge” were long-time, generous benefactors of Catholic education in our community. Thomas and Mary Rita had a strong faith and supported the Catholic schools in St. Marys even though they had no children of their own.

The aforementioned are just a few of the 150 funds held at the Elk County Community Foundation that have a story on why people support their community. 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. 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. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Community Foundation for more information either by calling 814-834-2125 or visiting its website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

Pictured from left to right are John Schneider, Elk County Catholic High School/St. Marys Catholic Middle School principal; Debbie Slay, St. Marys Catholic Elementary School principal; Gennaro Aiello, Elk County Community Foundation president; Sue Jansen, Elk County Catholic School System advancement director; Paula Fritz Eddy, Elk County Community Foundation executive director; and Sam MacDonald, Elk County Catholic School System president.

Ole Bull Violin and Inez Bull Piano Scholarships

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The Ole Bull Violin and the Inez Bull Piano Scholarships that were established at the Elk County Community Foundation, by the Inez S. Bull Foundation recipients were recently awarded. Board member Deanna Young, (right) met with one recipient, Kaitlyn Hallock (left) to present her award of $2,250. Kaitlyn was the recipient of the Inez Bull Piano Scholarship and Rosemary Wargo was the recipient of the Ole Bull Violin scholarship for the same amount, but was unable to attend the presentation.

To qualify for either one of the above mentioned scholarships, student must have graduated from a high school in Potter, Tioga, Elk, McKean, Cameron or Clinton county and be majoring in music. The scholarship is administered by the Community Foundation who will distribute over $184,000 in 2017. These scholarships recognize high school seniors who have displayed outstanding qualities in academic achievement, leadership, and community service. In addition to this award the Community Foundation is involved with the Partnership for Access to Higher Educations (PATH) and will nominate all students who receive a scholarship from them to the PATH program. This program is administered through PHEAA which provides matching dollars to qualified candidates. Last year the Foundation had over $66,000 matched to 64 students in our area.

The Elk County Community Foundation Board extends their gratitude to The Inez S. Bull Foundation who has seen a need in promoting the performing arts and believes in the youth of today. Anyone interested in establishing a scholarship can contact the Foundation at 814-834-2125

Richard Miller Memorial Scholarship

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Recently, Elk County Community Foundation recently announced the winner of the Richard Miller Memorial Scholarship. Richard’s wife Vicki recently present Emma Daghir with the $1000 Scholarship award. Emma is the daughter Andrew and Lisa Daghir of St. Marys. Emma attends Edinboro University and is majoring in Environmental Science-Biology.

Richard Miller was a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education, majoring in Biology. A resident of St. Marys, he was a teacher in the St. Marys Area School District for 35 years. He enjoyed nature and being outdoors and was active in the Environthon Club at SMAHS, achieving State Champion one year. He was an environmentalist and served as a U.S. Army Corp Ranger. His family and friends established this scholarship in his name to encourage environmental studies that would lead to a career as a park manager or park.

The Community Foundation currently administers 90 scholarship funds. 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

Emma Daghir and Vicki Miller