The Clearfield YMCA was awarded a 2020 CCCF grant to purchase additional equipment for use in the youth gymnastics program. Pictured are Brian McDonald – Program/Aquatics Director at the YMCA, Don Herres – Executive Director of the YMCA and Mark McCracken – Executive Director of the CCCF.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation received 31 grant applications for the 2020 CCCF Grant Program from various groups and organizations representing communities across Clearfield County.
The CCCF Grant Committee did a complete review and scoring of all the submitted applications and presented a detailed report with recommendations to the Charitable Foundation Board who approved the following grant awards:
Pentz Run Youth Services, DuBois PA – $1,000
Young People Who Care, Frenchville PA – $1,000
Cen-Clear, Bigler PA – $1,250
Good Samaritan Center Clearfield PA – $1,500
Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund – $1,000
Grampian Lions Club, Grampian PA – $1,000
Clearfield Chamber of Commerce, Clearfield PA – $2,500
Catholic Charities Adoption Services, DuBois PA – $1,000
Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc., Curwensville PA – $2,000
Cultural Resources Inc, DuBois PA – $1,000
Clearfield YMCA, Clearfield PA – $820
Lawrence Township Fire Company #1, Clearfield PA – $480
Clearfield Skate Park, Clearfield PA – $445.
The following awards were made from the Sara Jane Mattern Fund to the following 4 organizations in the borough of Osceola Mills: Columbia Fire Company – $1,312.50, Osceola Mills United Methodist Church – $1312.50, Osceola Mills Community Library – $1,312.50 and Osceola Mills Historical Foundation – $1,312.50.
The Sara Jane Mattern Fund was established by Ms. Mattern’s estate to provide annual funding to the 4 listed organizations.
The grant awards listed above represent $10,695 from the CCCF Community Fund, $4,300 from the Kurtz Clearfield, Lawrence Township and Curwensville Fund and $5,250 from the Sara Jane Mattern fund for a total distribution of $20,245 to help people and communities all over Clearfield County.
Of the funds from the CCCF Community Fund, $1,377 came from a contribution made by Visit Clearfield County from the proceeds of the Chainsaw Carvers Event they sponsored in June. The $1,377 donation was made possible through the generosity of the 4 carvers that participated in the event, Doug Ryan, Ray “Knotty Ray” Good, Todd Gladfelter and Mark Mann.
On behalf of the Charitable Foundation Board and Grant Review Committee, Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken said “The awarded grants went to some fine community-based organizations and include projects that will benefit many people with specific needs.
“Several of the projects will benefit area youths while others address needs for people with medical issues. There are also specific projects to establish a much-needed food bank in the Coalport / Irvona area along with a project to purchase and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in homes that don’t have them”.
McCracken added “We also had some great organizations with viable projects that did not make the cut for funding this year, but we would encourage them to resubmit next year”.
Since 2006, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation’s grant program has awarded over $120,000 to projects in communities across Clearfield County.
Anyone who would like to contribute to help fund grants next year can do so by sending contributions to the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830 by designating the donation to go to the Community Fund, the Kurtz CLC Donor Designated Fund or the Sara Jane Mattern Fund.
Steve Albert, right, of the Clearfield Corner Concert Series recently presented a check for $2,767 for the Bob E. Day Scholarship Fund to CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken, left. The funds were collected during the 2020 Corner Concert Series held over the summer in Lower Witmer Park. Albert thanked WOKW 102.9FM and their staff for helping to make the 2020 Corner Concert Series a success and is looking forward to planning the event for 2021.
Earlier this year, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation provided grant funding to the Bob Perks Fund to assist their efforts in helping cancer patients in Clearfield County. The grant funds provided by the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation are used by the Bob Perks Fund for the purchase of gift cards for Clearfield County cancer patients that they can use to purchase basic necessities. Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken stated “The partnership between the Charitable Foundation and the Bob Perks Fund is beneficial for cancer patients and their families in communities throughout the county. The support provided by the Bob Perks Fund to these individuals in need of help fits with the goals of the Charitable Foundation and the donors that support our annual grant program”.
Referred to the Bob Perks Fund by local hospitals and medical facilities, these cancer patients face eviction, utility shut-off notices, financial difficulty to purchase adequate groceries, and not enough gas for cancer treatment travel. Established in 2006, the Bob Perks Fund provides financial assistance to Blair, Centre, Clearfield, and Huntingdon County cancer patients who are overwhelmed with unpaid bills and need to worry less to focus attention on their health and recovery. While the Bob Perks Fund is a small nonprofit, it has raised and allocated $2 million in the four-county region since it was established in 2006.
Since 2012, the Bob Perks Fund has approved 728 Clearfield County cancer patient applications and has allocated $425,000 to these efforts. Every dollar allocated to support a cancer patient is a donated dollar. In recent years, the Bob Perks Fund has received support from Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, Johnson Subaru, the Fairman Foundation, Curwensville Area Lutheran Ministry and countless general, memorial and holiday donations. Event support includes “Mikey’s Old School Ride,” Buster’s Sports Bar Dart Tournament, Clearfield/Philipsburg Wrestling and several Centre County sources of support.
Recently, Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken met with Bob Perks Fund Development Coordinator Marjann Young to discuss their work in Clearfield County and current financial conditions. Ms. Young explained “Because the pandemic has caused the cancellation of six key fundraising events, the Bob Perks Fund is experiencing a huge decrease in donations during 2020. To fund every eligible cancer patient application through December 31, the Bob Perks Fund needs $50,000. $25,000 is currently in hand because the generous sponsors of cancelled events asked for their event sponsorship dollars be retained by the Bob Perks Fund to help cancer patients. To reach the $50,000 needed for the remainder of 2020, the Bob Perks Fund has launched “Strive for 25,” a GOFUNDME effort to raise $25,000 in 25 days to match the funds already received”. Ms. Young is asking people to please consider making a difference in the lives of Clearfield County cancer patients and help with the “Strive for 25,” from September 1 through September 25. For more information about the Bob Perks Fund, visit bobperksfund.org
One of the CCCF’s grants last year supported the Community Guidance Center’s Bison Outreach Project which provides information to families regarding drug and alcohol services.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is ready to distribute applications for the 2020 CCCF Grant Program.
In 2019, the grant program awarded over $23,000 to projects that benefitted communities from all areas of Clearfield County. Since inception, the CCCF Grant Program has awarded over $133,000 in total funding.
For 2020, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors is looking for applications from groups that will address the needs of communities and specifically the board is encouraging participation from groups that have never applied before.
CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken said “with the recent economic downturn many communities are seeing a need for new programs that will address specific problems. The Charitable Foundation, through the grant program, is looking to fund projects that will meet specific needs and provide solutions that will make our communities better.This year, the CCCF Board and our Grant Committee is very interested to see some new and innovative ideas submitted for consideration”.
The Charitable Foundation has an established Grant Committee that will review and critically score all applications. Once the review process is completed, the committee will provide recommendations to the foundation board for the final award of the grant funds.
To be eligible for a grant award, applying agencies/organizations must provide services in local communities and be located within Clearfield County. Priority is given to projects that have potential for long-term impact, support the county’s overall needs, do not duplicate other services and will aid residents not currently being served.
The grants are funded by the Charitable Foundation’s Community Fund along with several individual endowment funds that were set up in the name of certain individuals interested in helping their communities and projects all across the county.
Additionally, the CCL Donor Designated Fund was established for organizations in Clearfield Borough, Curwensville Borough and Lawrence Township and the Sara Jane Mattern Fund was established by the Mattern estate to fund annual grants to four specific organizations in Osceola Mills.
For those unable to download the forms, paper copies of the application and documents can be requested via email to cccfexecdir@outlook.com or by calling (814)-592-7331.
Deadline for submission of the grant applications is Friday, September 25th, 2020.
For those interested in financially supporting the Charitable Foundation Grant Program or any of our endowment or scholarship funds, contributions may be made at the website http://clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org/, clicking on the OUR FUNDS button, selecting either LIST OF GENERAL FUNDS or SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS and then selected the specific fund by clicking the DONATE button beside the fund you want to donate to.
Online donations are processed through a secure Paypal account. Donations can also be mailed to: Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830 – please designate on the check memo line the fund you would like your donation credited to.
We also welcome inquiries from those interested in establishing endowment or scholarship funds to benefit local communities and organizations.
Visit Clearfield County Executive Director Josiah Jones presented a donation from proceeds of the Lumberjack Chainsaw Carvers Event auction to Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation received a donation of $1,377, which was a portion of the proceeds from the auction held at the completion of the Lumberjack Chainsaw Carvers Event held on June 26th and 27th at the Big Lots Plaza in Clearfield.
The event was organized and sponsored by Visit Clearfield County with additional sponsorship by Rural King, Legacy Resource Partners, Pennmark Properties and Blue Moon Media and Marketing.
The featured carvers at the event were Todd Gladfelter, Mark Mann, Knotty Ray and Doug Ryan.
VCC Executive Director Josiah Jones said the sponsors and the participants in the event wanted to give something back to the community that would make an impact. The decision was made to give a portion of the proceeds from the event auction to CCCF to be designated for use in their community grants program.
CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken said “we really appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the initial Lumberjack Chainsaw Carvers Event and thank Visit Clearfield County for the invitation and donation.
“The donated funds will go directly to our grants program and will be part of the funding for our 2020 grant cycle that will be starting in early August with the grants awarded later this year.
“We appreciate the talents the 4 carvers, Todd Gladfelter, Mark Mann, Knotty Ray and Doug Ryan, put on display and thank them for donating their pieces for the auction”.
Jones and McCracken both noted for a first time event put together on short notice, it was “a tremendous success”.
Both thanked the corporate sponsors, the participating carvers, the food vendors, the staff at Visit Clearfield County, Bee Kind Winery for donation of gift baskets for the auction and Tim Winters who served as auctioneer.
Special thanks to everyone who came out to the event and those individuals who bid on the auction items.
Those participating in the chainsaw carving sitting on the bench that received the highest bid are from left to right are Doug Ryan and Ray “Knotty Ray” Good with VCC Board Chair Susan Williams. Standing from left to right are Todd Gladfelter and Mark Mann.
Pictured are Parker Marshall – recipient of CAHS Class of 62 Scholarship, Kenneth McMillen Competitive Swimming Scholarship, Marsha Novey Scholarship, and Cunningham Scholarship and Noah Jordan – recipient of the Marsha Novey Scholarship.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the following 2020 scholarship recipients chosen by the individual scholarship fund committees. T-HARP / Taylor Harpster Memorial Scholarship – Lindsey Bordas and Shelby Zelensky, Golden Bison Alumni Association – Eric Griffith, Erica Fry and Nursing Scholarship – Lauren Stucke, CAHS Class of ’62 Scholarship Fund – Parker Marshall, CAHS Class of ’75 Scholarship Fund – Maynard Weidman, Philip Rowles and Lauren Coleman, Jerry Read Scholarship Fund John Daniel McKenzie, Kenneth McMillen Endowment Competitive Swimming Scholarship – Parker Marshall, Marsha Novey Scholarship Fund – Noah Jordan and Parker Marshall, Janet McCracken Hansard Memorial Scholarship Fund – Kimberly Wilsoncroft, Cunningham Scholarship – Kimberly Wilsoncroft and Parker Marshall, Eileen C. Withey Scholarship – Morgan Warrick, Shirley Rowles Miller Scholarship – Raylee Sunderlin and the DuBois Rotary Club Scholarship – Jordan Hartzfeld and Alexandra Volpe.
In addition to the scholarships listed, the Clearfield Education Foundation awarded 21 scholarships to students enrolled to attend the Clearfield Campus of Lock Haven University.
The scholarship funds listed awarded over $40,000 this year to help students from communities across Clearfield County attain their goals of higher education. The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation congratulates all the students listed above and thanks those who donate to help fund these scholarships. We also give special recognition to the people involved with the various scholarship funds for their dedicated work raising funds and selecting the recipients.
John McKenzie is the recipient of this year’s Gerald Read Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the CHS Class of ‘73. Representing the Class of ‘73 are Carolyn Buzzanca Smeal and Marjorie McCorkle Stewart.Kimberly Wilsoncroft was the winner of the Janet McCracken Hansard Scholarship.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce that over $4,600 was donated by citizens from communities across Clearfield County and other areas to fund a special distribution to area food banks and food related programs. In response to the economic impact communities and citizens are facing from the COVID-19 crisis, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation board authorized a special distribution to local food banks and other food related programs. All money donated to the CCCF Basic Needs Fund between April 24th and May 15th will be part of the distribution and additional funds donated prior will be added for a total distribution of $4,800.
The Charitable Foundation will be distributing the available funds to food banks operated by Central PA Community Action in Clearfield, Curwensville, Philipsburg, Burnside/Mahaffey, Westover, Houtzdale, Osceola Mills, Karthaus, West Branch/Allport, and the DuBois Ministerium Food Pantry and DuBois Salvation Army. Additionally, funds will go to the Salvation Army in Clearfield, Living Bread Ministries, the Anti-Hunger Program operated by the Moshannon Valley YMCA that services communities in the Philipsburg-Osceola, West Branch and Moshannon Valley areas, the Central PA Food Bank and the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging meal programs for their clients who are more homebound due to the COVID-19 crisis.
CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken said “the Charitable Foundation Board recognized that now is a time when strong communities come together to help each other. On April 24th, the board authorized doing a short fundraising effort to collect funds to combine with existing monies in our Basic Needs Fund to do a special distribution to county food banks and anti-hunger programs. The Charitable Foundation thanks the people who donated to the effort. As our area moves to the green phase and people’s lives get back to normal, it is our hope these funds will help our community food banks restock their inventories so they can continue to help those who need it”.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors makes an annual distribution to area food banks and earlier this year released $3,900 before the COVID-19 crisis hit.
CCCF Board Chairman Kevin McMillen said “Even though we already released the annual food bank distribution, the board felt now was the time to step up and coordinate another distribution of funds to help our communities and families get through this difficult time”.
In response to the economic impacts communities and citizens across Clearfield County are facing from the COVID-19 crisis, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is planning a special round of funding to help meet these needs.
After surveying several local social service agencies to determine areas of need, the Charitable Foundation Board of Directors, during their recent board meeting, voted unanimously to release funding from their Basic Needs Fund to help communities throughout Clearfield County.
To accomplish the fund distribution with maximum impact, the Charitable Foundation is asking community members for donations, by May 15th, to the Basic Needs Fund.
Donations can be made online at www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org where you will see a DONATE NOW button on the main page that will direct your donation to the Basic Needs Fund via the CCCF secure PayPal account. Donations can also be made by mail to the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830 and please write BASIC NEEDS FUND on the check memo line.
Funds raised by May 15th for the Basic Needs Fund will be combined with several recent special donations that were received with instructions from the donors to use their donations to help offset the impacts from the COVID-19 crisis.
Based on the aforementioned survey of needs, the Charitable Foundation is planning to direct funding to various food banks countywide that are operated by Central PA Community Action, the Salvation Army in both Clearfield and DuBois and the Living Bread Ministries. Funding was also approved for the Anti-Hunger Program operated by the Moshannon Valley YMCA that services communities in the Philipsburg-Osceola, West Branch and Moshannon Valley school districts.
Additional funding was approved for the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging to provide frozen and weekend meal packs for their senior clients who are more homebound due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors makes an annual distribution to area food banks and released $3,900 in January before the COVID-19 crisis hit.
CCCF Board Chairman Kevin McMillen said “Even though we already released the annual food bank distribution, the board felt now was the time to step up and coordinate another distribution of funds to help our communities and families get through this difficult time”.
For more information on the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, please visit our website at www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org or look up our Facebook page where information is shared about our various funds, scholarships, grant programs and ongoing projects.
Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc receives grant from Clearfield County Charitable Foundation – Pictured – Mark McCracken CCCF Executive Director with Sonya Greene, Marie Kavelak and Mike Greene of Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc.
CLEARFIELD – Among the grants recently awarded by the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is $1,000 to Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc. of Curwensville.
“The support offered by Clearfield County Cancer Support is important,” said CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken.
“This
is an idea brought to life by Sonya and Mike Greene because they lived through
the process of battling cancer and saw, firsthand, what was missing in the
community support system.
“This is the
type of program the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation looks to support
with our grant program because it assists people throughout Clearfield County
in a time of great need”.
Founders Sonya
and Mike Greene stated “we appreciate the $1,000 grant from the Clearfield
County Charitable Foundation.We started Clearfield County Cancer Support, Inc.
as a way to help and support individuals going through cancer
treatment.
“There are other organizations dedicated to research and finding more effective treatment for the future, but our mission is helping individuals now, to get through the daily struggles they face while undergoing cancer treatment”.
Sonya Greene’s own cancer story began in 2014.
She was getting ready to start a new job on a Monday, but on the immediate Friday before, she had an appointment with her doctor where she received the devastating news that she had Stage 2 breast cancer. What was a time of exciting optimism for the new job immediately turned into a period of uncertainty and questions of what the future held, not only for Sonya, but for everyone close to her, especially her husband Mike.
Speaking with Sonya and Mike they will tell you that Sonya was able to fight and win her battle because they had a good health insurance plan that provided access to a great team of doctors and a treatment plan that was successful. But during the process, it also became obvious that undergoing many months of treatment and appointments upset other aspects of their daily lives. Transportation to medical appointments had to be arranged, personal funds designated for daily costs like utility bills, maintenance on the home, property taxes and other expenses had to be diverted to help deal with the health issues Sonya was dealing with.
When they inquired around to various agencies,
they found there was nothing in Clearfield County that could provide direct
assistance to cancer patients for issues that arose outside of the actual
medical treatments.
After Sonya successfully completed her treatment,
she and Mike turned their efforts and energy towards creating a program to help
fill the void for cancer patients. In 2016, they founded Clearfield County
Cancer Support, Inc. as a 501c3 nonprofit foundation to provide assistance and
support to cancer patients so they can focus on their treatments rather than
worrying about problems that spring up in daily life.
Mike stressed “there are some misconceptions that
we are part of the American Cancer Society and/or Relay For Life, but we are a
standalone organization. We operate strictly with volunteers and 95% of
the funds we raise benefit cancer patients living in Clearfield County with the
remaining funds going towards operational costs, money raised here stays here.
“We have
several ongoing fundraisers including our annual golf tournament scheduled for
May 23rd at Eagles Ridge, a Cash Bingo held every other month at the
Curwensville VFW and new for 2020 we are joining Morris Twp. Volunteer Fire
Department and Clearfield Moose in organizing the Snakefest Musicfest that will
be held Saturday June 20th at the Morris Township Volunteer Fire
Department Recreation Center in Morrisdale.
We are also host a Basket Raffle at St. Timothy’s Rec Hall in
Curwensville on July 26th, 2020”.
Mike also noted they have several businesses that have been giving ongoing support to the organization.
“Pennsylvania Grain Processing (Ethanol Plant) and
Wal-Mart Distribution Center have been very generous in their support, Rob
Brown of C. Classic (Dodge Chrysler Jeep) has been involved in supporting the
annual golf tournament and Eagle Haven Computers designed, maintains and hosts
our website”.
For more information on Clearfield County Cancer Support, Inc, please visit their website at www.clfdccs.org and for more information on the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation visit www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org.
Posted: November 17, 2020 by Julie Rickard
Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Announces 2020 Grant Awards
The Clearfield YMCA was awarded a 2020 CCCF grant to purchase additional equipment for use in the youth gymnastics program. Pictured are Brian McDonald – Program/Aquatics Director at the YMCA, Don Herres – Executive Director of the YMCA and Mark McCracken – Executive Director of the CCCF.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation received 31 grant applications for the 2020 CCCF Grant Program from various groups and organizations representing communities across Clearfield County.
The CCCF Grant Committee did a complete review and scoring of all the submitted applications and presented a detailed report with recommendations to the Charitable Foundation Board who approved the following grant awards:
Pentz Run Youth Services, DuBois PA – $1,000
Young People Who Care, Frenchville PA – $1,000
Cen-Clear, Bigler PA – $1,250
Good Samaritan Center Clearfield PA – $1,500
Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund – $1,000
Grampian Lions Club, Grampian PA – $1,000
Clearfield Chamber of Commerce, Clearfield PA – $2,500
Catholic Charities Adoption Services, DuBois PA – $1,000
Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc., Curwensville PA – $2,000
Cultural Resources Inc, DuBois PA – $1,000
Clearfield YMCA, Clearfield PA – $820
Lawrence Township Fire Company #1, Clearfield PA – $480
Clearfield Skate Park, Clearfield PA – $445.
The following awards were made from the Sara Jane Mattern Fund to the following 4 organizations in the borough of Osceola Mills: Columbia Fire Company – $1,312.50, Osceola Mills United Methodist Church – $1312.50, Osceola Mills Community Library – $1,312.50 and Osceola Mills Historical Foundation – $1,312.50.
The Sara Jane Mattern Fund was established by Ms. Mattern’s estate to provide annual funding to the 4 listed organizations.
The grant awards listed above represent $10,695 from the CCCF Community Fund, $4,300 from the Kurtz Clearfield, Lawrence Township and Curwensville Fund and $5,250 from the Sara Jane Mattern fund for a total distribution of $20,245 to help people and communities all over Clearfield County.
Of the funds from the CCCF Community Fund, $1,377 came from a contribution made by Visit Clearfield County from the proceeds of the Chainsaw Carvers Event they sponsored in June. The $1,377 donation was made possible through the generosity of the 4 carvers that participated in the event, Doug Ryan, Ray “Knotty Ray” Good, Todd Gladfelter and Mark Mann.
On behalf of the Charitable Foundation Board and Grant Review Committee, Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken said “The awarded grants went to some fine community-based organizations and include projects that will benefit many people with specific needs.
“Several of the projects will benefit area youths while others address needs for people with medical issues. There are also specific projects to establish a much-needed food bank in the Coalport / Irvona area along with a project to purchase and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in homes that don’t have them”.
McCracken added “We also had some great organizations with viable projects that did not make the cut for funding this year, but we would encourage them to resubmit next year”.
Since 2006, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation’s grant program has awarded over $120,000 to projects in communities across Clearfield County.
Anyone who would like to contribute to help fund grants next year can do so by sending contributions to the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830 by designating the donation to go to the Community Fund, the Kurtz CLC Donor Designated Fund or the Sara Jane Mattern Fund.
Donations may also be made online at www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org which are securely processed through Paypal.
Posted: October 21, 2020 by Julie Rickard
Donation to Bob E. Day Scholarship Fund
Steve Albert, right, of the Clearfield Corner Concert Series recently presented a check for $2,767 for the Bob E. Day Scholarship Fund to CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken, left. The funds were collected during the 2020 Corner Concert Series held over the summer in Lower Witmer Park. Albert thanked WOKW 102.9FM and their staff for helping to make the 2020 Corner Concert Series a success and is looking forward to planning the event for 2021.
Posted: September 17, 2020 by Julie Rickard
CCCF and Bob Perks Fund Partnership Makes a Difference for Local Cancer Patients
Earlier this year, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation provided grant funding to the Bob Perks Fund to assist their efforts in helping cancer patients in Clearfield County. The grant funds provided by the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation are used by the Bob Perks Fund for the purchase of gift cards for Clearfield County cancer patients that they can use to purchase basic necessities. Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken stated “The partnership between the Charitable Foundation and the Bob Perks Fund is beneficial for cancer patients and their families in communities throughout the county. The support provided by the Bob Perks Fund to these individuals in need of help fits with the goals of the Charitable Foundation and the donors that support our annual grant program”.
Referred to the Bob Perks Fund by local hospitals and medical facilities, these cancer patients face eviction, utility shut-off notices, financial difficulty to purchase adequate groceries, and not enough gas for cancer treatment travel. Established in 2006, the Bob Perks Fund provides financial assistance to Blair, Centre, Clearfield, and Huntingdon County cancer patients who are overwhelmed with unpaid bills and need to worry less to focus attention on their health and recovery. While the Bob Perks Fund is a small nonprofit, it has raised and allocated $2 million in the four-county region since it was established in 2006.
Since 2012, the Bob Perks Fund has approved 728 Clearfield County cancer patient applications and has allocated $425,000 to these efforts. Every dollar allocated to support a cancer patient is a donated dollar. In recent years, the Bob Perks Fund has received support from Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, Johnson Subaru, the Fairman Foundation, Curwensville Area Lutheran Ministry and countless general, memorial and holiday donations. Event support includes “Mikey’s Old School Ride,” Buster’s Sports Bar Dart Tournament, Clearfield/Philipsburg Wrestling and several Centre County sources of support.
