Long Time Board Member Recognized!

Charlie Constable, in the center, was recently presented a plaque by representative from the Elk County Community Foundation for his dedicated service. He had been on the Board of Directors and served in many leadership roles for over 15 years. Charlie also played an active role on the advisory committee as they explored the initial founding of Community Foundation. Charlie decided to step down from his position on the board so that a new representative of the Johnsonburg Area could replace him. Charlie assured the group that he will continue to support the Foundation and serve if needed. Judy Allegretto, left, will be taking Charlie’s seat on the board as a Johnsonburg representative. Judy is the Guidance Counselor at Johnsonburg Area High School and currently works with the Foundation to administers scholarships to local students. Also, the Caribardi Scholarship Fund was established at the time of Judy’s mothers passing and she has been an enthusiast of the Foundation for many years. Barb Duffy, on the right, a six-year board member also representing Johnsonburg, was on hand to thank Charlie for his guidance and service.

Straub Brewery Supports Local Students with Scholarships

Recently, employees from Straub Brewery came out to congratulate the 2016 Straub Brewery Scholarship winners from Elk County Catholic and St. Marys Area High Schools. Students were selected to be awarded $1000 each in the form of a scholarship from Straub Brewery Fund administered by the Elk County Community Foundation. Employee are on either side of the scholarship winners from left to right: Matt Meholic, Roseann Crissman, Jenna Mahovlich, scholarship winners Maddie Cashmere, Kali Ann Kirst, Kayla Kirkland and Nicholas Cunningham and more Straub employees, Cathy Lenze, AJ Alexander, George Hasselman.

Straub Brewery has supported local students with this scholarship for twelve years.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 $61,000 matched to 55 students in our area.

The scholarship is one of 77 scholarships administered by the Elk County Community Foundation who will distribute over $165,000 in 2016.

The Elk County Community Foundation Board extends their gratitude to Straub Brewery who has seen 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

Women Who Care had a “membership drive” for the 2015-16

The Women Who Care (WWC) Steering Committee had a Donor Advisor for a Day “membership drive” for the 2015-16 membership year, that allowed members who registered early to give a grant to a charity of their choice. One new and one renewing member, along with another renewing member who increased their membership level were chosen to give out $500 grants. The Ridgway Little League, Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department and the Johnsonburg Community Center were the grateful recipi…ent of this grants from WWC members Cindy Straub, Rebecca Plowely and Carol Parana, respectively. All of the organization expressed their appreciation for the members choosing their organization for this grant.

Women Who Care, a local group which is a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, is dedicated to addressing the needs of women and families throughout Elk County. Since its inception the membership has given over $100,000 back to the community in the form a grants to local nonprofit organizations. WWC is still accepting members for 2016. Membership year runs from Oct 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016 with membership dues due by June 1, 2016. WWC is currently planning their spring event for April. Check out the Women Who Care Facebook page for more details. Membership commitments are appreciated and welcomed at this time.

Pictured Left to right:
Standing: Bradley Schneider from the Ridgway Little League; and Fred Maletto from Wilcox Volunteer Fire Department;
Sitting: WWC member Carol Parana and Carol Allegretto from the Johnsonburg Community Center and WWC member Rebecca Plowely

Stackpole Family Fund presented Grants to local Agencies

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund presented Grant Monies to the local Agencies

Recently, Donor Advisors of the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund, held at the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) met with members of a number of local agencies. The St. Marys Public Library and the Ridgway Area Little League shared in the $17,223 distributed for projects.

The St. Marys Public Library project will help to partially digitize our local newspapers. The library has been working closely with the St. Marys Historical Society on this project. In Phase one of the project, the organizations will digitize the first 115 rolls of the St. Marys Daily Press (1911 – 1973). These newspapers have many local values to community members including historical, ethnic, cultural, industrial, genealogical, governmental, and economic significance. The Ridgway Area little League has begun a major Revitalization Project that includes constructing a Rest Room Facility to accommodate the general public, when attending games and tournaments at the fields.

The Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund is a donor advised fund that continues to support the philanthropic causes that were important to both Harrison and Muriel. If anyone would like to get more information about receiving a grant or establishing a fund at the Elk County Community Foundation of their own, please contact Paula Fritz Eddy at 814-834-2125 or visit our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com. The next round of grant applications are due on January 15, 2016

Picture ID:

From L to R

Leslie Swope, Director of the St. Marys Library; Ted Schneider, one of the Advisors to the Family Fund; and Brad Schneider the project manager for the Ridgway Little League Revitalization Project

PHEASANTS FOREVER YOUTH OUTDOOR 2015 A HUGE SUCCESS!

PHEASANTS FOREVER YOUTH OUTDOOR 2015 A HUGE SUCCESS!

Pictured are Anthony Palombo, Hunter Stoots and Austin Pringle participated in the 2015 Pheasants Forever Youth Outdoor Event.

The Pheasants Forever Youth Outdoor Endowment was created to help take local challenged or ill youth on outdoor excursions. Of course, we always find time for pheasant hunting! This year’s event was held again at Queenstown Lodge near East Brady. Numerous PF members and youth were on hand to create a great weekend to remember for these three young men.

You wouldn’t know it to look at him that Anthony Palombo is battling leukemia. Anthony enjoys all outdoor sports and is a very active young man. He’ll get a lot of use of his new camo shotgun. Rumor has that his pheasant mount is already hung on the wall.

Hunter Stoots was given a very appropriate name at birth. This kid doesn’t miss with a shot gun! Hunter has battled synovial cell sarcoma in his knee. Numerous operations were needed to save his leg but his parent’s, Bill and Amy, were determined to find Hunter the best treatment. He now walks without even a limp. And he doesn’t miss with a shotgun! He looked great decker out in his new Pheasants Forever chaps and upland hunting vest.

Austin Pringle participated in the Pheasants Forever Mentored Pheasant Hunt in the fall of 2014 so we knew this boy loved to hunt. Austin’s right hand isn’t as useful as his left but that doesn’t stop him from training his new bird dog. PF provided him with a high-tech e-collar for the pup. Austin had a few fly fishing lessons with his new rod and reel and will be catching big trout by next April.

The weekend was packed with shooting, hunting, UTV rides, geocaching fishing and lots and lot of eating! All the young men were presented with pheasant mounts and scrapbooks that captured the memories of the weekend.

Adam Snow and his Dad, Skip, returned as year’s guests to fry fish for the hungry crew on Friday night. Adam is an avid fisherman and was pleased to shared his catch. Other numerous meals were cooked by Tim and Mary Jo Schneider who were PFYO guests in our very first year with their daughter, Emily. All the past PF Youth Outdoor youth and their families were invited back to share memories for the Saturday night pig roast. It was spectacular and no one went home hungry.

Emily Schneider and Jasmine Carlson, both young PF members, teamed up to create the scrapbooks of memories. Teen Chase Pontious worked his young dog for a bird hunt. A dozen other Pheasant Forever volunteers were on hand to help make the weekend memorable. Of course the real workers are the dogs, although they sure make it look like fun.

Tim Rowan, Youth Chairman, had this to add, ‘I think it’s amazing what we as a group, although small in number, have accomplished so much. My goal starting out was to change the life of just one person and we’ve done that many times over. When I look at how some of the past participants have changed I’m really proud of our group. When it gets right down to it I’ve probably changed more than any participant, these kids and their families are an inspiration to me. I know they look up to us in many ways but feel we should be looking up to them.’

The Pheasants Forever 630 Chapter of North Central PA holds various events all year long to fund this weekend along with the PF Mentored Youth Hunts, veteran hunts and habitat work. Visit our new web site and Facebook pages to learn about our club and events – http://www.northcentralpapf.org/
32 South St Marys Street, Suite 4, P.O. Box 934 – Saint Marys, PA 15857 – Phone: 814-834-2125 – Fax: 814-834-2126 – Email: eccf@windstream.net