News & Events
Congratulations Steve!
Steve Purich of Johnstown, a longtime supporter of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies and the founder of the Community Intervention Program, has been named the Elsine Katz Volunteer Leader of the Year by Goodwill Industries International (GII) for his community volunteerism and leadership with Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley’s (GICV’s) GoodGuides® Youth Mentoring Program. GICV nominated Purich for this award for his tireless efforts in advocating youth mentoring, leading volunteer recruitment, and encouraging business leaders to serve as mentors for youth in the region.
Purich, a retired financial planner with a 42-year career, has volunteered more than 800 hours in two years with GICV’s GoodGuides Program. Leading by example, he became a trained mentor and has personally recruited more than 40 volunteer mentors. He has also served as a mentor himself for six youth on a consistent basis and actively assists GICV staff with many projects throughout the year, throughout the community.
Through his efforts, Purich was instrumental in organizing "safe mentoring sites" throughout the community. He coordinated with leaders and representatives of more than 20 organizations to ensure that these sites provide positive support for youth.
In her nomination letter, Phyllis J. Bandstra, GICV’s President & CEO wrote, "While building his Community Intervention Plan and identifying area organizations to join forces, Steve learned about our GoodGuides Program that we launched in January 2010 and called a meeting with our key staff. Since that meeting, Steve has been highly instrumental in supporting our mission. In May 2011, our agency recognized and honored Steve as one of our Collaborative Partners of the Year for his initiation, involvement, and dedication to the GoodGuides Program."
The Elsine Katz Volunteer Leader of the Year Award is given to a local Goodwill Industries volunteer in recognition of outstanding leadership and service to a member Goodwill Industries organization. It is named in honor of the late Mrs. Elsine Katz, a past president of Goodwill Industries Volunteer Services at Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee (Nashville) who endowed the award.
For his volunteerism and leadership, Purich will receive his award at GII’s annual Delegate Assembly meeting in Miami, Florida on June 24, which he will attend with GICV staff members.
For more information on GICV’s GoodGuides Youth Mentoring Program, please contact Cindy O’Connor, Program Manager at (814) 536-3536, ext. 304.
Posted on May 11, 2012 at 1:11 PM by Angie Berzonski
Meet the Grantmakers
Nonprofit organizations that serve Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties are invited to attend a free workshop, sponsored by Wessel & Company. For details, click here.
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 11:58 AM by Angie Berzonski
Spring Grant Awards
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The Distribution Committee of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is pleased to announce that $129,540 will be given from its unrestricted grantmaking funds toward worthy community projects in Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties. Twice each year (spring and fall), applications for funding are accepted from nonprofit organizations in this tri-county area. For this most recent round, 83 applications totaling $662,510 in requested funds were submitted, and 56 of those programs were approved for funding.
“This year, we received more applications than we typically do for our spring grantmaking round, so the committee had a very difficult task at hand,” said Mike Kane, executive director. “We’ve found that, in trying to serve the best interests of the community and to make the most of the resources with which we have been entrusted, the sectors that generally receive the most funding from this committee are health and human services, community development, and children and youth. That was true again for this round. But we admit that we’re also eager to learn from the community and have an open conversation about its needs. We’re doing that currently through our strategic planning process – asking about specific issues that are important to them so we can keep our goals aligned with their priorities.”
Clearly, Community Foundation donors are making a difference in the Cambria-Somerset area. Below is a breakdown of how the money will be used by various groups.