Recently, Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken met with Bob Perks Fund Development Coordinator Marjann Young to discuss their work in Clearfield County and current financial conditions. Ms. Young explained “Because the pandemic has caused the cancellation of six key fundraising events, the Bob Perks Fund is experiencing a huge decrease in donations during 2020. To fund every eligible cancer patient application through December 31, the Bob Perks Fund needs $50,000. $25,000 is currently in hand because the generous sponsors of cancelled events asked for their event sponsorship dollars be retained by the Bob Perks Fund to help cancer patients. To reach the $50,000 needed for the remainder of 2020, the Bob Perks Fund has launched “Strive for 25,” a GOFUNDME effort to raise $25,000 in 25 days to match the funds already received”. Ms. Young is asking people to please consider making a difference in the lives of Clearfield County cancer patients and help with the “Strive for 25,” from September 1 through September 25. For more information about the Bob Perks Fund, visit bobperksfund.org
To donate to the Strive for 25 visit: https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/strive-for-251
or donations can be mailed to Bob Perks Fund, PO Box 313, State College PA 16804-0313.
Posted: August 8, 2020 by Julie Rickard
2020 Grant Applications Now Available
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is ready to distribute applications for the 2020 CCCF Grant Program.
In 2019, the grant program awarded over $23,000 to projects that benefitted communities from all areas of Clearfield County. Since inception, the CCCF Grant Program has awarded over $133,000 in total funding.
For 2020, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors is looking for applications from groups that will address the needs of communities and specifically the board is encouraging participation from groups that have never applied before.
CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken said “with the recent economic downturn many communities are seeing a need for new programs that will address specific problems. The Charitable Foundation, through the grant program, is looking to fund projects that will meet specific needs and provide solutions that will make our communities better.This year, the CCCF Board and our Grant Committee is very interested to see some new and innovative ideas submitted for consideration”.
The Charitable Foundation has an established Grant Committee that will review and critically score all applications. Once the review process is completed, the committee will provide recommendations to the foundation board for the final award of the grant funds.
To be eligible for a grant award, applying agencies/organizations must provide services in local communities and be located within Clearfield County. Priority is given to projects that have potential for long-term impact, support the county’s overall needs, do not duplicate other services and will aid residents not currently being served.
The grants are funded by the Charitable Foundation’s Community Fund along with several individual endowment funds that were set up in the name of certain individuals interested in helping their communities and projects all across the county.
Additionally, the CCL Donor Designated Fund was established for organizations in Clearfield Borough, Curwensville Borough and Lawrence Township and the Sara Jane Mattern Fund was established by the Mattern estate to fund annual grants to four specific organizations in Osceola Mills.
The grant application, instructions and all necessary submission documents are available to download in MS Word format or PDF format at http://clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org/forms-downloads.
For those unable to download the forms, paper copies of the application and documents can be requested via email to cccfexecdir@outlook.com or by calling (814)-592-7331.
Deadline for submission of the grant applications is Friday, September 25th, 2020.
For those interested in financially supporting the Charitable Foundation Grant Program or any of our endowment or scholarship funds, contributions may be made at the website http://clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org/, clicking on the OUR FUNDS button, selecting either LIST OF GENERAL FUNDS or SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS and then selected the specific fund by clicking the DONATE button beside the fund you want to donate to.
Online donations are processed through a secure Paypal account. Donations can also be mailed to: Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830 – please designate on the check memo line the fund you would like your donation credited to.
We also welcome inquiries from those interested in establishing endowment or scholarship funds to benefit local communities and organizations.
Posted: July 3, 2020 by Julie Rickard
CCCF Receives Donation from Proceeds of Lumberjack Chainsaw Carvers Event
Visit Clearfield County Executive Director Josiah Jones presented a donation from proceeds of the Lumberjack Chainsaw Carvers Event auction to Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Executive Director Mark McCracken.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation received a donation of $1,377, which was a portion of the proceeds from the auction held at the completion of the Lumberjack Chainsaw Carvers Event held on June 26th and 27th at the Big Lots Plaza in Clearfield.
The event was organized and sponsored by Visit Clearfield County with additional sponsorship by Rural King, Legacy Resource Partners, Pennmark Properties and Blue Moon Media and Marketing.
The featured carvers at the event were Todd Gladfelter, Mark Mann, Knotty Ray and Doug Ryan.
VCC Executive Director Josiah Jones said the sponsors and the participants in the event wanted to give something back to the community that would make an impact. The decision was made to give a portion of the proceeds from the event auction to CCCF to be designated for use in their community grants program.
CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken said “we really appreciate the opportunity to be involved in the initial Lumberjack Chainsaw Carvers Event and thank Visit Clearfield County for the invitation and donation.
“The donated funds will go directly to our grants program and will be part of the funding for our 2020 grant cycle that will be starting in early August with the grants awarded later this year.
