Dec 22, 2018 4 min read

The Community Foundation of Greene County celebrated local philanthropy with a dinner at Valley View Farm Venue near Waynesburg.

According to CFGC Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Morris Harper, the Foundation has distributed nearly three million dollars in grants and scholarships to benefit the Greene County community since 2001, including $240,000 just within the last year. According to Dr. Harper, those grants and scholarships are possible only because of the philanthropy from many who had established endowed funds or made gifts to various funds at the Foundation.

Dr. Harper and CFGC Board Vice-Chairwoman Kim Grimes recognized the philanthropy of many individuals, families and businesses through the Legacy Award, celebrating those who have made cumulative gifts of more than $1,000 annually during the past two years.

The Legacy awardees attending the dinner who received a certificate plaque recognizing their support were: A.C.T.S. of Greene County for support of the Weekend Food Fund; The Bailey Family for their continued support of Cindy’s Wind Fund for Women and Girls, an endowed Field of Interest Fund; Community Bank for their support and assistance through sponsorships and in-kind donations; Lucy and Doug Corwin for their ongoing support of CFGC through unrestricted gifts; EQT for their continued support of projects through CFGC; Bob Finnegan for his continued support of the Jesse Benson Finnegan Scholarship Fund; First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County for their support of the Weekend Food Program, Community Builders Program and the EITC Pre-K Scholarship Program; First National Bank of Pennsylvania for their support of the EITC Educational Improvement Fund providing grants to public schools for innovative curriculum activities; Dr. Morris Harper – for his ongoing support of CFGC in building a new grant fund and providing unrestricted support for CFGC; Jeff and Dr. Helen McCracken for their ongoing support for the operation of CFGC; Observer Reporter/Observer Publishing Company for their gracious support and assistance furthering our media outreach through advertising and sponsorship opportunities; Waynesburg University Bonner Scholars – for supporting the Greene County Weekend Food Fund through the Empty Bowls event.

CFGC Executive Director, Bettie Stammerjohn announced the recipients of the Foundation’s prestigious Bridge Society Award, which was established in 2008 to recognize professional advisors such as attorneys, financial planners, accountants, bankers and insurance agents who have helped clients achieve their charitable goals through gifts to the community foundation. Annual membership in the Bridge Society is granted to professional advisors who have referred or assisted in educating clients, which resulted in a gift of any size to the Community Foundation in any given year and recognized with an engraved plaque.

Receiving the 2018 Bridge Society Awards were: Andrew Corfont, Community Bank; Thomas G. Milinovich of Milinovich & Company; Courtney Schroyer of First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County; Sheila Stewart, First National Bank of Pennsylvania; Judi Goodwin Tanner of First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County.

Dr. Harper received special recognition for his service as chairman of the board for the past four years. Dr. Harper served six total years on the board and his final term will be marked by the end of the year. During Dr. Harper’s time as chair, the Foundation has grown through the standards of leadership that he set forth as a leader. CFGC assets grew by nearly $1.4 million and the number of component funds grew by 25 percent.

“I and the other members of the Board of Directors recognize Dr. Harper for his service, his dedication and his leadership during the past four years,” said Stammerjohn. “He always leads by example, encouraging and challenging our board to step out. By establishing an endowed donor advised fund, he will continue to give back to the community.”

CFGC also recognized the following sponsors for their support of the dinner: Platinum level – Community Bank, EQT, Finnegan Gas Corp. and Morris Harper, M.D.; Silver level – Chevron, First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Greene County, Jeff and Dr. Helen McCracken, and Jordan Auto Parts; Bronze Level – Jeffry N. Grimes, Attorney at Law, Terry and Carlyn Grimes, Greene Treatment Center and Pastorius Historic Properties.

The Community Foundation of Greene County (CFGC), a private, nonprofit 501©(3) organization founded in 2000, is the central philanthropic vehicle in Greene County for donations of various types and sizes. CFGC currently manages nearly $5 million in assets through more than 75 different endowed and restricted funds.