Judith Manno Stager Right to Life Fund sponsors essay contest

PHOTO: Student essay winners of the Judith Manno Stager Right to Life essay contest are pictured after each was presented with a $100 gift to be used toward their education. Front: Judith Manno Stager, contest sponsor, Grace Neubert, Grace Ames, Hailey Flemming, Grace Messineo, ECCHS teacher. Back Row: Paula Fritz Eddy of the Elk County Community Foundation, Joseph Toncich, Robert Urmann, William MacDonald.

Judith Manno Stager Right to Life Fund sponsors essay contest at ECCHS

The Elk County Community Foundation (ECCF) is the administrator of the Judy Manno Stager Right to Life Fund. This fund is a designated fund that supports entities that provide education, programs, or other awareness activities, of Right to Human Life in the Elk County Area. Donors that wish to direct their gift to a specific agency or purpose often choose to establish a designated fund. Almost any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization may be designated to receive support for its mission.

Recently, dozens of students took part in the 2023 Pro Woman, Pro Baby, Pro Love, Pro Life Writing Contest sponsored by The Judith Manno Stager Right to Life Fund in conjunction with the Advanced Placement English classes at Elk County Catholic High School. Students were asked to respond to one simple question: Why are you pro-life?

Entries were collected and distributed to a very special group of judges from Ohio. This group of young Catholics in their 20’s who fought hard for “Issue One”, a proposition to change amendments to the Ohio constitution regarding abortion rights, were disappointed after the November election. They found hope in the submissions of the students and found solace in their realization that there are soldiers for life waiting in the wings. The juniors and seniors entering the contest will soon leave our area to pursue higher education and their well-formed voices will save lives.

The Community Foundation is here to help donors make a lasting and meaningful impact on their community by establishing funds that meet their charitable wishes. The Elk County Community Foundation and the McKean County Community Foundation are affiliates of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies.