Kelsey Lewis receives the Griener/Roof Memorial Law Scholarship.

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Kelsey is a 2005 graduate of Cameron County High School. She recently received her undergraduate degree from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is now pursuing a law degree at California Western School of Law in San Diego, California. Kelsey is the daughter of Patrick and Andrea Lewis of Emporium. The Greiner/Roof Memorial Law Scholarship was created in memory of the Honorable Paul B. Greiner and the Honorable Vernon D. Roof, past President Judges of the 59th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Judge Greiner served as President Judge from 1964 until 1986, after which he served as a senior judge until his death at age 83 in 1999. Judge Roof’s tenure on the bench was much shorter, as he served as President Judge from 1996 until 2002, when he died at age 51. Both Judge Greiner and Judge Roof were respected and renowned as fair and impartial jurists not only in Elk and Cameron Counties, but throughout the Commonwealth.
The Elk County Community Foundation recently awarded the Michele Campbell Memorial Nursing Scholarship to Charlotte Beimel of St. Marys. Charlotte is a non-traditional student and long time employee of the Elk Regional Health System. She is currently pursuing her RN degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Michele Campbell was a hard working and dedicated nursing student at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. As the number one student in her class, Michele was dedicated to helping others and learning to be the best nurse she could. Her parents Jim and Joyce Campbell established this scholarship in her memory.

Recently, the Joseph A. Williams Medical Scholarship was awarded to Renee Dallasen of St. Marys, by the Elk County Community Foundation. Renee is the daughter of Theodore and Janet Dallasen and is pursuing a degree from the University of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine. She is a graduate of St. Marys Area High School. This scholarship was named for Joseph A. Williams who had worked in the lumber industry for over 67 years. Mr. Williams was always interested in civic matters and he held leadership positions with numerous community organizations including Andrew Kaul Memorial Hospital.

The Elk County Community Foundation recently awarded the Ruth E. Reed Memorial Nursing Scholarship to Jimmy Higgins, of St. Marys. Jimmy is the son of James and May Higgins and is pursuing a nursing degree from Penn State Behrend. Jimmy is a 2007 graduate of Elk County Catholic High School. This scholarship is named for Ruth Reed, who was a skilled and compassionate nurse with 47 years of care and service. Her husband and children established this scholarship to honor Ruth’s constant encouragement of others to continue their education throughout their careers.

These hard working students were selected from a pool of many worthy candidates to receive their respective scholarships. The Elk County Community Foundation has awarded 78 scholarships totaling over $62,725 to deserving students this spring. These four scholarships are the only ones that are awarded to students already enrolled in an accredited program at a post-secondary educational institution. All others are awarded to seniors graduating from local high schools. The Elk County Community Foundation is looking to expand their scholarship offerings to include more of these students already in college. If you are interested in establishing a named scholarship fund to support these students, contact the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) at 834-2125.

Northwest Savings Bank Presents Check to Elk County Community Foundation

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Recently Northwest Savings Bank presented a $10,000 check to the Elk County Community Foundation. First Commonwealth Bank, Snyder Trucking and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield gave an additional $13,650 combined. 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 these innovative programs 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 2008, 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.

Ridgway Area School District purchased a Smartboard, computer and projector for a classroom along with training for the teachers. Johnsonburg School District will be sending Educators to the workplace this summer. Educators will be working with and in local businesses to help enhance their curriculum so students become more aware of what knowledge they need to enter the workforce in our community. Finally St. Marys School District purchased 10 projectors for the Middle school classrooms for the use of integrating technology, particularly the digital videos from Discover United Streaming.

Any entity 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 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 a 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.

Grant Give to St. Marys Public Library Summer Reading Program.

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Representatives of the Saint Marys Public Library and the Elk County Community Foundation met recently to review and give funding for the popular summer reading program held at the Library each summer. Nearly $900 came from two different Funds held a the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) to benefit the Library.

Some of the dollars distributed came from the St. Marys Public Library Endowment Fund which had been set up over 8 years ago by some local community leaders. The rest of the grant came from a fund set up for the Library when the Kiwanis Club disbanded. They put their left over treasury in a fund with the Foundation, for the St. Marys Public Library that was designated especially for Children’s Programming.

The St. Marys Public Library’s Summer Reading Program reached an all time high registration with 700 local children registering in 2008. The kids have a great time reading, participating in programs and activities, winning awards and prizes all summer long. This year’s theme is Be Creative @ Your Library, focusing on art and self expression.
The focus of the program is to ensure that children maintain their reading level during the summer when they are out of the classroom. Any child who completes the program by reading 10 books or 500 pages from June through August receives a free item from our Scholastic Book Fair held at the close of the program.