Community Foundation funding will go toward equipment purchases for various programs at:
- The Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset
- Kids on Stage
- The Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation
- BottleWorks Ethnic Arts Center
- Middle Taylor Township Volunteer Fire Company
- Nanty Glo Volunteer Fire Company
- Revloc Volunteer Fire Company
- Pitt Johnstown’s Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center
- Confluence Creative Arts Center
- Portage Area Historical Society
- Portage Public Library
- Portage Area Joint Recreation Commission
- Portage Area Ambulance Association
- Berlin Brothersvalley High School FFA Co-op
- Meyersdale Area School District (two programs)
- Dauntless Fire Company
- Greater Johnstown Youth League Association
- Cambria & Somerset Conservancy
- 1901 Church, Inc. (The Former Immaculate Conception Church, shown in the photo above)
- Hope Fire Company
- YWCA of Greater Johnstown
- Greater Johnstown Community YMCA
- The Learning Lamp
- Cambria County Library
- Bedford County Arts Advisory Council
- Johnstown United Methodist Parish Home Repair Project
- Bedford County Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership and BASIC programs
- Girls Scouts of Western PA in Bedford County
- Women’s Help Center
Community Foundation funding will go toward vehicle purchases for:
- Johnstown Police K-9 Unit (shown in the photo on our homepage)
- Summerhill Township Volunteer Fire Company
Community Foundation funding will go toward special event programming for:
- The Pennsylvania Consort Society
- NAMI of Cambria County
- Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art
- Downtown Bedford, Inc.
- Laurel Arts
- Chestnut Ridge Future Business Leaders of America
Community Foundation funding will go toward repairs and renovations at:
- Somerset, Inc.’s Trinity Park
- The Russell House
- Meyersdale Area Historical Society
- The Inclined Plane
Community Foundation funding will go toward new or continuing programming at:
- ArtWorks in Johnstown!
- Ronald McDonald House of Charities
- Camp Cadet of Somerset County
- Laurel Highlands Council - Boy Scouts of America
- Behavioral Health Services of Somerset and Bedford’s WRAP for Kids program
- Community Action Partnership of Somerset’s Koot Karts program
- Home Nursing Agency’s Healing Patch
- Pitt Johnstown’s Summer Youth Camps
- Keystone Chapter of the American Red Cross
- First Book – Johnstown
- Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County
- Cancer Caring Center’s Women’s Support Group
- Johnstown Free Medical Clinic
- Center for Community Action’s Prescription Assistance Program
The funds that contributed to these projects were: Alan L. and Lana J. Miller Family Fund, Benjamin Bosler Fund, FPL Energy Meyersdale Wind Power Fund, Ed Sheehan/Mark Pasquerilla Birthday Party Fund, Penelec Fund for the Future of Greater Johnstown, Portage Area Endowment Fund, Laurel Highlands Cancer Program Fund, Robert Waters Charitable Trust, and the Somerset County Community Fund.
Grants considered by the Distribution Committee for unrestricted funds are based upon applications from charitable organizations. The application deadline for the next round of funding is Friday, August 31, 2012.
Posted on April 19, 2012 at 1:46 PM by Angie Berzonski
Take Our Survey!
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, along with the Bedford County Endowments and the Somerset County Community Fund, is planning for the future and we want YOUR input!
What are we doing well? What should we be doing differently? Are we making an impact? Please click here to take our brief online survey. It will help us to turn your community concerns into our "marching orders" for the future.
Posted on April 19, 2012 at 1:06 PM by Angie Berzonski
iPact Web Launch
Posted on April 18, 2012 at 10:04 AM by Angie Berzonski
Tee Times!
Before you get too busy scheduling all of your plans for the summer, don't forget to pencil in a few of these charity golf outings.