“We appreciate the talents the 4 carvers, Todd Gladfelter, Mark Mann, Knotty Ray and Doug Ryan, put on display and thank them for donating their pieces for the auction”.
Jones and McCracken both noted for a first time event put together on short notice, it was “a tremendous success”.
Both thanked the corporate sponsors, the participating carvers, the food vendors, the staff at Visit Clearfield County, Bee Kind Winery for donation of gift baskets for the auction and Tim Winters who served as auctioneer.
Special thanks to everyone who came out to the event and those individuals who bid on the auction items.
Posted: June 15, 2020 by Julie Rickard
Event Will Benefit the CCCF
Last Updated: June 15, 2020 by Julie Rickard
2020 Scholarship Winners
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the following 2020 scholarship recipients chosen by the individual scholarship fund committees. T-HARP / Taylor Harpster Memorial Scholarship – Lindsey Bordas and Shelby Zelensky, Golden Bison Alumni Association – Eric Griffith, Erica Fry and Nursing Scholarship – Lauren Stucke, CAHS Class of ’62 Scholarship Fund – Parker Marshall, CAHS Class of ’75 Scholarship Fund – Maynard Weidman, Philip Rowles and Lauren Coleman, Jerry Read Scholarship Fund John Daniel McKenzie, Kenneth McMillen Endowment Competitive Swimming Scholarship – Parker Marshall, Marsha Novey Scholarship Fund – Noah Jordan and Parker Marshall, Janet McCracken Hansard Memorial Scholarship Fund – Kimberly Wilsoncroft, Cunningham Scholarship – Kimberly Wilsoncroft and Parker Marshall, Eileen C. Withey Scholarship – Morgan Warrick, Shirley Rowles Miller Scholarship – Raylee Sunderlin and the DuBois Rotary Club Scholarship – Jordan Hartzfeld and Alexandra Volpe.
In addition to the scholarships listed, the Clearfield Education Foundation awarded 21 scholarships to students enrolled to attend the Clearfield Campus of Lock Haven University.
The scholarship funds listed awarded over $40,000 this year to help students from communities across Clearfield County attain their goals of higher education.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation congratulates all the students listed above and thanks those who donate to help fund these scholarships. We also give special recognition to the people involved with the various scholarship funds for their dedicated work raising funds and selecting the recipients.
sponsored by the CHS Class of ‘73.
Representing the Class of ‘73 are Carolyn Buzzanca Smeal and Marjorie McCorkle Stewart.
Last Updated: June 15, 2020 by Julie Rickard
Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Releases Funds for COVID-19 Response
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce that over $4,600 was donated by citizens from communities across Clearfield County and other areas to fund a special distribution to area food banks and food related programs. In response to the economic impact communities and citizens are facing from the COVID-19 crisis, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation board authorized a special distribution to local food banks and other food related programs. All money donated to the CCCF Basic Needs Fund between April 24th and May 15th will be part of the distribution and additional funds donated prior will be added for a total distribution of $4,800.
The Charitable Foundation will be distributing the available funds to food banks operated by Central PA Community Action in Clearfield, Curwensville, Philipsburg, Burnside/Mahaffey, Westover, Houtzdale, Osceola Mills, Karthaus, West Branch/Allport, and the DuBois Ministerium Food Pantry and DuBois Salvation Army. Additionally, funds will go to the Salvation Army in Clearfield, Living Bread Ministries, the Anti-Hunger Program operated by the Moshannon Valley YMCA that services communities in the Philipsburg-Osceola, West Branch and Moshannon Valley areas, the Central PA Food Bank and the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging meal programs for their clients who are more homebound due to the COVID-19 crisis.
CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken said “the Charitable Foundation Board recognized that now is a time when strong communities come together to help each other. On April 24th, the board authorized doing a short fundraising effort to collect funds to combine with existing monies in our Basic Needs Fund to do a special distribution to county food banks and anti-hunger programs. The Charitable Foundation thanks the people who donated to the effort. As our area moves to the green phase and people’s lives get back to normal, it is our hope these funds will help our community food banks restock their inventories so they can continue to help those who need it”.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors makes an annual distribution to area food banks and earlier this year released $3,900 before the COVID-19 crisis hit.
CCCF Board Chairman Kevin McMillen said “Even though we already released the annual food bank distribution, the board felt now was the time to step up and coordinate another distribution of funds to help our communities and families get through this difficult time”.
Posted: April 27, 2020 by Julie Rickard
Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Seeks Donations to Fight COVID-19 Impact
In response to the economic impacts communities and citizens across Clearfield County are facing from the COVID-19 crisis, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is planning a special round of funding to help meet these needs.
After surveying several local social service agencies to determine areas of need, the Charitable Foundation Board of Directors, during their recent board meeting, voted unanimously to release funding from their Basic Needs Fund to help communities throughout Clearfield County.
To accomplish the fund distribution with maximum impact, the Charitable Foundation is asking community members for donations, by May 15th, to the Basic Needs Fund.
