Community Foundation of Westmoreland County

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Why We Give: Judy Knapp and Rick Heil

Why We Give is a series of profiles highlighting the generosity and spirit of our donors, whose partnership with our Foundation has enabled us to strengthen support for so many in our region.

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A strong foundation: New CFWC leader reflects on family and philanthropy

McCrae Martino takes on the responsibilities of executive director of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County.

McCrae Martino was born and raised in Pittsburgh, but never expected that her journey back home would take her across the country to Los Angeles, California, and Washington, DC. After thousands of miles traveled and countless people met, she reflects on her family values and the community that raised her.

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Learn about the Emergency Action Fund

On March 16, the Emergency Action Fund was setup by The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County and its regional partners to accept donations from individuals, foundations and businesses so that funds could be allocated rapidly to nonprofits on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Learn more about the fund, the grants distributed from it and the nonprofits it helped.

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The beauty of collaboration

FUELED BY AN ABUNDANCE OF TEAMWORK, a group of about 30 high school– and college-age students took part in a seven-week program meant to encourage next generation philanthropy. The Youth Philanthropy Internship — a partnership of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, The Heinz Endowments and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies — brings together young people from across western Pennsylvania to address the most pressing issues in their communities.

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Turn Market Gains into Community Good

Giving now while the market is up makes it possible to take an income tax deduction for the full fair market value of shares — and avoid long-term capital gains tax on the appreciation.

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Circling to Uplift

In Westmoreland County, the community foundation is leading giving circles that realize the philanthropic potential of donors and the self-sufficiency potential of those in need.

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Paying it forward

On Sept. 7, 2011, Maggie Elder wrote in her journal, “Today has been a day of 1,000 tears. Today has been a crying day for me, although I’m not sure why… Mom also says those are healing tears and to just let it flow out of me… Tomorrow will be better.”

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“Bring the hoses?”

It’s an unfortunate fact that most local elected officials win their positions by way of a small percentage of those eligible to vote. But holding office as a member of a school board, council, board of supervisors or mayor means something far greater than what is represented in a vote tally.

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Support relief efforts following aftermath of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Florida Big Bend region late Thursday, Sept. 26, bringing with it heavy rainfall, intense winds and flooding as it moved through several states in the south. Communities impacted by Hurricane Helene will be grappling with the effects of the disaster for months and years to come.

Below are several organizations that are accepting donations and providing other services to help affected communities: 

Tampa Bay/Tampa/St. Petersburg area

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Collaborating to improve human services in Westmoreland County

Though Westmoreland is the 11th most populated county in the state and home to 355,000 people, its network of 160 nonprofit and government human services providers do not have a central human service department comparable to other large counties. This means there is no formal coordination on the delivery of services such as housing, food assistance and mental health and addiction treatment.

Thanks to recommendations from the “Improving Human Services in Westmoreland County” report published in 2021, that’s about to change.

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Leadership in Westmoreland County ensures smaller communities have big needs met

When the COVID-19 pandemic led to stay-at-home orders and business closures in southwestern Pennsylvania, larger cities, such as Pittsburgh, were able to quickly mobilize resources and ensure basic needs from food to transportation were met. In small rural communities, the safety net infrastructure is often not as robust. The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County (CFWC) worked to reinforce that safety net in the 65 municipalities that it serves through community calls.

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Addressing the housing crisis in Westmoreland County

Staff at The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County knew that a lack of emergency shelter beds was a significant issue, but it wasn’t until they began checking in with nonprofits and community advocates that the full scope of the problem became clear.

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The Collective Power Network

The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County convinced 20 nonprofits to look past daily work demands and band together to build relationships. This year, membership is growing and joint projects have launched.

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Every Penny Counts

A beneficiary of The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County's scholarship program describes how awards help donors honor loved ones while making college more affordable.

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From Blight to Beautiful

IN 2013, THERE WERE FEW REGRETS from Latrobe residents when a notorious nuisance bar at the corner of Ligonier and Main streets in the heart of the downtown was destroyed by a fire that officials determined was caused by arson. The dirt-covered lot that lingered for several years afterward served as a constant marker of deterioration in a town struggling to recover from a decades-long recession.

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Women of Purpose

An endowed scholarship fund at The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County supports scholarships from a historic women's organization.

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