- Inaugural LIft Johnstown Open: May 7, Sunnehanna Country Club
- Nicholas Enos Memorial Scholarship Fund Golf Outing: May 11, Ligonier Country Club, Contact Regis Walsh 412-561-3999
- Memorial Hospital of Bedford County Foundation Golf Outing: June 1, Down River Country Club, Contact Michelle Speck 814-623-6161 ext.4427
- Erin Hostetler Scholarship Fund Golf Outing: June 18, Windber Country Club, Contact Roger or Nancy Hostetler 814-487-4184
- Christopher "Bub" Ream Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament: June 29, Somerset Country Club
- Forest Hills Educational Endowment Golf Outing: July 13, Windber Country Club, Contact Rev. Jon Gulnac 814-489-8096
- Steph and Kris Scholarship Fund Golf Outing: July 15, Indian Lake Golf Course, Contact Bill & Stef Zubek 814-754-8073 or Dan & Marie Roman 814-754-5607
- Laurel Auto Group Charity Fund Golf Outing: July 23, Sunnehanna Country Club, Denny Nealan
- Ernie Blough Memorial Golf Outing: July 28, Indian Lake Golf Club, Contact Ernie Blough, Jr 814-241-5730
- Dave Seidel Memorial Golf Outing: August 18, North Fork Golf and Tennis Club, Bill Seidel
- Pete Duranko Golf Classic: TBA, North Fork Golf and Tennis Club, Contact Joe Driggs 814-266-7755
- David W. Griffith Memorial Golf Outing: August 25, Glengarry Golf Course, Contact Patricia Griffith 814-446-6431
- Alleghenies United Cerebral Palsy Golf Tournament: August 27, Windber Country Club, Contact Julie Bratton 814-262-9600 ext. 1401
- David J. Rizzo Scholarship Fund Golf Outing: September 10, Indian Lake Golf Club, Contact Norma Creager 814-467-7908
Posted on April 10, 2012 at 10:25 AM by Angie Berzonski
Planning Underway
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is pleased to announce that its new phase of strategic planning is underway. Over the past two weeks, a series of "Town Hall" meetings were held in Johnstown, Somerset and Bedford.
For our strategic planning, we are once again working with Peggy Outon, Executive Director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University. She and her highly skilled team will lead our efforts to envision how we can continue to be an agent of impactful philanthropic activity and how to outline our opportunities for growth.
The research that Peggy compiles will include local attitudes toward philanthropy and its role in filling community needs, what motivates people to give to charitable causes and to volunteer, and the region’s greatest challenges and needs. She and her team, along with the Foundation staff and our strategic planning committee, will also conduct phone and face-to-face interviews, web-based surveys and focus group discussions on these topics. While this work will include questions specifically regarding the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the Somerset County Community Fund and the Bedford County Endowments, it will also focus on philanthropy in general.
Visit our website often for more information. In fact, you can even be an important part of the process by participating in our e-survey. It will be launched soon right here on our website shortly!
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:04 AM by Angie Berzonski
A Community Growth Project
The Community Growth Project is a collective effort of neighborhoods, community groups, and volunteers, coordinated through the Alternative Community Resource Program (ACRP), Inc., in partnership with Lift Johnstown and the City of Johnstown. It is funded through the Community Initiatives Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. It has three main areas of focus: community gardens, green space/blight clean-up, and homeowner assistance.
The Community Growth Project is ready to roll, with clean-up days scheduled in these neighborhoods:
Moxham - Saturday, April 14th (9am - 12pm)
Minersville - Saturday, April 28th (9am - 12pm)
Hornerstown - Saturday, May 5th (9am - 12pm)
Oakhurst - Saturday, May 12th (9am - 12pm)
Downtown - Sunday, May 20th
Morrellville - Saturday, June 2nd (9am - 12pm)
8th Ward - Monday, June 4th (9am - 12pm)
Prospect - Saturday, June 9th (9am - 12pm)
Contact Jim Buday (814-536-6141) to schedule a clean-up day for your neighborhood!
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:55 AM by Angie Berzonski
New Funds!
The first quarter of 2012 has been a busy time for the Foundation, as we're pleased to have opened a number of new funds. Read more about those funds below, and then click on the Donate Now tab to your left to make a secure online donation to any one of our funds. Just write the fund name on the designation line!
