Somerset County Community Funds

News from Carol Stern, Somerset County Community Funds

Somerset County and the Somerset County Community Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies had an extraordinary year of growth and excitement. Under the guidance of our Advisory Committee from Somerset, we embarked on a mission to double the size of the Somerset County Community Fund.  With match funds from Somerset Trust Company and Highland Tank, and generous donations from our community, that fund is now over $400,000.00 in value!

This increases our ability to distribute grants to worthy non-profit and civic organizations in Somerset County.  Together, we are working to make Somerset County an even better place.

New celebrations and the revival of old celebrations were the order of the day this past year. Along with new funds opening and scholarships being awarded, we brought back the Service Club Lunch at SomerFest for the first time in over 9 years. Former Pittsburgh Steeler Louis Lipps entertained about 100 community-minded professionals under the big tent at Laurel Arts. We made a commitment to keep this tradition going forward and kept that promise by hosting this years’ Service Club Lunch on July 15, 2011.  Ron Hostetler (Conemaugh Township native) and his wife Holly (Baltzer) Hostetler were featured during a program for over 100 Somerset Service Club members and guests.   

In October we were honored by having the Somerset Chamber include the Somerset County Community Fund match challenge in its benefit golf outing and, again, the joint efforts of community-minded people made all the difference in the world not only to the match challenge but to the Somerset community as a whole through the way everyone worked together to make it happen.

Also in October we spent a beautiful Saturday at the International Conservation Center in Fairhope. Not only was the fall foliage spectacular, but our donors to the match challenge program, our match sponsors, our hard working committees and our grantees were out in full force to celebrate the Somerset County Community Funds, exhibit their programs and enjoy. Somerset County’s three resident elephants, Jackson, Kallie and Bette, gave us their best as did zoo director Dayton Baker and his people – what an amazing program and tour they presented. What a day for the Somerset County Community Fund and the Community Foundation as we celebrated our county.

Somerset County is truly America’s County!

So THANK YOU to:

  • Somerset Trust and Highland Tankfor being the match challenge sponsors for the Somerset County Community Fund project.
  • Our Donorswho gave resources of funds, time, energy and support.
  • Our Committeeswho not only support our projects but also give freely of their time and resources to improve our community.
  • Our Partnerswho are the non-profit and civic organizations of Somerset County who work for all of us and with all of us to make Somerset County a better place to live work and play.
  • Our Volunteers who give freely of their time and energy to make a difference.
  • New Somerset County Community Funds
  • Meyersdale Area School District Fund- to support any endeavor that enhances the Meyersdale School District.
  • Lucas Popernack Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation Memorial Scholarship Fund– to provide scholarships for graduating seniors from Somerset Area High School who best reflect the amazing personality traits that made Lucas the unique person and citizen that he was.
  • Ernie Blough Memorial Fund – to provide scholarship(s) and/or when special funding needs arise for local nonprofits. This fund is in memory of Ernie Blough, a brick/stone mason who was devoted to his profession and loved sports.
  • John Fiesta Family Fund –This is a donor advised fund in support of the Somerset County Community Fund and Somersset County grant making.
  • JR. ROTC Program for Somerset High School –This fund is to support the effort of the donors to continue the JR. ROTC Program for Somerset High School students.
  • Shade Central City School District Fund – (as of June 30, 2011) to support any endeavor that benefits the Shade-Central City School District.
  • Other Somerset County Community Funds
  • Mae A. Russell Scholarship Fund- to provide scholarships for Shade-Central City School Districts seniors.
  • Laurel View Village Fund- to provide for expansion of services and provide benefits to residents of the Laurel View Village retirement community, owned and operated by the Allegheny Christian Ministries.
  • Somerset County School-to-Work Scholarship Program- to provide students the opportunity to prepare to enter a highly skilled, technically oriented career field. Instituted by Somerset Area Vocational Technical School.
  • Leona Marian Scholarship Fund- to provide scholarships to Conemaugh Township Area High School valedictorians.
  • Jane and Albert Francis Fund- to provide support to the less fortunate and the education and enhancement of the artists in Somerset County.
  • Lurene M. Hartman Durna Educational Scholarship Fund- to assist two graduates of Meyersdale High School majoring in education.
  • Earl and Jeanne Berkey Fund- to support arts organizations in Somerset and Bedford counties.
  • A.H. Chatfield, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund- to provide a scholarship awarded to a Beltie Youth Group member, a Belted Galloway member, or a child or grandchild of a Belted Galloway member furthering studies in agriculture or animal husbandry.
  • Gristmill Fund- to support the maintenance and improvement of the 1805 Gristmill Theatre.
  • Charles Crain Memorial Resident Director Fund- to support the position of Resident Director at the Mountain Playhouse.
  • James B. Stoughton and Louise Stoughton Maust Producers Fund- to help ensure that ticket prices at the Mountain Playhouse will remain affordable to patrons of all economic levels.
  • Melissa O'Kinsky Scholarship Fund- to assist students from Somerst Area High School enrolled in the School of Education at Slippery Rock University.
  • Frank and Assunta Yocca Family Endowment Fund- for purchasing and maintaining food service equipment, founded by their descendents to provide ongoing support to St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Windber, PA.
  • Somerset County Rails-To-Trails Fund for Emergency Trail Maintenance- to provide support for the emergency maintenance of the rails-to-trails system.
  • Nunzio S. and Flora D. Yocca Scholarship Fund- to provide scholarships for graduating students from Windber Area High School majoring in education, founded by their daughters and sons-in-law, Michael and Elizabeth Day and Joseph and Susan Rupe.
  • Somerset County Community Fund- to support Somerset County projects that deal with the arts, education, economic development, children and youth, health and human services, heritage programs, civic affairs, religious and environmental programs.  A local advisory committee made of residents from throughout the county will decide what projects will receive funding.
  • David J. Rizzo Scholarship Fund- to provide an annual scholarship award to students graduating from Windber Area High School pursuing a post-secondary education who have shown achievement in academics, athletics or extracurricular activity.
  • Conemaugh Township Class of 1945 Arrowhead Award Scholarship- to purchase $100 US Savings bond for a student at Conemaugh Township High School. The current graduating class shall choose the recipient. All-around good student; not necessarily outstanding.
  • September 11th 2003 - Flight 93 Memorial Event Fund- to provide support to the September 11, 2003 Flight 93 Memorial Event.
  • Cecil and Rose Sipe Memorial Fund- to provide an endowment to benefit Laurel View Village Endowment.  Created as part of the 100 Families Project.
  • Raymond DiBattista Johnstown-Altoona Diocesan Vocation Fund- to support educational and social programs which will promote an interest amoung young adults and parents in a religious vocation. Created as part of the 100 Families Project.
  • Alan L. and Lana J. Miller Family Fund- to provide an endowment that will benefit grantmaking in Somerset County.  Created as part of the 100 Families Project.
  • Fred and Nancy Shaffer Scholarship Fund, in memory of Mark A. Shaffer- to provide two scholarships per year to Somerset Area High School students, with priority given to those interested in pursuing pharmacy degrees and engineering degrees and demonstrating financial need.  Created as part of the 100 Families Project.
