Johnsonburg Area School Districts receive Funding

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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!

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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

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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

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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!

Ridgway Charitable Fund Grants $18,000 Locally

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The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) brought together non profit organizations that serve the residents of Ridgway, who where chosen to receive a grant from the Borough of Ridgway Charitable Fund. The Borough of Ridgway Charitable Fund’s purpose is to provide financial support to those non-profit organizations whose application reflects a purpose or project that will benefit the residents of the Borough of Ridgway. The endowed fund was a gift received from the estate of Sara-Jane Stackpole and is held at the ECCF. As directed by Sara-Jane, the ECCF board of directors appointed an advisory committee made up of Ridgway community leaders and resident to review and distribute those grants that will enhance the quality of the life for all residents. This year’s Advisory Committee included Joe Bullers, Linda White, Mike Renaud, Derrick Goode, and Mary Jane Oknefski.

This year’s recipients are:

CAPSEA, Inc. requested and received $5000 to purchase a new phone system to make certain that victims of abuse and their children have access to services and shelter 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The current system is over 15 years old and in of constant repair.

Dickinson Center Inc., Elkwood Arts program received $5000 and will be purchasing a snack/drink combination Vending Machine that will be operated at Dickinson’s location on Servadia Drive. The machine will not only serve the staff and clients but provide a new training opportunity for the Elkwood Arts consumers with intellectual/developmental disabilities. They will be stocking, inventorying, and tracking the sales of the machine as part of their program.

Guardian Angel received $3500 toward their 2014 back to school packs they give to Ridgway students. This past year they served 131 children from 51 families from the Ridgway community.

The Elk County Humane Society is the only shelter in Elk County, it is imperative that we remain open to care for abused, abandoned, and stray animals that are not protected by any other agency. They received a grant of $3000 to help with their wellness care of animals entering the shelter. They are receive flea/tick treatment and are spayed /neutered before they are adopted.

The final award of $1,500 went to the Tri-county Rails to Trails for the upkeep and maintenance of the trails that are heavily used by residents of Ridgway, Elk County and by many visitors from outside the area. People of all ages enjoy these trails.

Funds distributed were awarded for these community development initiatives that will enhance the well being of the Ridgway community. This year applications requests totaled over $30,000. The Ridgway Charitable Fund only had $18,000 to distribute this year. Donations are encouraged to grow the fund and to increase the amount of granting dollars available. Individuals, along with groups and business can make a tax deductible contribution by sending it to the Ridgway Borough Charitable Fund, c/o Elk County Community Foundation at P.O. Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857

Annually grants from the Ridgway Charitable Fund are distributed and can be used to meet special project or program needs of non profit organizations. The Foundation encourages organizations that will serve a particular need of the community and will make a lasting impact on the overall community to apply in August of each year. The Foundation seeks to fund

projects or activities that will serve the needs of many in the community rather than the needs of a few individuals. Projects should include activities that are innovative and have a plan to be self sustaining. In addition, grants are made to support programs serving all persons regardless of race, religion or creed and are made only to charitable organizations.

Organizations that feel they meet the above criteria are invited to submit their application to the foundation for the 2014 round of grants by Aug 15, 2013. ECCF is a non profit organization that manages endowed funds established by donors for area non profit organizations or student scholarships. Donor gifts are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. For more information about opportunities at the Foundation please contact Paula Fritz Eddy at 814-834-2125 or visit our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.