The Community Foundation’s Women Who Care Game Night

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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

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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!

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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

Non-Profit Academy to Occur October 28

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Non-Profit Academy to Occur October 28

The Elk County Community Foundation and the Leadership Elk County Alumni have joined together to plan a local Non-Profit Academy: Working to Empower Non-Profits and Keep Communities Strong. This half day conference will be held on Oct 28th at The Highlands, formerly the St. Marys Country Club from 8 to 1:30. Non-profit leaders, executives, front line staff, board members and volunteers from Elk County and the surrounding region are encouraged to attend.

The event is a conference where attendees will network, share and learn. This event will feature keynote speaker Todd Parisi. The title of his motivational talk for nonprofit staff and volunteers is entitled “Empower the Hour, Slay the Day”. Todd was born in St. Marys and graduated from SMAHS 1986. He joined the United States Marine Corps at the young age of 17. He served in the United States Marine Corps for 28 years where he had many accomplishments. Sergeant Major Parisi retired from the Marine Corps in September of 2014. Following his retirement, Todd served as a Freshmen High School Teacher at Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill, South Carolina where he was nominated as Teacher of the Year for 2014-2015. He is currently pursuing Leadership based/Motivational Speaking full time and has grown a reputation and passion for helping non-profits and individuals. “Encouraging, enthusiastic, energetic, empowering, extraordinary, engaging, and exhilarating are a few words that come to mind when the name Todd Parisi is spoken. His words, stories and memories keep everyone on the edge of their seats making sure not a word is missed.” said Anne Herzing – Elementary Principal, Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School in Ridgway after speaking at her school.

Other presenters including: Tish Mogan from the PA Association of Non-profit Organizations; Matt Checchio, of Mangus Marketing; and Padraic McGrath, CPA and Jeremy Toman of Knox Law. Topics for the day are described on this downloadable flyer and registration form: 16 NP Academy flyer & Registration.pdf

Save $10 by registering early. The early bird registration is Monday Oct 19th. For more information and to register, contact the Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Picture Attached: Todd Parisi

Women Who Care Annual Granting Event

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Women Who Care Annual Granting Event

Women Who Care, a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, held its annual granting business meeting at the Elk Visitors Center was held recently.  This year the “Road Trip” to the Vistors Center not only included their annual granting and membership meeting but offered a unique opportunity for the members to take a Wagon Ride, see and hear the beautiful elk and hear from Rawley Cogan about the Center and its activities.   A great time was enjoyed by everyone! Over 150 ladies attended. 

Women Who Care is in its seventh year. At this meeting they gave $24,000 to 7 agencies, that brings there total to $128,200 being given back to local community non-profits who provide programs that enhance the lives of women and their families since their inception.

The awarded grants went to:

  • Community Nurses for 15 automatic medication dispensers
  • ECCOTA – matching funds to support two AIE residencies
  • Oak Manor – appliances for an accessible home
  • Ridgway Free Library – Maker station with Legos for children’s programs
  • St. Marys Boys and Girls Club – Creative Corner
  • Wilcox Public Library – New public access computers, and other computers for circulation desk and director’s office.
  • Johnsonburg Knothole Association – Repairs to damaged field

About the Picture:

Pictured in sitting left to right: Linda White and Jackie Lundy from ECCOTA, and Kayleen Porter from Community Nurse;

Second row left to right:
Barb DePonceau from Wilcox Library, Britney FinGado from St. Marys Boys and Girls Club, Scarlette Pociask of the Ridegway Free Library Association, Debbie Fehrenbach of Oak Manor and Scott Cherry from the Johnsonburg Knothole/ Little League.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS