New ECCF scholarship funds offer more opportunities for students

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PHOTO: The Tyler Bender EMS Scholarship Fund is just one of the new scholarship funds established at the Community Foundation this past year. High school seniors and adult learners can explore the scholarships available to them by logging on to www.elkcountyfoundation.org.  

 

Several new scholarship funds were established this past year at the Elk County Community Foundation. ECCF offers donors the opportunity to create funds to make their own philanthropic impact in the community. Donors can choose from a variety of fund types including scholarship, donor advised, designated, and agency endowment. ECCF administers a total of 122 scholarship funds in Elk County. These five scholarships funds are among those newly created in 2023-24.

Tyler Bender established the Tyler Bender EMS Scholarship Fund. This young man recently graduated from the Center for Emergency Medicine and felt compelled to give back by starting a scholarship to encourage other individuals to consider the EMS field. Tyler hopes the scholarship will help attract individuals to this field and help answer the constant demand for well-trained and qualified EMS professionals.

The Leo and Margaret Blumle Scholarship Fund was established by Leo’s brother, Charles Blumle, to satisfy the couple’s final wishes to help students from Cameron County pursue a higher education. Leo and Margaret placed a high emphasis on family, church, and service. During their life they lived in many places, including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania before moving to Virginia. After Margaret’s death Leo decided to move back to Emporium, PA where he was born. The Blumle legacy will live on in the form of this scholarship for Cameron County students.

The Donn Elizabeth Walker Munz Memorial Scholarship Fund was created by her family and friends. Donn was a graduate of Elk County Catholic High School Class of 1996 and passed away on October 29, 2021. Honoring the faith that guided Donn and knowing the value and impact of her relationships and friendships she experienced at ECCHS, it was the family’s desire to establish a fund in her memory. The award will be given to a current ECCHS student who exhibits the qualities that Donn possessed.

The Staff Sgt. Carl Enis Military Scholarship Fund honors Carl Enis who died at the age of 31 in a helicopter incident on the Syrian Iraq border and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. With ties to the McKean County area, Enis visited family often and loved the outdoors in Pennsylvania. As a Pararescueman in the United States Airforce, he lived by the Pararescue Creed: “These things we do, that others may live.” To honor Enis, they renamed the Tally Ho Bridge in the Kinzua Creek region on Route 219 as the Staff Sgt. Carl Enis Memorial Bridge. This scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior at McKean, Cameron, Potter or Elk County High Schools or an adult learner. Adults must be a member of the National Guard, reserves, active duty in any branch of the service. Adults or high school seniors may be enrolled in the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC). Must be serving under honorable conditions.

The Kelley Hritz Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Kelley (Musselman) Hritz. Kelley moved to St. Marys in 2006 with her husband and son after graduating from high school in New Paris, and the Pittsburgh Technical Institute with a degree in Graphic Design. During her time in St. Marys, she worked in the areas of serving people with disabilities, quality management, home healthcare, and banking. But as an artist at heart, she loved music, theater, poetry, drawing and painting. Kelley’s scholarship is open to a high school senior from Elk, McKean, Cameron Counties, and Chestnut Ridge High School in New Paris, PA. Kelley’s love for the arts will live on through this scholarship, helping future artists to create amazing and beautiful things. The scholarship is open to high school seniors from Elk, McKean, Cameron Counties, and Chestnut Ridge High School in New Paris, PA

Students can apply for these scholarships and many more by logging onto the Foundation website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org. The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Women Who Care Member Allegretto awards grant to Helping Hands Food Pantry

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Women Who Care member Andrea Allegretto presented a check for $250 to Gloria Molella, Helping Hands Food Pantry Director. Members of Women Who Care, a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice. Four lucky members were each able to award $250 to a favorite organization during the WWC holiday membership drive. Women interested in joining or learning more about Women Who Care are welcome to contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Women Who Care donor-for-a-day winners award grants to local organizations

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WWC donor for a day winners award grants to local organizations

PHOTO: Women Who Care member Lisa Salter, on right, presents Lois Nedzinski, St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group President, with a check for $250.

WWC donor for a day winners award grants to local organizations

Members of Women Who Care (WWC), a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice.

Four lucky members were able to award $250 to a favorite organization during the WWC holiday membership drive. Lisa Salter provided funding to the St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group; Debby Bressler awarded her grant to the Johnsonburg Senior Center; Nancy Hoffman awarded a grant to the Senior Junction of Ridgway; and Andrea Allegretto awarded to the Helping Hand Food Pantry in Johnsonburg. Women Who Care has given $391,580 to area non-profits since 2010.

Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic donations and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Close to 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care. WWC is looking to grow its membership to make an even greater impact in the Elk County area. All area women are encouraged to join WWC. For a minimal donation, you can make a difference for our communities. Find out all about Women Who Care on our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Community Foundations offer scholarships for everyone: Adult Learners too

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Community Foundations offer scholarships for everyone: Adult Learners too

Applications for scholarships through both the Elk County and McKean County Community Foundations are now open for high school seniors as well as for non-traditional adult learners with a submission deadline of March 7, 2024. Through the 178 scholarship funds held at the two Community Foundations, over 300 scholarships are awarded each year to students of all ages who are furthering their education.

In addition to the numerous scholarships offered to high school seniors, adult learners have a variety of scholarship opportunities available to them. There are 25 scholarship funds in Elk County and 14 scholarship funds in McKean County earmarked for college students, graduate level and non-traditional students. These adult learners may be pursuing general 2–4-year degrees, trade or vocational degrees or certificates, environmental studies, EMT or paramedic training, criminal justice, nursing, forestry and agriculture, military service, and more. Students are urged to log on to the foundation websites to explore the options available to them.

All scholarships applications are completed online. If interested in applying, go to the website for your area at www.elk countyfoundation.org or www.mckeancountyfoundation.org. Click on the Scholarships tab, then Information for Students, to search for scholarships for your specific school or category. When you “Click Here to Apply” you will be led to a website to fill out your information, after which the site will inform you of all of the scholarships for which you are eligible. The scholarships opened on January 15th and will close on March 7. For more questions on the application process contact theCommunity Foundation at 814-834-2125.

The Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation are non-profit organizations that are affiliates of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.

WWC donor for a day winners awarded grants to local organizations

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PHOTO: Women Who Care member Debby Bressler presents Larry Pistner with a check for $250 to benefit the Johnsonburg Senior Center.

WWC donor for a day winners awarded grants to local organizations

Members of Women Who Care, a project of the Elk County Community Foundation, have the opportunity to qualify each year for the chance to award a special Donor-for-a-Day grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice.

Four lucky members were able to award $250 to a favorite organization during the WWC holiday membership drive each. Debby Bressler awarded her grant to the Johnsonburg Senior Center; Nancy Hoffman awarded a grant to the Senior Junction of Ridgway; Andrea Allegretto awarded to the Helping Hand Food Pantry in Johnsonburg; and Lisa Salter provided funding to the St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group. Women Who Care has given $391,580 to area non-profits since 2010.

Women Who Care brings women from diverse backgrounds together to combine their philanthropic donations and strengthen the Elk County community through the power of collective giving. Close to 280 women make up the membership of Women Who Care. WWC is looking to grow its membership to make an even greater impact in the Elk County area. All area women are encouraged to join WWC. For a minimal donation, you can make a difference for our communities. Find out all about Women Who Care on our website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.

The Elk County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, is a non-profit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the lives of people in our geographic area by working with philanthropic donors to help them meet their charitable goals. For more information, contact the Community Foundation at 814-834-2125.