The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County awards $118,000 to regional nonprofits

GREENSBURG, PA, Oct. 20, 2026 — The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County (CFWC) has awarded 10 grants totaling more than $180,000 to 10 Westmoreland County nonprofits.  

The organizations receiving Community Grants: Timely Needs and Opportunities funding meet physical, social, environmental and emotional needs in our community and/or foster the revitalization of areas in Westmoreland County where a high percentage of the population is living in poverty.

“These grants are designed to help organizations respond to urgent needs and meaningful opportunities in Westmoreland County,” said CFWC Executive Director McCrae Martino. “By investing in programs that support individuals and families facing financial hardship and strengthen the communities where they live, we can help build a more vibrant, resilient county for everyone.”

Community Grants are time-limited awards that help nonprofits seize near-term opportunities within the next six months, such as expanding high-demand services, strengthening or piloting programs, or addressing urgent community gaps, and they must fund clearly defined initiatives with specific objectives, budgets and outcomes rather than general operating support.  

Building on the same framework as other CFWC grant programs like Healthy Communities and Revitalizing Westmoreland, the Foundation continues its commitment to investing in both people and place to help create a vibrant county where residents can live, work and thrive.

"Community Grants reflects what we heard directly from the people and organizations who know Westmoreland County best,” Martino said.  

The 10 organizations receiving grants are:

Sampling of the CFWC Grantees:

Laurel Highlands Workforce & Opportunity Center – Job training

Greensburg’s Laurel Highlands Workforce & Opportunity Center’s (LHWOC) mission is to remove the barriers for individuals who are under or unemployed or in a transition of employment, by providing high-quality medical training and a career opportunity in that field and designing programs specific to the needs of Westmoreland County healthcare employers. This grant will support LHWOC’s Caterpillar Clubhouse, a children’s play area and drop-in enrichment center focused on movement, creativity and connecting with others, as well as support for staffing, supplies and programming for local families.

“Our vision for the Caterpillar Clubhouse is to create a place where children can play, imagine and simply enjoy being kids,” said Michel Keller, executive director of LHWOC. “Supporting children also means supporting families. We are grateful to The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County for helping us bring this vision to life and create more opportunities for families to learn, grow and connect.”  

The Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank - Housing

Formed by the County Commissioners in 2013, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Westmoreland and the Westmoreland County Land Bank has taken a leadership role in building healthy and whole communities, repositioning towns by eliminating blight and its influences throughout the county by working hand in hand with local officials and like-minded organizations.

“The Clay Avenue Pocket Park is a wonderful example of how strategic investment and community partnerships can transform blighted properties into meaningful community assets,” said Nancy Crouse, fund development manager and accessible housing program coordinator for the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority and Land Bank. “Through the generous support of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, we have an opportunity to breathe new life into a vacant property while creating a welcoming space that encourages community connections, supports small businesses and strengthens neighborhood pride.  

“Investments like these demonstrate the tremendous impact that community support can have on revitalization efforts throughout Westmoreland County. Every project, regardless of size, brings us one step closer to building stronger, more vibrant communities.”

Westmoreland Land Trust – Environment

Westmoreland Land Trust (WLT) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and stewarding lands of ecological, cultural and recreational value in Westmoreland County for public benefit. This grant will help WLT continue providing this K-6 programming at no cost to schools, with funding supporting education staff time, travel to participating schools and hands-on materials including nature-journaling supplies, field guides, digital microscopes and exploration kits.

“Some of the most meaningful learning happens when students have opportunities to take what they are learning in the classroom and experience it firsthand,” said Leanna Bird, executive director of Westmoreland Land Trust. “This support from The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County allows us to partner with local educators to bring additional hands-on, place-based learning directly to students and communities that may face financial barriers to these opportunities. Just as importantly, it helps us build a bridge from the classroom to the outdoors, giving students the chance not only to learn about the natural world, but to experience conserved land firsthand and begin to understand why protecting these places matters for their communities.”

About The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County

Established in 1995, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County (CFWC) encourages local residents to become philanthropists, provides grants that support a wide variety of charitable organizations, and serves as a community leader. CFWC’s resources comprise endowments funds established by individuals, businesses, and organizations with a passion for charitable giving and a deep commitment to strengthening and celebrating the Westmoreland County community. CFWC currently stewards more than 250 individual donor funds, totaling $40 million in assets. It has granted $37 million to local nonprofit organizations.

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