  • FPL Energy Meyersdale Wind Power Fund- to support worthy projects in Meyersdale area as determined by a local advisory committee.
  • Louise S. Atwell Memorial Music Scholarship Fund- to provide a variety of scholarships for music or music education majors, annually, to a senior at Meyersdale Area High School.
  • Windber Rambler Lettermen's Club Scholarship Fund- to provide scholarships to one boy and one girl athlete as determined by the Windber Rambler Lettermen's Club Scholarship Committee.
  • Frank and Bernice Lucente Community Service Scholarship Fund- to provide a four-year scholarship to the college of choice of a Meyersdale Area High School graduate.
  • Camp Allegheny Fund- to provide an endowment, which will benefit Camp Allegheny Facilities and Programs.
  • Friends for Life: Damian Fain & Todd Parker Scholarship Fund- for Athletes in Track and Baseball who intend to continue their education at the College or University level.
  • Steph and Kris Scholarship Fund- to help further the education of a Shade-Central City Senior planning to attend a post-secondary trade school, college, or university, this fund is in memory of Steph Roman and Kris Zubek.
  • HC "Joe" Harned Scholarship Fund- to provide continuing scholarships through the Turkeyfoot Valley Historical Society and the United Community Church of God in Ursina for post secondary education at accredited institutions.  Nils Thompson Memorial Turkeyfoot Area Historical Society
  • Judy R. Drenning Scholarship Fund- to provide scholarships to students within the North Star School District that have been involved in the Learning Support Program.
  • H.R. and Helen Konhaus Scholarship Fund- to provide a scholarship for a graduating senior of Meyersdale Area High School who has a demonstrated financial need and a career interest in any health related field.
  • Archangel Saint Raphael Fund- to benefit the education and spiritual development of neglected street children who live at the site of the city garbage dump in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Central America.
  • Windber Borough Beautification Fund- a challenge fund to which citizens, business, and professional persons can contribute to projects not possible with local tax resources and which would enhance the attractiveness and comfort of the borough for it's citizens and visitors. Established in 2007, the fund goal is $50,000.00.
  • Meyersdale Area Education Association Staff Memorial Scholarship Fund- to benefit graduates that will continue their education in a college, university or technical school.  This scholarship is in memory of all staff members who gave their time and talent to educate the children of the Meyersdale Area School District.
  • Italian Abruzzi Cultural Heritage Fund- a donor advised fund.
  • Richard Hay Somerset Disability Fund- to support individuals and families who have suffered catastrophic disability through illness or accident in Somerset County.
  • Dr. Vito E. Mantini Scholarship Fund- to provide an endowment that will grant a $1,000.00 scholarship to a student graduating from Conemaugh Township Area High School and planning to enter a health or health related field, established in 2007 in memory of Dr. Vito E. Mantini.
  • Shade Township Class of 1946 Scholarship Fund- to provide scholarship(s) to a graduate(s) of Shade Central City High School who intend to pursue higher education in an accredited college or university.
  • Breast Cancer Fund- a donor advised fund.
  • Meyersdale Lion's Club Flag Fund- to provide funds on an ongoing basis for the purchase and maintenance of an American Flag on the monument square flag pole located adjacent to the Dough Boy Monument in Meyersdale, PA.
  • Walter R. Mahler Memorial Scholarship Fund- to provide college scholarship(s) for deserving seniors at Shade-Central City High School, Cairnbrook, Pa. This scholarship fund is in loving memory of Walter R. Mahler, a longtime resident of Shade Township, and graduate of Shade High School, class of 1943.
  • Somerset Area Athletic Foundation Fund- to specifically include the soliciting of funds and accepting donations to improve the facilities, obtain equipment, foster the success and endeavors of the athletic programs of the Somerset Area School District for charitable purposes.
  • Hauger-Zeigler Memorial Fund- to support numerous tax exempt nonprofit, community and/or religious organizations in the Somerset and Cambria County areas, as well as national relief organizations, all as designated, as recommended by Donor's advisors.
  • Berlin Brothersvalley School District Foundation Fund- to support any endeavor that enhances the Berlin Brothersvalley School District.
  • Quecreek Mine Rescue Foundation Fund- to support the effort of the donors to enhance and develop the Quecreek Mine Rescue Site.
  • George and Eve Cook Charitable Gift Annuity Fund- for scholarships to Somerset County students attending the Allegheny College of Maryland - Somerset County Campus.
  • Tyler Shaffer Scholarship Fund- to support any endeavor that benefits organizations, schools, including scholarships, and events that characterize the fun loving and giving spirit of our son Tyler.
  • Amateur Athletes' Training Fund- to provide support for the training efforts of national and world class athletes in the Alleghenies.
  • Bobby L. Miller Memorial Athlete Award Fund- to make awards to selected senior athletes of the Berlin Brothersvalley High School who meet the criteria and qualifications as determined by the Miller Award Fund Committee.
  • WWII Commemorative Committee Fund- for replacement of flags and maintenance and upkeep of the static display in Veterans Memorial Park located at the Jefferson Ave. Extension, Windber, Pa. 15963.
  • Natural Biodiversity Fund- to support the effort of the donors. To restore landscapes, focusing efforts in Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains region, and to engage citizens of the region in land stewardship through education and outreach, volunteer programs, and service learning opportunities.

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