- Autumn’s Angels Foundation (shown above): The mission of this fund is to provide comfort, support, and a place of tranquiity for those who have lost an immediate family member; encourage faith in God to inspire the souls of the brokenhearted; revitalize play areas and create areas of beautification in memory of children who have passed; and to foster health, fitness and education for surviving famiy members. A basket raffle will be held on March 24th (1-4pm) at the Ebensburg YPCC to benefit Autumn's Angels. Contact Dana Danchanko at 814.242.0127 for more information.
- Christopher Bub Ream Scholarship Fund:The purpose of this fund is to provide two annual scholarships for Somerset Area High School senior football players.
- Oreo Foundation Fund: This scholarship fund was created to honor the memory of Alexa Marie Eplett, who lived her life thinking of and doing for others first. She touched so many lives through her acts of kindness, humor and unique outlook on life. "Just like the middle of an Oreo cookie, she was not only the middle child but the sweet center of our family ... hence the nickname of "Oreo" that Alexa was given, and the name for her foundation." This scholarship is to be given to those students who best demonstrate Alexa's passion to always pay it forward to others and who best exemplify her beautiful spirit.
- Westmont Hilltop Alumni Association Fund: This fund was started by a group of graduates of Westmont Hilltop High School who are working together to raise funds to support the endeavors of the Westmont School District and to provide community support for worthy non-profit organizations. There will be fundraisers and membership dues as ways to participate.
- iPACT: The Interactive Patient Assistive Communication Technology Fund was started by John and Rhonda Augustine to support patient recovery through the use of technology, such as ipads, Notebooks and even Leapfrogs for the very young, as a means to communicate with hospital personnel when in intensive care units and unable to speak.
- Camp Cadet Fund: This fund was started to support any endeavor that benefits Camp Cadet of Somerset County, including their annual Golf Outing and Motorcycle Run and annual appeal letter. Camp Cadet is run by volunteers from the Pennsylvania State Police who help young people grow and develop through physical fitness, self-discipline and increased self-esteem.
- Wendy Hollern Spencer: This donor-advised fund was started for community support in memory of Wendy Hollern Spencer, who understood the meaning of giving to and helping others.
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 1:49 PM by Angie Berzonski
Sustainable Energy Fund
Started in 2000, the Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies distributes loans and grants, and makes investments to eligible organizations that are located in or serve FirstEnergy’s Penelec service territory. It also participates with other sustainable energy funds in projects throughout Pennsylvania.
We are pleased to announce the launch of its new website, which it shares with its partner fund, the Metropolitan Edison Sustainable Energy Fund of the Berks County Community Foundation. Please visit the site at www.metedpenelecsef.org to learn more.
Posted on February 9, 2012 at 10:45 AM by Angie Berzonski
Youth Development Grant
The TK Foundation, a donor-advised fund of the Orange County Community Foundation, envisions a world where all youth have access to opportunities that lead to employment that allows them freedom, equity, security, and human dignity. The TK Foundation is interested in supporting youth development programs that are meeting the needs of motivated disadvantaged youth ages 15-21 through innovative and effective programs that help prepare the program's young beneficiaries for employment and careers that will allow them to become self-sufficient in adulthood.
Grant requests may range from $50,000 - $500,000. Multiyear grant requests that fall within a grant period of up to three years will be considered.
Please note that this program is seeking proposals for programs throughout the United States.
For questions or additional information, please contact Patricia Benevenia, Program Officer.
Posted on February 8, 2012 at 12:27 PM by Angie Berzonski
Grant Announcements
The Distribution Committee of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies approved $127,521 in support of worthy community projects in Cambria, Somerset, Bedford and Indiana counties from its unrestricted funds for its fall round of funding. Ninety-four nonprofit organizations had applied for a total of more than $770,000, and 56 of those organizations were approved for funding.
