New Fund Established to Support Catholic Education

New Fund Established to Support Catholic Education

The Elk County Community Foundation recently made the first distribution of the R. Thomas and Mary Rita Valentine Charitable Fund for the Elk County Catholic School System (ECCSS). Tom and Mary Rita had both worked and retired from Stackpole Carbon Company. They were members of Queen of the World Church, devout in their faith and active in their community.

Tom and Mary Rita were supportive of Catholic education and together they made provisions in their estate plans to provide funding for this purpose. They chose to come to the Elk County Community Foundation to ensure that funds would be available for the Catholic schools in our area for generations to come. Each year going forward a portion the R. Thomas and Mary Rita Valentine Charitable Fund will be awarded with half of the gift being allocated for tuition assistance and the other half benefiting the general operations of the Elk County Catholic School System.

Tom Wagner, the Valentine’s lawyer and estate planner of Meyer & Wagner Law Offices, and Tom Fledderman, the couple’s financial advisor and Trust Officer from Northwest Savings Bank, were on hand for the first distribution of the fund. Both gentlemen worked with the Valentines as they created their legacy. Attorney Wagner said that once he realized the Valentines wanted to support their community he began to help them fulfill their charitable goals. A gift through the Community Foundation seemed to best accomplish Tom and Mary Rita’s objectives of keeping local control of the funds while supporting Catholic education. Tom Fledderman also said that educating his clients about their options is so important in financial planning. Fledderman commented “when long term gifts are the objective, I try to inform them about the Community Foundation and how it can help them give a gift that will give back to the community forever.”

Sam MacDonald, ECCSS president, commented that a gift to the Community Foundation complements the school system’s endowed funds to help ensure there will always be Catholic education in St. Marys. More tuition assistance means more help for our families, and operating dollars certainly help keep the cost of tuition low. “Words cannot adequately express our schools’ appreciation for the Valentines contribution,” said MacDonald.

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 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. The R. Thomas and Mary Rita Valentine Charitable Fund for the Elk County Catholic School System is one of 110 different funds the ECCF manages. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Foundation’s Executive Director, Paula Fritz Eddy at 814-834-2125 or emailing eccf@windstream.net. More information can also be found at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

Pictured from left to right are Tom Fledderman, Sam MacDonald, Paula Fritz Eddy, and Tom Wagner

Johnsonburg Area School Districts receive Funding

Johnsonburg Area School Districts receive Funding

Over $17,000 was distributed to Johnsonburg School Districts from the Elk County Community Foundation. As an approved Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) partner the Foundation receives donations from qualified business to provide innovative educational programing with in the public schools k-12 school.

This year Johnsonburg School District replaced a computer cart with laptops and upgraded the wireless service at their Elementary school. The EITC donations for innovative technology, like this, are administered and distributed through the Foundation, which has been designated to serve as an Educational Improvement Organization by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Recently representatives from the Community Foundation and Northwest Savings Bank, one of this year’s EITC contributors, visited Johnsonburg Elementary school to check out the new laptops and cart. 6th grade students were eager to share some of the stories and projects they have been working on with the new laptops. One of the programs they use is “Study Island” which provides a lesson or video that the students are then tested on to see how much they retained. Another program, the students really seemed to like was called “Throw the Teacher” and it dealt mostly with math skills like multiplication and division. All in all, the students love using the laptops, each student has an assigned number for the computer they use and the privilege of using the laptops is reserved for the 6th graders and the cart house in the 6th grade wing of the school. Other grades levels need to move to one of the computer lab rooms to have access to multiple computers.

Other companies that contributed to the programs this year were: Farmers National Bank, EQT Production Co.; Highmark Casualty Insurance Company, Synder Trucking Company; Advantage Sales Co., Susquehanna Wire Rope and Rigging and PNC Bank. Any entity can be authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and subject to certain taxes is eligible to apply to be involved with the EITC program. Tax credits are limited to 75% of the business’ contribution with a maximum of $750,000 annually. If a business agrees to make the same contribution for two consecutive years, it may receive a tax credit equal to 90% of its contribution. Interested participants must submit a brief application to the DCED. The application can be found at www.inventpa.com. The foundation also has applications and further information available to assist with the business application process.

Pictured standing behind a group of Johnsonburg Elementary 6th grade students from left to right are: Charlie Constable, Elk County Community Foundation Board member along with Angie Leader and Christina Tigani, representing North West Savings Bank

Women Who Care Donor Advisor Winners!

The Women Who Care Steering Committee again had a Donor Advisor for a Day “membership drive” for the 2013-14 membership year. “This year we had an additional $400 in granting money available,” said Paula Fritz Eddy, member of the committee. Women Who Care(WWC), 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 . The Steering Committee of WWC, offered an incentive for new and renewing members who paid their dues by December 16th. Those who did were entered into a drawing to be a “Donor Advisor for a Day”. The Winners was able to give their favorite (501 c 3) charity a special donation.

The renewing member who was chosen to be a Donor Advisor was Becky Kreckel. Becky decided to gift her dollars to the Lions Club of St. Marys who will buy site cases.

The Guardian Angels Center was the grateful recipient of a donation from Margaret Miller, a new member of WWC. Peggy made the donation of $200 to help the well deserving and hardworking organization.

The Women Who Care is a project of the Elk County Community Foundation and is still accepting members for 2014. Membership year runs from Oct 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 with membership dues due by June 1, 2014. Membership commitments are appreciated and welcomed at this time.

Pictured Left to right:

From the Guardian Angel Center, Jane Heverley and Marion Johnson. New member Margaret Miller, Renewing member Becky Kreckel and Vince Leta from the Lions Club of St. Marys.

Donation made to the Christian Cordero Scholarship Fund

Recently Windfall Carwash held a fundraiser collecting donations and giving proceeds from a day’s car washes to the Christian Cordero Memorial Scholarship Fund. They presented a donation… of $1230 to the Elk County Community Foundation, where the fund is held. The scholarship is awarded to an 8th grade Cavalier basketball player who shows real enthusiasm for the game just as the late Christian Cordero did, and will be attending Elk County Catholic High School as a freshman the next year. Christian, “CC”, know to his friends, was a former Cavalier player and later returned as volunteer assistant coach. On Christian’s resume, his objective read, “I would like to be able to help people to the fullest and give back to my community.” This was one of his aspirations. With the setback life sent his way, Christian’s strong-will to live a normal life kept him going to school, coaching and working. JD Detsch was a classmate and teammate of Christian’s and along with his parents, Dan and Lisa, wanted to honor his friend with this donation.

The Cavalier Boosters, who created the scholarship fund in the memory of their former player, are encouraging anyone, especially CC’s classmates and friends to donation to the fund. They are hoping to make this award annual scholarship. Donations can be sent to the Elk County Community Foundation at P.O. Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857, or can be made online at their website www.elkcountyfoundation.com. If you have any questions please call us at 814-834-2125.

Women Who Care Membership Drive

Calling all women who care about their community to become a member of Women Who Care!

Women Who Care is a Women’s philanthropic giving circle, created in 2009. With a shared interest in strengthening the community by providing assistance to important projects, all women are welcome to join Women Who Care. The Women Who Care Steering Committee is announcing our Holiday, Donor Advisor for a Day “membership drive” for the 2014 Granting Cycle. We have a set aside $400 in granting money. The Steering Committee is offering an incentive for new and renewing members. All committed members by Dec. 16th for the 2013 year will be entered into a drawing to be a “Donor Advisor for a Day” . The winners will be able to give their favorite (501 c 3)charity a special holiday donation. One new member and one renewing member will have the opportunity to be a“Donor Advisor for a Day” !! Click here for your membership application. 2014_Membership_Promo.pdf

With Women Who Care membership you really can be as involved as much or a little as you wish. Our goal is to provide grants to local charitable organizations. The funds are raised thru our annual membership dues. Women make annual contributions of a minimum $100, which can be paid for over a year’s time. Annual membership entitles each member to vote as to what agencies will receive the funds. Annual membership goes from October 1st to September 30th.

Women Who Care is embarking on it 5th year and has given four groups of funding. Each year the organization and membership continues to grow. For the 2012-2013 granting cycle we had 139 members eligible to vote for their favorite charities project. We successfully granted $16,000 to deserving organizations around the community. Grants were given to the follow group:

Elk County Council on the Arts: Summer Youth Programs

First United Methodist Church: Outdoor Recreation Project

Johnsonburg Community Trust: Playground Equipment – Merry-Go-Round

CAPSEA: Equipment for “Mandated Reporter” Training

Community Nurses Inc.: Ultrasound Equipment for Use in Home Therapy

Junior Achievement of Western PA: Program Materials

St. Marys Public Library: The Teen Lounge

Come Join Women Who Care and make a difference in your community!