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 23^rd 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 20^th 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 26^th, 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.

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors recently approved a distribution of $3,900 in funding to area food banks. 

Funding was provided to food pantries managed by Central Pennsylvania Community Action in the communities of Clearfield, Curwensville, Philipsburg, Burnside/Mahaffey, Houtzdale, Osceola Mills, Karthaus, West Branch/Allport and 2 DuBois locations – the DuBois Ministerium Food Pantry and emergency needs at the DuBois Salvation Army.   

Funding was also provided to the Living Bread Ministries, which operates a location in the East End section of Clearfield, and the Clearfield Salvation Army for their food bank.  

CCCF Executive Director Mark B. McCracken joined with Community Action Director of Operations and Finance Michelle Stiner to visit several food pantry locations.   

During the visits McCracken noted “the community food pantries have become an important resource to help families in communities all across Clearfield County.

“The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation has a specific fund, the Basic Needs Fund, that is dedicated to supporting area food banks and this year the CCCF Board added an additional distribution for the Philipsburg Food Pantry to help people who utilize that location”.

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is working to enhance communities throughout Clearfield County through funding, grants and scholarship opportunities.   

Anyone who would like to contribute to support future distributions to area food pantries can visit the CCCF website at www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org and donate online specifically to the Basic Needs Fund or send donations by mail to PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830.

Pictured, from left to right, are: Mark McCracken, executive director of the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, Sherry Skidmore, grants administrator at Community Guidance Center, and Terry Struble, superintendent of Clearfield Area School District.

Feb. 18, 2020

CLEARFIELD – The Community Guidance Center recently received a grant from the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation for a collaborative project between the Clearfield Area Junior-Senior High School and Community Guidance Center’s Drug and Alcohol program.

The Bison Outreach Project involves student volunteers who will help distribute drug and alcohol treatment information at Bison sporting events.

“The Bison Outreach Project coordinated between the Community Guidance Center and the Clearfield Area School District is the exact type of project the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation looks to support with funding,” said Mark B. McCracken, the foundation’s executive director.

“It meets the goals of the Charitable Foundation to support projects that will better the community overall and, even more importantly, the involvement of young people in this positive project is what is needed to build our next generation of community leaders.”

For more information about the Drug and Alcohol program at Community Guidance Center, visit thecgc.com.  To make an appointment or a referral, call 814-765-5337.

Names Executive Director, Announces Opening of Office

Jan. 13, 2020

As the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation approaches its 20^th year of existence and a new decade begins, the board of directors of the foundation has been looking at ways to stimulate growth and identify new projects for the foundation to become involved in.   

To attain this goal, in early 2019, the board of directors began searching for an executive director to run the operations of the foundation and a central location for an office for the foundation. 

Foundation Board Chairman Kevin McMillen announced today the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is appointing Mark B. McCracken to the position of Executive Director and, in the very near future, an office for the foundation will be opened in the former Sears building at the corner of Market and Third streets in Clearfield.   The office space is being leased from Community Media Group, the parent company of The Progress. 

McMillen stated “We are pleased to have Mark McCracken working for the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation.    He recently completed 16 years serving as Clearfield County Commissioner and has experience working with communities and leaders throughout the county.   He has past experience serving on area charitable and community agency boards including the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Central Pennsylvania Community Action, Clearfield Area United Way and the former Clearfield Chapter of the American Red Cross”.   

“Additionally Mark has served on many important regional and state level boards including the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission board, was twice appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) 911 Advisory Committee and was a founding member of the Pennsylvania Counties Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative (PCHIPC), where he served 10 years as chairman of the PCHIPC board”.   

On accepting the position McCracken said “This is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to continuing the work the original founders of the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation started almost 20 years ago.   The current board of directors have put a great amount of time and effort into growing the foundation in recent years and I want to build on that success.    I am also looking forward to working with the people who have established individual funds managed by the foundation.   My foremost goal is to recruit new involvement and grow all the funds so communities and individuals throughout Clearfield County can see benefits and positive results”.      

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation was formed on November 4, 2001, starting with one fund valued at $10,000 and has now grown to 46 active funds totaling almost $7 million in value as of December 31^st, 2019.   Through scholarships and grants, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is working to enhance the quality of living in communities all over Clearfield County.   Since 2006, the CCCF grant program alone has awarded over $102,900 to 74 different groups in Clearfield County.

You can learn more about the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation by visiting their website at www. clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org.

Dec. 26, 2019

Children are able to participate in various creative activities in CAST’s Seeds Of Art program which received one of the CCCF’s recent grants. (Photo courtesy of CAST)

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation recently awarded 32 grants totaling over $23,000 to a variety of projects throughout the county.

This year’s recipients are Big Run Park-$500, Bilger’s Rocks-$750, Bob Perks Fund- $1,000, Bucktail Council BSA-$500, Catholic Charities Counseling in DuBois- $1,000, Cen Clear Child Services for the Child Advocacy Center-$1,000, Children’s Aid Society-$1,000, Clearfield Arts Studio Theatre (CAST) $500, Clearfield Cancer Support Inc. $1,000, , Clearfield Volunteer Fire Dept.-$500, Clearfield YMCA-$500, Coalport Streetscape Committee-$500, Community Guidance Center of Clearfield-$500, Curwensville Pike Township Historical Society-$500, Curwensville Regional Development Corp.-$1,000, Downtown DuBois Revitilization Group-$500, DuBois Area Community Concert Association, Inc.-$500, DuBois Senior and Community Center-$500, Grampian Lions Club-$1,000, Greater Clearfield Chamber of Commerce-$500, Junior Achievement of Western PA-$500, Lock Haven University Clearfield Campus-$500, Lydia Circle of Faith at the United Lutheran Church in Houtzdale-$500,

Mature Resources Foundation/Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging-$739.88,

St. Francis School-$928, Square One Community DuBois Furniture Bank-$500, Susquehanna River Arts Center (SRACC) in Clearfield-$365, andYMCA of Centre County Moshannon Valley Branch-$1,000.

Since 2006, the CCCF’s grant program has awarded over $102,900 to 74 different groups in the county.

The money for the general grants comes from the Community Fund and the Clearfield, Curwensville and Lawrence Township Fund (CCL Donor Designated Fund).

The Sara Jane Mattern Fund also supplied $5,000 split between four groups in Osceola Mills:  the Columbia Fire Company, the Osceola Mills Community Library, the Osceola Mills Community Historical Foundation and the Osceola Mills United Methodist Church.

In the last 7 years, the Mattern Fund has given a total of over $30,000 to these vital parts of the Osceola Mills community.

Contributions to the Community Fund, the CCL Donor Designated Fund, the Mattern Fund or any of the foundation’s endowment funds may be made at the website www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org through Paypal or can be mailed to: P.O. Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830.

Anyone interested in starting a fund can call 592-7331.

Nov. 13, 2019

Boyles Insurance of Clearfield, represented by Sherry Wood, left, made a $500 donation recently to Matt Day, right, for the Bob E. Day Scholarship Fund.

Each year employees of Boyles Insurance skip buying birthday gifts for each other and instead collect money that is matched by the company for a charitable donation. An employee is then chosen who then selects which charity to honor. This year Wood chose the Bob E. Day Scholarship Fund which is handled by the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation.

Bob E. Day, who died in Oct. 2018, came to this area from Michigan in 1967 to work at the AM radio station, WCPA where he became a fixture until it was sold in 2007.

At that point, WOKW, the rival station, knowing Day’s importance to the community, quickly scooped him up.

At his new station, Day hosted a popular local show, Sunday Super Gold, was the announcer at many different high school sporting events, read the news, and did live remotes, commercials and anything else required.

Off the air, he served as master of ceremonies, a DJ, host and announcer for many special occasions.

 Day was known as the voice of Clearfield and it is easy to declare he had the most recognizable voice in the county. Everyone knew him as the man with a smile on his face and a song in his heart.

Anyone wishing to make donations to the Bob E. Day Scholarship can send checks to the CCCF, PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830 or donate on their website clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org via Paypal.

Since 2006, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation has given over $84,000 to charitable organizations throughout the county.

Last year over $20,000 was awarded to 19 various charities including local playgrounds, cancer support groups, children and parenting programs, senior exercise classes, food banks, library services, historical societies, and student art beautification efforts.

The Big Run Park Association said of their award for playground equipment, “We can assure you that the new equipment will be enjoyed by community members for many years to come.”

Jamie Houseknecht, Program Coordinator of the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund noted that their group has a goal of lessening “the unrelenting burden of unpaid bills so cancer patients worry less about their financial situation and focus their energy on their health and recovery.”

The CCCF aggress with their goals and gave grants to both the Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund and Clearfield Cancer Support Inc. to assist them in their efforts.

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank was also grateful for their funding which went to the Fresh Express food distribution program at the Moshannon Valley YMCA.

“Because of you, thousands of families do not have to choose between paying heating bills or paying for groceries this winter,” said Joe Arthur, Executive Director of the group.

All of these monies were given as part of the CCCF’s goal to support various groups that provide services in the areas of health, education, social welfare, arts/culture, and conservation/environment.

They are now excepting applications for their 2019 grants.

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 from money held by the CCCF in its Community Fund and the CCL Donor Designated Fund for organizations in Clearfield Borough/Curwensville Borough/Lawrence Township.

These funds were established for the specific purpose of making grants to worthwhile projects benefiting Clearfield County communities.

The deadline for the submission of grant applications is Sept. 27.  Awards will be announced by January 2020.

Grant application guidelines and forms can be downloaded from the website: www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org.  

Agencies can also request an application and guidelines via email at cccfinfo@yahoo.com or by calling (814)592-7331.

Established in 2004, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation is one of more than 300 community foundations in the United States.

In addition to offering their annual grants, the CCCF handles the Sarah Jane Mattern Fund which provides funding for organizations in Osceola Mills, and they make annual donations to area food banks from their Basic Needs Fund.

The CCCF is also home for many local charitable endowment funds for various charities within Clearfield County allowing them to grow and benefit the local community forever. Currently the CCCF has 45 different endowment funds including 14 scholarship funds. As of July 2019, the Charitable Foundation’s assets have a market value over $6 million.

Contributions to any of the Charitable Foundation’s funds may be made at the website through Paypal or can be mailed to: P.O. Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830.

The CCCF welcomes inquiries from potential donors or those interested in establishing funds to benefit local communities and organizations.

The family of a well-known and loved Philipsburg-Osceola athlete has taken steps to ensure her legacy by setting up a scholarship in her name.

 On December 26, Taylor “T-Harp” Harpster died after a car accident on State Route 322 in Philipsburg. She was only 27-years-old.

 Taylor described by her father, John Harpster, as “happy go-lucky” was successful in three different sports while in high school.

She made all-star status in softball as a catcher for three straight years and was on the 2007 PIAA championship team, led the volleyball team to a District 6 title, and scored over 1,300 point in basketball.

Playing sports taught her how to deal with people and when to accept a loss and move on, he said.

As for the scholarship, she would want to continue to help others, he said.

“The requirements are minimal,” John said. “You don’t have to be the smartest or most athletic.”

The first of the scholarships will be given out this semester. The hope is that they will be able to give out two $1,000 scholarships every year for the unforeseeable future.

The Taylor Harpster “T-Harp” Memorial Scholarship was established through the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation which made it easy, John said.

“They were already set up for it and we didn’t have to go through all the red tape.”

 According to the requirements listed for the award on the website clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org, “this scholarship is intended for those individuals whose choices and passions reflect those of T-Harp. She was a team leader and cheerleader. She was always positive in life and beyond.”

John noted that the scholarship is not limited to colleges but can be used for a trade or nursing school as well.

“This scholarship is something we feel she would want,” John said.

This notion is seconded by her former softball coach Jim Gonder who hopes those who are awarded the scholarship will want to learn more about Taylor.

“She was a great friend, great student and great teammate. She was special,” he said.

In addition to her sports success she was a “stellar student” who graduated third in her class in 2010. She went on to graduate summa cum laude from Lock Haven University in 2014 with an accounting degree.

Some of the things she learned (and taught others) by playing sports, helped her in life and to become a “responsible young lady.”

Jim recalled a time that his daughter had problems with another student. Taylor “stepped in and took care of it,” he said.

“If you were her friend, you were always her friend and she stuck up for you.

 “We won’t soon forget her.”

Another step to keep her memory alive was taken when John and his wife, Bobbi, added a special bench honoring their daughter at the Lady Mountie Softball Complex in Philipsburg on March 29.

 “It will stir fond memories and I know people will sit on it and talk about her,” Jim said.

Both the scholarship and the bench should keep people thinking about T-Harp for years to come, ensuring that the memory of this special woman will live on.

Donations for the scholarship can be made via Paypal at the website clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org by going to “our funds” and choosing the scholarship fund list. Checks can also be sent to the CCCF, PO Box 1442, Clearfield, PA 16830.

The CCCF is a local charitable endowment that funds charities within Clearfield County allowing them to grow and benefit the local community forever.

The CCCF has 46 different funds including many local charitable groups and 14 scholarship funds. As of April, the CCCF’s assets are over $6 million.

Anyone interested in starting a fund can call 592-7331.

CLEARFIELD -Among the grants awarded recently by the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, is one for the Child Advocacy Center of Clearfield County.

The CAC-CC is an ongoing project providing services and support for children who have suffered physical and/or sexual abuse, according to information provided by the center.

It opened in August of 2016 after a three-year long effort to start a facility in the county.

Clearfield County has a high number of child abuse reports and is often higher than Pennsylvania as a whole.

Between 2011 and 2015 the numbers of annual child abuse reports in Clearfield County increased by more than 120%.

In 2017 there was another increase with a total of 373 reports with 5.6% substantiated, illustrating how important the CAC is to our area.

At the grand opening, District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. who was key to establishing the center, thanked PCCD (Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency) Chairman Josh Shapiro, now Pennsylvania Attorney General, for his assistance in obtaining the grant funding for the center.

“Without the partnership of CenClear and the stewardship of PCCD Chairman Josh Shapiro our community would be without this very valuable tool to fight child abuse,” Shaw Jr. said.

Prior to the establishment of the CAC, child victims and their families would have to go to either Brookville or State College.

 At the CAC victim interviews are conducted “in a child-friendly, private room by a trained interview specialist. The rest of the team observes and records the interview from another room. This allows the team to hear the child’s disclosure and address any investigative and protective concerns at one time,” according to the CAC.

The CCCF’s grant will go to supplying educational/outreach materials, replacement toys and furnishings, and provide snacks for the victims and their families.

The CCCF is a local charitable endowment that funds charities within Clearfield County allowing them to grow and benefit the local community forever. It provides a simple way to fulfill multiple charitable interests while keeping administrative expenses to a minimum. All funds go to the local charities.

Currently the Charitable Foundation has 43 different funds including many local charitable groups and 12 scholarship funds. As of December 2018, the CCCF’s assets have a market value close to $6 million.

Contributions to any of the CCCF’s endowment funds may be made at the website www.clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org through Paypal or can be mailed to: P.O. Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830.

Anyone interested in starting a fund can call 592-7331.

The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation recently awarded grants to 23 local community agencies and organizations.

This year the Foundation gave out over $20,000. The grant recipients were selected through a competitive review process of all applications submitted from throughout Clearfield County.

”We had a good variety of applications this year for some excellent projects.  We are very happy to support these most worthwhile programs in our community,” said Grant Committee Chair Nina Davis.

Kevin McMillen, CCCF Board Chairman noted that “the Foundation has reached an asset size that allows us to continue to increase the amount of money we distribute, through our competitive grant program, to Clearfield County charities.

“Thanks to all who have generously given (donations) to the Foundation.”

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