“People sometimes ask about the rationale behind which programs gets funded and why – and it’s really different from round to round. Just because a certain project is supported once does not mean that it will be supported again at another time. The committee very carefully takes a number of factors into consideration, including the overall sense of the community’s needs, as well as other available sources of revenue for each individual project,” said Mike Kane, executive director. “Our donors have entrusted us with a tremendous responsibility that we take very seriously, and we look to allocate their money judiciously. This year, the Distribution Committee saw a great demand in the area of immediate human service needs, such as home heating, and therefore nearly 30% of our grantmaking for this round went to those causes.”
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Organizations that received funding during this round are: |
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Beginnings, Inc. |
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Everett Free Library |
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Portage Public Library |
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Portage Borough-Portage Area Summerfest |
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Best of Friends |
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Forest Hills Area Ambulance Association, Inc. |
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Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation |
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Somerset County Chamber of Commerce |
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ART WORKS in Johnstown! |
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Presbyterian Home of Redstone Persbytery |
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Redevelopment Authority of the City of Johnstown |
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Historical & Genealogical Society of Somerset County, Inc. |
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West End Improvement Group |
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United Way of Bedford County |
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Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation |
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Roxbury Bandshell Preservation Alliance |
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Boy Scout Troop 4482 |
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Center for Community Action |
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Your Safe Haven |
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Arbutus Park Manor |
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Somerset Therapeutic Association for Riding |
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The National Museum of the American Coverlet, Inc. |
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Wings of Change, Inc. |
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Women’s Help Center |
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City of Johnstown, Department of Community and Economic Development |
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Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County, Inc. |
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The Pennsylvania Consort Society |
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Catholic Charities |
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Meyersdale Drama/Musical Boosters |
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Portage Area Joint Recreation Commission |
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Bedford County Humane Society |
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Laurel Highlands Council-Boy Scouts of America |
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Alternative Community Resource Program, Inc. |
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Behavioral Health Services of Somerset and Bedford |
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Church of the Brethren |
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United Methodist Human Services |
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Indiana County Community Action Program, Inc. |
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Alice Paul House |
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Somerset Community Clinic |
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Armaugh & East Wheatfield Volunteer Fire Department |
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United Methodist Church of Strongstown |
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Cambria County Library Association-Johnstown District Library |
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Jefferson Memorial Church |
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Homer City United Presbyterian Church |
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University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown |
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County of Indiana, Department of Human Services |
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Habitat for Humanity Indiana County |
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The Learning Lamp, Inc. |
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The Salvation Army Somerset Service Center |
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Windber Area School District |
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Lifesteps, Inc. |
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Creekside Volunteer Fire Company |
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Community Guidance Center |
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New Day, Inc. |
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Meyersdale Public Library |
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Blairsville Library Association |
The unrestricted funds that contributed to these organizations’ projects were: Alan L. and Lana J. Miller Family Fund, Benjamin Bosler Fund, Bork Family Fund, FPL Energy Meyersdale Wind Power Fund, Jeanne Allen Memorial Fund, Birthday Fund, Penelec Fund for the Future of Greater Johnstown, Robert Waters Charitable Trust, and the Somerset County Community Fund.
In addition to the applications that were approved by the Distribution Committee, the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, through its Community Initiatives Fund, awarded a total of $383,000to these community projects: Greater Johnstown School District/Natural Biodiversity’s Earth Friendly Schools; University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s STEM Summer Institute; St. Francis University’s Robotics Competition; Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Sports & Recreation Commission Study; Johnstown Area Regional Industries’ High Priority Occupations Outreach; Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Inclined Plane AMD Geothermal Project; the Greater Prospect Co-op; and the Alternative Community Resource Program/Lift Johnstown’s Urban Blight/Community Garden program. The Community Initiatives Fund is a donor-directed field of interest fund at the Foundation that focuses on community and economic development, education, conservation and, secondarily, human services.
Grants considered by the Distribution Committee for unrestricted funds are based upon applications from charitable organizations. The deadline for applications for the next round of funding is Friday, January 27. Below is a list of grants from the unrestricted grantmaking.
