Community Foundation of Westmoreland County

Stories Archive

Stories

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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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.”