Ridgway Charitable Fund held at the Elk County Community Foundation is now accepting Grant Requests.

/in /by

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) announces they are now accepting grant applications from non profit organizations that serve the residents of Ridgway. 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. ECCF welcomes all applications for funding as part of its mission to promote the betterment of the community and to enhance the quality of the life for all residents.

Funds will be award for such community development initiatives that will enhance the well being of the Ridgway community. Distribution from the grants can be used to meet special project or program needs of 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. 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 sustained themselves. 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. Applications have been revised to make it easier for organizations to apply. New applications will be accepted through September 19, 2008 and are available by calling the ECCF’s office at 834-2125 or via their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

Grants will be reviewed and approved by the end of October. The funds come from the Ridgway Charitable and will be able to award over $20,000. The endowed fund was a gift received from the estate of Sara-Jane Stackpole and is held at the ECCF. Grants approved in 2007 were awarded to the following organizations: Anne Forbes Nursery School, Elk Regional Health System, Elkwood Arts, Dickinson Mental Health Center, St. Leo School, and Ridgway YMCA

Each year the grant money increases and will continue to do so as long as the investment grows. In addition the Ridgway Charitable Fund the Foundation will distribute approximately $70,000 in scholarships and an additional $80,000 plus in other endowed funds this year.
ECCF is a non profit organization that manages endowed funds established by donors for area non profit organizations. Donor gifts are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Dickinson Mental Health Center awarded grant

/in /by

Dickinson Mental Health Center was awarded a $7,630 grant to support its new Children’s Autism Outreach Project through the Elk County Community Foundation and the Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund.

DMHC CEO Mike Galluzzi was on hand along with Paula Fritz Eddy, Executive Director of the Elk County Community Foundation and John Pozza, Director of Grants and Marketing for DMHC, to announce the grant.

Galluzzi said the grant will be a big help to those in the area with Autism.

“There are virtually no autism services that exist in the area,” Galluzzi said. “We’re identifying a growing need and these grants will help with that need.”

Galluzzi said the project will introduce integrated sensory techniques and provide for the cost of program supplies and sensory equipment.
Pozza said there are over 200 with Autism in the combined areas of Elk, Cameron, McKean and Potter counties.

“There are many spectrums of it,” Pozza said. “Nationally, it just continues to grow. There’s definitely a need and we hope to address it.”

DMHC received start-up funding in September 2007 for the project from the Mee Charitable Foundation which was used to hire a project coordinator to assist in designing a program that would involve one-on-one consultation with autistic children and their parents with a special focus on sensory development and integration in addition to social development. The program does involve a home visitation component with information and referrals for services.

Autism is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by a unique cognitive profile that affects social and adaptic functioning.

Grants provide school with new computer software

/in /by

Students, faculty and staff at St. Boniface Elementary are reaping the benefits of new computer equipment due in part to two grants recently awarded to the school.

On Wednesday St. Boniface received a grant from the Elk County Community Foundation’s Harrison and Muriel Dauer Stackpole Family Fund.
This grant made it possible for the school to obtain an LCD projector and a Lexmark laser printer. Both pieces of equipment will enhance the capabilities of the technology program allowing students to improve their knowledge and skills of various types of equipment with their use in computer classes.

According to Mike Meyer, tech support personnel at St. Boniface, the LCD projector is also compatible with SMART boards which the school hopes to purchase in the future. The boards are interactive electronic white boards that assist teachers in enhancing instruction. The touch-controlled screens works with a projector and computer.

In addition the printer is linked to all classroom computers for school-wide printing access.

St. Boniface Principal Marie Giazzoni added that the printer will be used in accelerated math program as well. She noted that due in part to one of the printer’s feature of printing on both sides of paper, the equipment will help in reducing the amount of paper used.
She added that Meyer was instrumental in choosing the best equipment for the school.

St. Boniface received a second grant awarded by OSRAM Sylvania. This grant provides the school with a networking system which is linked to a total of 29 computers. The system provides students access to computers used throughout the school at any time of day.
OSRAM’s grant also provided funds to purchase multi-user software for use in the computer lab.

First Commonwealth presents check to Elk County Community Foundation

/in /by

Recently First Commonwealth Bank presented a check to the Elk County Community Foundation. These funds will be included in the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) which then will make grants available to area public schools to support innovative educational programs that do not fall within the typical academic program.

The funds for the technology 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. In 2007, through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program and the Elk County Community Foundation, St. Marys, Johnsonburg and Ridgway Area School Districts were able to apply for grants for programming. All three districts used the funds to enhance their digital streaming video resources for daily instruction and remediation of students. The digital streaming video presents an innovative way to bring quality, up to date learning tools to rural Pennsylvania classrooms.

Ridgway Area School District installed a dedicated server for the digital streaming clips, while Johnsonburg Area School District purchased new equipment for the Elementary School that includes a Smart Board for the 5th grade classes. St. Marys Area School District continues to grow the number of units available for classrooms with some special attention given to the Middle and Elementary Schools.
Any entity authorized to conduct business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and subject to certain taxes is eligible to apply. Tax credits are limited to 75 percent of the business’ contribution with a maximum of $100,000 annually. If a business agrees to make the same contribution for two consecutive years, it may receive tax credit equal to 90 percent 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.

Newly established memorial fund and art scholarship to benefit residents and students

/in /by

Area non-profit organizations and art students are among the entities, which will benefit from two newly established funds through the Elk County Community Foundation.

A Donor Advised Fund, honoring Charles and Doris (Gardner) Schloder, was established by Betsy (Schloder) Roberts and her brother Dr. John E. Schloder. As part of the fund, the family will make annual recommendations for distributions to various non-profit, community groups and organizations.

While Betsy and John were contemplating the details of their parents fund, Betsy proceeded to create a second fund thus establishing the Dr. John E. Schloder Scholarship Fund for the Arts.
“Betsy decided to honor her brothers accomplishment, in the field of Art, with this gift,” commented Paula Fritz Eddy, executive director of the foundation.

The scholarship bearing John’s name will be open to students graduating from either St. Marys Area or Elk County Catholic High Schools, that are pursuing a degree in Art with first preference given to the visual or performing arts, art history, art education or museum studies.
After marrying in 1936, Chuck and Doris Schloder, lived most of their lives in St. Marys, except for a brief period in 1940 when they resided in Washington, D.C., where Chuck worked in the Naval Yard during World War II. Upon their return to St. Marys, the Schloders became one of three founding partners in Bosco Tool and Manufacturing Company and a partner in Quality Components, Inc. in Daguscahonda. Chuck retired in 1992 after both companies were sold.

The late Chuck and Doris Schloder had three children; Norma, Elizabeth “Betsy”, and John. Chuck was the son of Leo and Mamerta Schloder and attended St. Marys Parochial and Central Catholic High School. He went on to graduate from Penn State University and later became a machinist. Doris hailed from Johnsonburg, the daughter of Russell and Irene Gardner. She attended Elk County schools and graduated from St. Marys Public High School.

The couple attended St. Marys Catholic Church and were members of the St. Marys County Club for over 50 years. Charles died in 2003 at the age of 86 while Doris died in 2007 at 89 years of age.

As a native of St. Marys, John Schloder is a graduate of St. Marys Parochial and Elk County Christian High School. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Duquense University, his master’s degree from Columbia University in New York City and his doctorate from the Institute of Art and Archaeology at the University of Paris-Sorbonne.

Dr. Schloder began his career in the Paintings Department of the Musee du Louvre, specializing in 16th and 17th century French art. He later worked in the Antiquities Department where he earned his doctorate.

Upon returning to the U.S., Dr. Schloder’s first position was at The Cleveland Museum of Art, where he became the Assistant Director in charge of education and public programs. Since then he has served as the Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art, Director of Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, NE and the Director of the Naples (Florida) Museum of Art. He is presently the Director of the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, FL.

Throughout his 36-year career, Dr. Schloder has published and lectured widely and has won numerous awards and fellowships. He is extremely active in professional organizations such as the Association of Art Museum Directors and the American Association of Museums.
In his spare time Dr. Schloder works with the Literacy Volunteers of America, tutoring English as a second language (ESL) and visiting inner-city schools to promote the reading.

Scholarship applications are available at both SMAHS and ECCHS Guidance Offices or the Elk County Community Foundation office by calling 834-2125 or visiting www.elkcountyfoundation.com