Posted on January 4, 2012 at 3:08 PM by Angie Berzonski
CFA Welcomes New Funds
We're pleased to announce that the fourth quarter of 2011 brought a wide variety of new funds to the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. For more information on any of these funds, or to learn how to start a new fund to benefit the organizations that you care about, contact Carol Stern.
Our Mother of Sorrows School Fund-is a donor advised fund for worthwhile projects at Our Mothers of Sorrows.
Paul Keeney Scholarship Fund- to provide an annual scholarship of $1,000.00 each year to a graduating senior of Forest Hills High School. The student should intend to pursue a college level degree in education, engineering, science or mathematics and shall have demonstrated a willingness to help others. This scholarship is created in memory of a very well respected and honored educator, Paul Keeney, of the South Fork-Croyle (currently Forest Hills) School District.
Bear's Quest 4 Rest- (as shown in the photograph, which was taken by John Rucosky of The Tribune-Democrat) is a donor advised fund. Bear’s ongoing battle with cancer has led him to realize the number of cancer patients who cannot afford treatments, medicine, or food to eat in the Windber area. He started this fund to help those who struggle with expenses while undergoing treatment.
Stone Bridge Lights Maintenance Fund- to support maintenance and upkeep of the lights on Johnstown's iconic Stone Bridge, including any residual costs necessary to complete the Stone Bridge Lighting Project, and to pay for the electric consumption, insurance, and repairs and maintenance required to keep the lights on the bridge burning for some time into the future.
Johnstown High School Class of 1950 Scholarship Fund- to provide an annual scholarship to a deserving senior of Greater Johnstown High School who plans to further his or her education in post-secondary studies (college, trade or technical school). The student must carry a "C" or better grade average and exhibit financial dire need.
Fracktracker/Stewardship Fund- is a donor advised fund.
The Steeples Project Fund- to support the effort of the donors to conserve and reuse four former church buildings, including three that are historically significant assets in the Cambria City neighborhood of Johnstown (Saints Casimir and Emerich, St. Columba and Immaculate Conception). The fourth former church building is the 1901 Church of Jennerstown, Pa.
The Community Intervention Program Fund- to support the activities of the Community Intervention Program, a project of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.
The Cuddles for Kids Fund- to provide financial support for worthy community projects with regard to children, as determined by the fund.
The Donald L. Green Fund I- to support the donors' endeavors to benefit the following three charities: Animal Rescue League of Western PA, the Laughlintown Community Center and the Valley Players of Ligonier.
The Donald L. Green Fund II- to support the donors' endeavors to benefit the following three charities: Animal Rescule League of Western PA, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art and St. Vincent College.
The Johnstown Police K-9 Unit Fund- to support the effort of the donors to provide the Johnstown Police Department with the means and capability of acquiring and training police canines, equipment and vehicles, as needed to better serve the community.
The Youth Leadership Program Fund- to support the effort of the donor to provide leadership experience for youth through educational field trips and community service experiences that strengthen the fabric of our youth; to support community awareness and spirit while promoting a sense of responsibility towards their peers through travel, education, sharing, art and sports.
Frank T. Carney Medical School Scholarship Fund- to fund one annual medical school scholarship to residents of Cambria and Somerset counties. The scholarship will be given annually but will last for a four-year period for each scholar.
Posted on December 30, 2011 at 10:05 AM by Angie Berzonski
Patton Wind Farm
More than $75,000 in grant funding from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies' Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund has supported the Renewable Energy Center of St. Francis University's statewide wind testing. Now, as a result of those tests, 17 two-megawatt wind turbines will be developed in Elder, West Carroll and East Carroll townships by EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc.
Gwendolyn S. Andersen, director of the Center, says, "Thanks to the support of the MetEd/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund, managed by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the Renewable Energy Center, Saint Francis University, was able to measure the wind resource of landowners. Landowners in promising areas received a minimum of twelve months of wind resource measurement and analysis and only had to reimburse the Center if they installed a turbine. This program completely eliminated the upfront risk to landowners, encouraging many to investigate potential projects they otherwise would not have. By overcoming the first hurdle, the Community Foundation made additional investments in clean, safe energy possible. The first of these is the Patton-Ebensburg wind project which is anticipated to install 17 turbines in Cambria County and provide significant income to the townships and landowners, improving the overall economy. The Sustainable Energy Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies made this project possible directly and by leveraging funds from other sources. This allowed us to secure the measuring equipment and provide skilled analytical expertise to our community."
Work is expected to begin in the spring with power being generated by late 2012.
Posted on November 18, 2011 at 10:23 AM by Angie Berzonski
Power of 32
Power of 32 is a regional vision that includes parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio. You are invited to participate in the Power of 32 Town Hall on November 3rd from 8-9pm on WQED and live streaming at WQED. Learn more about the Power of 32 and its programs.
Posted on November 2, 2011 at 9:25 AM by Angie Berzonski
Stone Bridge Lights
Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Johnstown on Saturday evening, September 24, to witness the spectacular lighting of the historic Stone Bridge - a memorial to the late Congressman John P. Murtha.
More than a million dollars in donations, grantmaking and matching funds made the illumination of thousands of colored LED lights a reality. The Community Foundation, through the Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund, the Community Initiatives Fund and other donor support, is proud to have played a major sponsorship role in this. We thank Mike Brosig for his tireless efforts, JAHA for administering the project, and all of the individuals and corporations who supported this cause.
Now is your chance to help make sure this project lasts in perpetuity.
The Stone Bridge Lights Maintenance Fund has been established through the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies by Frank Marsico, president of Shadowstone, Inc. (the company that designed the LED display), and his wife Michelle (daughter of the late Rocco P. Previte, a Cambria County businessman and former Vice President of U.S. Bank in Johnstown) to pay for upkeep for the lighting project, including the electric consumption, insurance, and repairs and maintenance to keep the lights burning each evening. Their gift is a match of funds raised, up to $12,000.
Won't you consider making a donation of any amount toward this matching fund, and keep the Stone Bridge shining in grand fashion? Call 814.536.7741 or email the Community Foundation.
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 11:25 AM by Angie Berzonski
Bedford’s Launch
The Bedford County Endowments of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies officially launched the Bedford County Community Fund at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort on Saturday, September 24, 2011.
One of the highlights of the event was the was the tethered hot air balloon, from Winds Aloft Ballooning in Somerset, which was sponsored by Lynn Ashe. To view photos from the event, visit Bob Webb Photography and enter "arts" as the online login. A special thanks to Bob for capturing the excitement of the day!
As the fund grows, it will be used to support projects that are important to Bedford County. Here are a few of the programs that were helped this year:
- For the playground at The Green, we partnered with Parks for People, a wonderful group of locals refurbishing an under-utilized space that is perfect for families to use.
- As communities struggle to provide resources for local food banks, we have helped Bedford County food pantries, and other civic groups, focus on this need.
- We have also supported our interest in education, the arts and social services.
Contact Kay Reynolds, director, if you'd like to help support this fund.
Posted on October 3, 2011 at 10:36 AM by Angie Berzonski
Mentor Program
For the past two years, the Community Foundation has run its Children Intervention Program on a totally volunteer basis. Goodwill Industries of the Conemaugh Valley (GICV ) and its GoodGuides mentoring program is a key partner, having been awarded a grant from the Foundation to expand the collaboration of local mentoring programs and support two AmeriCorps workers. The program has been progressing very well and Rich Uzelac has been appointed to act as the official Program Coordinator. Rich, after recently announcing his retirement from the Christian Home, said this was an opportunity of a lifetime that he could not say no to.
No one was more enthused about the appointment than Steve Purich, the volunteer leader of the program since its inception, who said “Rich’s hiring will give the program needed stability and permanence as we progress into the future.”