The annual Summer Reading Program has been especially successful in St. Marys, which is why it was such set-back when all funding was cut from the program in 2006. Prior to 2006, the program was completely funded with Family Literacy funds through the Even Start Program. When Even Start funding was cut, the library had to make a decision to either raise funds or stop having the Summer Reading Program. There was no question what had to be done.
Forging ahead, the Library turned to local businesses, organizations, and individuals for help in funding this worthwhile program which costs approximately $8,000 per year.

The community has rallied behind the library and made it possible to continue to not only hold the Summer Reading Program, but to watch it grow with more and more children registering every year. Every donor can rest assured that their contribution is going to the betterment of our community’s future.

The library has begun its annual fundraising drive for the Summer Reading Program. The library would appreciate donations from anyone who is interested in insuring the success of the 2009 Summer Reading Program. This year’s goal is to raise at least $5,000 to cover the majority of the cost.

Registration for Be Creative @ Your Library begins June 1st.

ECCF is a non profit organization that manages endowed funds established by donors for area non profit organizations as wells as administers a number of scholarships for individuals and groups. Donor gifts to the Foundations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Johnsonburg Alumni and Friend’s Establishes a New Scholarship

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The Johnsonburg Alumni and Friend’s organization has recently established an annual scholarship fund at the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF). The initial purpose of this alumni group was to have all graduating classes from Johnsonburg Area High School and Friends to come together and enjoy the evening with classmates, relatives, neighbors, and friends. This event held in the fall of year has been going on since 2004. The reunion has been well received and many JAHS alumni and friends return each year to participate.
After much success the group also decided to establish an annual scholarship fund that would be offered to a graduating senior to benefit the student’s college funding. The scholarship will give future graduates a start for their continuing education. “We are inspired that our goal will give them (JAHS students) an opportunity for success” said Rita Blint one of the organizers of the committee. Applicants must be a graduating JAHS senior who is active in their school, church and community. Applications for the scholarship will be available through guidance counselor office at Johnsonburg Area High School by the end of January.

For the past few years the group has been administering the scholarship themselves but, as the fund grew, they looked into the benefits of establishing the scholarship through the Elk County Community Foundation. Recently, they decided to have the Foundation administer the scholarship as they do a number of other scholarships from the school, including the Alva K. Gregory Memorial/Johnsonburg Rotary, the Dr. Sandra Kowalski Nursing and the Caribardi Family Scholarships. Donations can now be given towards the scholarship through the Foundation, which will also offer the donor a tax benefit. The Foundation is considered a public charity and has an IRS registered 501(c) 3 status. Donations can be accepted at the Foundation, P.O. Box 934, St. Marys, PA 15857.

Another reason the committee chose to bring the scholarship to the Elk County Community Foundation is because the Foundation is approved as a PATH organization (Partners to Access to Higher Education). PATH is a special program through PHEAA that will offer some additional funding to student who qualify. Last year Students from the area who receive ECCF scholarships received an additional $27,500. The Foundation is only one of 35 organizations in Pennsylvania that are partners with this program.

The Foundation also assists donors who have an interest in starting a scholarship fund, whether as a general purpose or in the memory of a deceased family member or friend. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Paula Fritz Eddy, Executive Director at the Foundation for more information either by calling 814-834-2125 or visiting their website a www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

St. Marys Home Town Festival Inc. makes Donation

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The St. Marys Home Town Festival Inc. made a donation the Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF). The donation will be added to the “Fund of the Future” which is one of 60 funds held at the Foundation. The “Fund of the Future” distributes grants that address a broad range of current and future needs. Elk County Community Foundation evaluates all aspects of community well-being—arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health and human services—and awards strategic grants to selected projects and programs annual. The next scheduled grant cycle will be in August of 2009. Application will be due by July 15, and can be found the Foundations website www.elkcountyfoundation.com.

Vern Kreckle III, the final President of the St. Marys Hometown Festival Inc. said that after 19 years almost to the day, making this donation to the Foundation was final transaction for the group. Gifts like this made to the Elk County Community Foundation are very special. They allow individual and organizations to make a lasting, positive impact on our community. Since funds held at the Foundation are funds that will be invested in their community and the people that live there, the group had decided this best reflected what they tried to do for the community over the years.