LEC established fund at ECCF for children’s before/after school and summer programs

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PHOTO: Photo: This Leadership Elk & Cameron team is collaborating to launch a meaningful project to establish a fund to support safe and engaging before and after-school programs for our youth. From left, group members include: Emma Schatz, LSW, Dickinson Center Inc.; Tiffany Boschert, Executive Director of the Elk County Community Foundation; Amanda Balon, Director of Big Maple Farm’s Natural Therapies; Ron Hammersely, Commonwealth Site Administrator for PA CareerLink Cameron, Elk, McKean, Potter; Courtney Rieger, STEM Education Assistant at Community Education Center; and Alexandra Fleming, Community Office Manager at Fox Township CNB Bank

LEC establishes fund at ECCF for children’s before/after school and summer programs

A community-minded group of six participants from the current Leadership Elk & Cameron program recently established the School Aged Child Community Fund as their group project for the year. The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF)will administer this fund. The purpose of the fund is to help with tuition assistance for before-and-after school programs and summer programs for our youth in Elk and Cameron Counties.

This new fund will help many families in our communities that have difficulty affording quality before-and-after school programs and summer programs which play an important role in children’s development and well-being. The fund is in its initial stages and would benefit from donations from the community to help it grow and make a difference in many children’s lives.

LEC entered its eighteenth year in September 2024 with more than 235 participants completing the LEC program since the inaugural 2007 class. Leadership Elk & Cameron was created to educate its participants in the strengths and opportunities of the county to develop informed, civic-oriented volunteers to help direct the future of the region.

Individuals, businesses, and organizations that would like to be part of this project can donate any amount to support the fund. Donations can be made to the Elk County Community Foundation at PO Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857. Please write School Aged Children Community Fund in the memo line. Or donate online at www.elkcountyfoundation.org under Donate Now.

The Elk County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies. Contact ECCF for more information at 814-834-2125.

Mary Ann Wilhelm awards WWC Donor-for-a-Day grant to Christian Food Bank

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PHOTO: Women Who Care member, Mary Ann Wilhelm, center, awards her Donor-for-a-Day check for $250 to volunteers from the Christian Food Bank in St. Marys.

Wilhelm, WWC Donor-for-a-Day Winner, Awards Grant to Christian Food Bank

Members of Women Who Care (WWC), a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Four lucky members were able to award $250 to a favorite organization during this year’s WWC holiday membership drive.

Mary Ann Wilhelm awarded $250 to the Christian Food Bank in St. Marys; Connie Amendola presented her grant to Bowls of Love at St. Marys Methodist Church; Ann Bauer awarded her grant to the Boys & Girls Club; and Molly Gnan awarded a grant to CAPSEA. In total, Women Who Care has given $440,778 to area non-profits since 2010.

Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic donations and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Approximately 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Amendola awards WWC Donor-for-a-Day grant to Bowls of Love

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PHOTO: Women Who Care member, Connie Amendola, center, presented her award for $250 to Linda Johnson and Faye Whitmere from Bowls of Love at St. Marys Methodist Church.

Amendola, WWC Donor-for-a-Day Winner, Awards Grant to Bowls of Love

Members of Women Who Care (WWC), a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Four lucky members were able to award $250 to a favorite organization during this year’s WWC holiday membership drive.

Connie Amendola presented her grant to Bowls of Love at St. Marys Methodist Church; Ann Bauer awarded her grant to the Boys & Girls Club; Molly Gnan awarded a grant to CAPSEA; and Mary Ann Wilhelm awarded $250 to the Christian Food Bank in St. Marys. In total, Women Who Care has given $440,778 to area non-profits since 2010.

Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic donations and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Approximately 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.

WWC Donor-for-a-Day winners award grants to local organizations

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PHOTO: Women Who Care member Ann Bauer presented Joe Jacob, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of St. Marys, with a grant check for $250. Also in photo: kneeling, Emma Sorg, After-school & summer program staff and PSU Dubois student; Sam Nortum, SMAMS  after-school student staff; Allison Mertz and Mia Piccirillo, SMAHS after-school student program leaders. Standing: Joey Lease, SMAHS student leader; Joe Jacob and Ann Bauer; Emily Crowe, Assistant Director.

WWC Donor-for-a-Day Winners Award Grants to Local Organizations

Members of Women Who Care (WWC), a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Four lucky members were able to award $250 to a favorite organization during this year’s WWC holiday membership drive.

Ann Bauer awarded her grant to the Boys & Girls Club; Connie Amendola presented her grant to Bowls of Love at St. Marys Methodist Church; Molly Gnan awarded a grant to CAPSEA; and Mary Ann Wilhelm awarded $250 to the Christian Food Bank in St. Marys. In total, Women Who Care has given $440,778 to area non-profits since 2010.

Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic donations and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Approximately 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Apply now for Community Foundation scholarships for high school seniors and adult learners

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Applications open from January 15 to March 7

Apply now for Community Foundation scholarships for high school seniors and adult learners

Applications for scholarships through both the Elk County and McKean County Community Foundations are now open for high school seniors as well as for non-traditional adult learners with a submission deadline of March 7, 2025. Through the 190 scholarship funds held at the two Community Foundations, almost 300 scholarships are awarded each year to students of all ages who are furthering their education.

In addition to the numerous scholarships offered to high school seniors, adult learners have a variety of scholarship opportunities available to them. There are 28 scholarship funds in Elk County and 17 scholarship funds in McKean County earmarked for college students, graduate level and non-traditional students. These adult learners may be pursuing general 2–4-year degrees, trade or vocational degrees or certificates, environmental studies, EMT or paramedic training, criminal justice, nursing, forestry and agriculture, military service, and more. Students are urged to log on to the foundation websites to explore the options available to them.

All scholarships applications are completed online. To apply, go to the website for your area at www.elk countyfoundation.org or www.mckeancountyfoundation.org. Click on the Scholarships tab, then Information for Students, to explore the scholarships available for your specific school or category. When you “Click Here to Apply” you will be led to a website to fill out your information, after which the site will inform you of every scholarship for which you are eligible. The scholarships opened on January 15th and will close on March 7. For more questions on the application process contact theCommunity Foundation at 1-844-238-2289.

The Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation are non-profit organizations that are affiliates of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.