Steve launched the Community Intervention Program to break what he has called a “cycle of poverty and desperation” among area youths. With partnerships throughout the Greater Johnstown region, including the GICV as the lead agency and administrator, the Program links caring adults with disadvantaged youth, helping them gain the confidence, support, and skills that they need to reach their potential. Since its inception, and with the addition of the GICV support, approximately 127 volunteer mentors have received training and become certified within the state; 126 kids have been matched with trained mentors and are receiving at least two hours of career development each month; and seven secure and safe mentoring sites in at-risk communities have been established, as well as after-school mentoring chess clubs at Greater Johnstown’s Middle and High schools.
Steve also announced the completion of his newly constructed museum in the woods, “Tranquility Gardens,” which is to be used as a unique retreat for the Intervention Children and their various programs. He said, “Most of the children we work with do not have a chance to have such unique experiences. It is our hope that a visit to Tranquility Gardens becomes such a special place – a destination to experience something new and unique, even if it is only for a day. Perhaps such an experience will give some of these children a new perspective on life and a renewed hope for a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.”
To become a mentor or refer a young person to the Program, contact Cindy O’Conner, Program Manager for GoodGuides at (814) 536-3536, ext. 304 or email her at goodguides@goodwilljohnstown.org.
(Photo: Tranquilty Gardens, a newly constructed "museum in the woods," brings a bit of the world directly to those who visit and will be used as a retreat for the Community Intervention Program. Its motto, "Come for the day and see the whole world" is borrowed (with permission) from Liz Gilbert and Jose Nunes, the subjects for the best-selling novel, "Eat, Pray, Love." In fact, all of the artifacts for the Temple Ruins portion of the garden were personally selected by Jose during the couple's travels throught India, Indonesia and Bali.)
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 10:01 PM by Administrator
Launching Hot Air Balloon Rides and a New Bedford County Community Fund
The Bedford County Endowments of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies invites you to join in the celebration as we launch the Bedford County Community Fund, established to benefit the efforts of nonprofits and civic organizations in the county, on the Great Lawn at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort on Saturday, September 24, 2011, from 4 – 6 p.m. There will be picnic fare, a scavenger hunt, trail walks and refreshments at the Fire Pit – and the highlight of the event will be tethered hot air balloon rides, provided by WindsAloft Ballooning. (Please note that there is a 4-foot height restriction for the balloon rides.)
Tickets to the event are $75 and sponsorship packages are still available. Please reply by Sept. 12 by contacting Kay Reynolds at kreynolds@cfalleghenies.org or 814-623-0044.
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is a nonprofit public foundation. Through charitable giving of its donors, it builds professionally managed assets to support the communities it serves. Grants typically are advised by donors or are entrusted to the Foundation to use its community knowledge and engagement to place their giving toward greatest needs, emerging issues, or to best leverage additional support. The Foundation is overseen by an active volunteer board and committees. The Foundation is also among those community foundations achieving compliance with national standards as established by the Council on Foundations.
For information about grant making or to inquire how to establish your own charitable fund at the Foundation, please contact the Foundation at 814-536-7741 or visit its web site, www.cfalleghenies.org.
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 6:27 PM by Administrator
Community Foundation Adds Program / Communications Officer
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies has added a new staff position. On Monday, August 1, 2011, Angie Berzonski joined the Foundation as its first Program/Communications Officer. The position will entail coordinating the organization’s marketing and public relations efforts, as well as overseeing the programs that benefit from the Foundation’s grantmaking.
“We are delighted to have someone with Angie’s capabilities join our organization” said CFA Board Chairman Mark Pasquerilla. “Her community knowledge and professional experience make her ideally suited for this new position. We look forward to her helping the Foundation grow in its role of supporting the community.”
Angie was formerly the editor of Johnstown Magazine. She and her husband Patrick live in Davidsville, Somerset County, with their two children.
Posted on September 2, 2011 at 6:18 PM by Administrator
