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.

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

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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

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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

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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.