Donations can be made online at www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org where you will see a DONATE NOW button on the main page that will direct your donation to the Basic Needs Fund via the CCCF secure PayPal account. Donations can also be made by mail to the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830 and please write BASIC NEEDS FUND on the check memo line.
Funds raised by May 15th for the Basic Needs Fund will be combined with several recent special donations that were received with instructions from the donors to use their donations to help offset the impacts from the COVID-19 crisis.
Based on the aforementioned survey of needs, the Charitable Foundation is planning to direct funding to various food banks countywide that are operated by Central PA Community Action, the Salvation Army in both Clearfield and DuBois and the Living Bread Ministries. Funding was also approved for the Anti-Hunger Program operated by the Moshannon Valley YMCA that services communities in the Philipsburg-Osceola, West Branch and Moshannon Valley school districts.
Additional funding was approved for the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging to provide frozen and weekend meal packs for their senior clients who are more homebound due to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors makes an annual distribution to area food banks and released $3,900 in January before the COVID-19 crisis hit.
CCCF Board Chairman Kevin McMillen said “Even though we already released the annual food bank distribution, the board felt now was the time to step up and coordinate another distribution of funds to help our communities and families get through this difficult time”.
For more information on the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, please visit our website at www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org or look up our Facebook page where information is shared about our various funds, scholarships, grant programs and ongoing projects.
Last Updated: March 21, 2020 by Julie Rickard
CCCF Gives Grant to Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc.
Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc receives grant from Clearfield County Charitable Foundation – Pictured – Mark McCracken CCCF Executive Director with Sonya Greene, Marie Kavelak and Mike Greene of Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc.
CLEARFIELD – Among the grants recently awarded by the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is $1,000 to Clearfield County Cancer Support Inc. of Curwensville.
“The support offered by Clearfield County Cancer Support is important,” said CCCF Executive Director Mark McCracken.
“This is an idea brought to life by Sonya and Mike Greene because they lived through the process of battling cancer and saw, firsthand, what was missing in the community support system.
“This is the type of program the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation looks to support with our grant program because it assists people throughout Clearfield County in a time of great need”.
Founders Sonya and Mike Greene stated “we appreciate the $1,000 grant from the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation.We started Clearfield County Cancer Support, Inc. as a way to help and support individuals going through cancer treatment.
“There are other organizations dedicated to research and finding more effective treatment for the future, but our mission is helping individuals now, to get through the daily struggles they face while undergoing cancer treatment”.
Sonya Greene’s own cancer story began in 2014.
She was getting ready to start a new job on a Monday, but on the immediate Friday before, she had an appointment with her doctor where she received the devastating news that she had Stage 2 breast cancer. What was a time of exciting optimism for the new job immediately turned into a period of uncertainty and questions of what the future held, not only for Sonya, but for everyone close to her, especially her husband Mike.
Speaking with Sonya and Mike they will tell you that Sonya was able to fight and win her battle because they had a good health insurance plan that provided access to a great team of doctors and a treatment plan that was successful. But during the process, it also became obvious that undergoing many months of treatment and appointments upset other aspects of their daily lives. Transportation to medical appointments had to be arranged, personal funds designated for daily costs like utility bills, maintenance on the home, property taxes and other expenses had to be diverted to help deal with the health issues Sonya was dealing with.
When they inquired around to various agencies, they found there was nothing in Clearfield County that could provide direct assistance to cancer patients for issues that arose outside of the actual medical treatments.
After Sonya successfully completed her treatment, she and Mike turned their efforts and energy towards creating a program to help fill the void for cancer patients. In 2016, they founded Clearfield County Cancer Support, Inc. as a 501c3 nonprofit foundation to provide assistance and support to cancer patients so they can focus on their treatments rather than worrying about problems that spring up in daily life.
Mike stressed “there are some misconceptions that we are part of the American Cancer Society and/or Relay For Life, but we are a standalone organization. We operate strictly with volunteers and 95% of the funds we raise benefit cancer patients living in Clearfield County with the remaining funds going towards operational costs, money raised here stays here.
“We have several ongoing fundraisers including our annual golf tournament scheduled for May 23rd at Eagles Ridge, a Cash Bingo held every other month at the Curwensville VFW and new for 2020 we are joining Morris Twp. Volunteer Fire Department and Clearfield Moose in organizing the Snakefest Musicfest that will be held Saturday June 20th at the Morris Township Volunteer Fire Department Recreation Center in Morrisdale. We are also host a Basket Raffle at St. Timothy’s Rec Hall in Curwensville on July 26th, 2020”.
Mike also noted they have several businesses that have been giving ongoing support to the organization.
“Pennsylvania Grain Processing (Ethanol Plant) and Wal-Mart Distribution Center have been very generous in their support, Rob Brown of C. Classic (Dodge Chrysler Jeep) has been involved in supporting the annual golf tournament and Eagle Haven Computers designed, maintains and hosts our website”.
For more information on Clearfield County Cancer Support, Inc, please visit their website at www.clfdccs.org and for more information on the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation visit www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org.
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