2009 Scholarships Awarded

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The Elk County Community Foundation awarded a total of 78 scholarships to local students this year totaling $62,725.00 in scholarship funds. Graduating seniors from Elk County Catholic, St. Marys Area, Johnsonburg Area, Ridgway Area, and Kane Area were the recipients of these scholarships. Fourteen scholarships went Elk County Catholic, twenty-two to St. Marys Area, twelve to Johnsonburg Area, twelve to Ridgway Area, and two went to Kane Area High School. Another six scholarships were given to students at DuBois and Brockway Area High Schools. Also, ten additional scholarships were awarded to students who were already in attendance at a post secondary institution.
The dollars given to these students will impact generations to come as these young adults shape our communities. Donors who have established these scholarships are contributing to our future leaders. The Elk County Community Foundation Board extends their gratitude to those who have seen the need and believe in the youth of today. Anyone interested in establishing a scholarship can contact the Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Bob and Betsy Roberts Establish New Fund at the ECCF

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Recently a new Donor Advised Fund was established at the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) by Bob and Betsy Roberts. This Fund was a birthday present to Bob, from his wife, Betsy. The Bob and Betsy Roberts Family Fund has been set up to help support the causes and organizations that are most important to them. “The Foundation is a great vehicle for supporting our community,” said Betsy. She went on to praise the Community Foundation’s ability to allow people with any amount of funds, large or small, to be able to provide support to the causes that are important them now and in the future. Much like a private foundation, but on a smaller scale, a donor advised fund at the Foundation allows donors to request annual grants or gifts to their favorite charity from their fund. Since the Foundation is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3), non profit, it also provides all the legal tax benefits.

Both Bob and Betsy were raised in St. Marys, though Betsy was born in Washington, DC, her family returned when she was very young. The couple received their education through the Catholic School system, graduating together in 1961 from St. Marys Catholic High School. Bob worked at the US Post Office in the area for over 30 years in several positions, including Postmaster for St. Marys and Ridgway. Betsy received her nursing degree from Duquesne University and worked for the PA Department of Health for 9 years. After taking a break to devote time to their children, Betsy returned to the field of nursing as the President/CEO of the Community Nurses, Inc. from where she retired, in 2004. Bob and Betsy have two children Jeffrey Roberts of Wilcox and Amy (Roberts) Smith of St. Marys and enjoy their two grandchildren Kirsten and Kayne.

The Roberts have always been involved in a variety of community affairs for years, serving countless hours in their community and with their favorite charities. Bob has served on City Council and in the past, was President of the St. Marys Parochial School Board and the St. Marys Church Parish Council. He is also an active member of the St. Marys Rotary Club and is currently holds leadership roles with the St. Marys Cemetery Board, Elk County Project Gifts for Kids and the St. Marys Catholic Church Building and Maintenance Committee.
Betsy has served as a board member of many organizations including: Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital, Elk Regional Health Center, Elk Regional Health System, Community Nurses, PA Association of Home Health Agencies, and Visiting Nurses Association of PA. She was a founding member, and continues as a board member for the Community Education Council and for Elco Housing Inc. She is involved in the St. Marys Catholic Church as a member of the Adult Choir and serves on the parish Care and Concern Committee. Betsy is the current Treasurer of the St. Marys Christian Food Bank and plays an active role in this organization.
When asked about his opinion of their newly established Bob and Betsy Roberts Family Fund, Bob said, “Life has been good (to us) and I have always believed that the more you give the more you get.”

The Roberts’ have been involved with the Elk County Community Foundation in the past as advisors to the Charles and Doris Schloder Family Fund. This fund established a little over a year ago by Betsy and her bother John in honor of their parents. To learn more about establishing a fund or how anyone can support the good works the many organizations in the community contact Paula Fritz Eddy at the Elk County Community Foundation office by calling at 834-2125 or contacting them through their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

Giving students a chance. Herbert Lenze’s memory lives on through new scholarship program.

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Herbert Lenze died on Nov. 8, 2007, but his legacy to the Ridgway Area School District will live forever through monies he has donated to the district earmarked for scholarships for boys’ basketball players and band members.

Lenze taught in the Ridgway Area School District for 30 years, and during the time he spent in Ridgway he was actively involved in extracurricular activities. He enjoyed the boy’s basketball and band programs the most.

Lenze was a basketball scorekeeper for most of his tenure at Ridgway, and also was treasurer of about every booster club and organization connected with the school.

Although it is unknown how long Lenze actually was involved with these groups, it is known that he put his heart into each activity for many years. Even though Lenze has passed on, he wanted to leave a little something so the students could continue to prosper from these programs.

Lenze decided to give an unknown amount of funds to the Ridgway Area School District to sponsor the basketball and marching band organizations, along with a scholarship program.

The monies going to these programs will allow the students to attend camps, purchase much–needed equipment and be governed by outside directors and coaches, along with giving students a financial bridge towards their college education.

The scholarship program will award one student that meets all necessary criteria with a $1,000 scholarships per year for up to four years. The student must maintain a B average. The criteria for the basketball scholarship is a student must have participated at least three years, including their senior year, as a player, manager or assistant. The band scholarship criteria is the student must be a senior and a member of the high school band for four years. Students must also be in the top 50 percentile of their class, and be accepted to a two– or four–year college.

The students are required to submit an essay entailed why the monies would benefit them. A students other activities will be considered during the elimination process, but they are not required to be considered.

The program will be conducted by a board comprised of the school superintendent, teachers, guidance counselors and the directors of the program. The scholarship monies will be delivered through the Elk County Community Foundation, a non-profit organization.

Paula Fritz Eddy said the organization is like an advocate for the donor’s monies. “We are not here to necessarily service individuals, but to service our donors,” Eddy said. “We help them become the philanthropist they want to be. We don’t provide services like the American Red Cross, but we service the donor to assure these programs will remain intact.”The benefits of having the monies organized through the ECCF is the students have a chance at increasing their scholarships. Since the ECCF is a state–based program and the scholarships are administered through the Partnerships for Access to Higher Education, a division of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, the students might become eligible for a larger scholarship. “About half of our kids end up getting additional grants,” said Eddy. “For a donor, it has potential of doubling their scholarship – not everyone, but those who are financially eligible.”

Jake Meyer, who is an attorney, says Lenze donated the monies to make the kids become more involved, make the programs better and he also hoped to lead other people to participate in making donations to the school.

Brent Rhoads stated the district will benefit in various ways because of Lenze’s generosity. Rhoads says the monies will pay a portion of the costs of having clinics, and now the district has the opportunity to bring in outside couches and directors. Rhoads says the monies will also allow for additional training the district was not able to afford before.

The school has already began reaping the benefits by purchasing clinics for the band students. The scholarship program will also begin disbursement for graduating seniors in May 2009, and the district is also considering some clinics for next summer.
Rhoads and the rest of the district is extremely grateful for Lenze’s donation.

“It is a great gift,” said Rhoads.

Dickinson Mental Health Center Children’s Prevention Services Establish an Endowment Fund

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Everyone should have a “rainy day” fund in case there’s an emergency or to help plan for the future. Jennifer Dippold, Director of Dickinson Mental Health Center Children’s Prevention Services completes the required paperwork with Paula Fritz Eddy, Executive Director of The Elk County Community Foundation to establish an endowment fund earmarked for Dickinson Mental Health Center Children’s Prevention Services with The Elk County Community Foundation.

DMHC Children’s Prevention Services supporters and others now may make contributions directly to the fund, which generates income for the organization to use or reinvest to help the principle grow. The ultimate goal is to provide for their organizations future financial security. Eventually, the hope it that the endowment could generate enough interest to support the ongoing operating expenses for Children’s Prevention Services with Dickinson, and children 20 to 50 years from now will benefit from this endowment fund. DMHC Children’s Prevention Services provide prevention support to families and children in Elk and Cameron Counties. They offer programs that are available from birth until a child graduates from high school through both community and school-based services. Children’s Prevention Services currently provides the LIFE Program, Student Assistance Program, Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program, Parents as Teachers, Staying Connected with your Teen, Incredible Years and have the Parents as Teachers Children’s Center on Erie Avenue. All these programs are free to those who participate and are available to the general public. Jen Dippold states “ a family does not have to have a diagnosis to utilize these services, and we hope that any and all families will take advantage of these services. We like to think that most of our services offer an extra learning opportunity for parents and the children who participate with our programs. Children’s Prevention Services do not treat nor diagnose like other traditional services with Dickinson Mental Health Center.” Jen also states, “Dickinson Mental Health Center is celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2008 ,and Children’s Prevention Services like other services with DMHC reflects Dickinson’s dedication and commitment to supporting the children and families in our community.

Elk County Community Foundation reaches $5 million in endowed funds

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The Elk County Community Foundation has reached a significant milestone in achieving over $5 million in permanently endowed funds. Earlier in the year, the foundation exceeded granting over half a million dollars to worthy organizations and college students throughout the community as well.

The information was released at the Foundation’s Nov. 29th executive committee meeting.

The Foundation is growing with each passing year, and as Bill Conrad of the Stackpole-Hall Foundation stated in an article published in The Daily Press on Jan. 25, 2000, ”within five to 10 years, the foundation should be up to $5 million.”

Conrad’s vision became a reality as his predication came true. Such monies will continue to help generation after generation. Meanwhile, the Foundation continues to enable individuals to achieve their philanthropic goals intelligently, creatively and effectively.

During the 1990’s a group of business and civic leaders worked together to explore and discuss establishing a Community Foundation in the Elk County area. The Foundation was incorporated in 1999, and a year later was classified as a non-profit organization.

At the time, Conrad described the Elk County Community Foundation as something that “provides individuals with an opportunity to financially provide for charitable and community organizations that they believe in and want to see endure in the long term.”

Also at the time of inception, the founding President Richard Masson described the foundation as a “chance for an individual to see their charitable intentions carried on from generation to generation”.

The Elk County Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter. They currently manage 53 permanent charitable funds that improve the quality of life in Elk and surrounding counties. Revenues from these funds provide grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations and students, just as the donor intended.

In 2007 there were six new funds established with a growth of over $1.8 million dollars and an increase in granting by 35 percent or $47,000 more than last year.

Additional information about the Foundation can be obtained by contacting Paula Fritz Eddy at 834-2125 or visiting the organization’s website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.