Turning a New Page: Burgettstown Community Library
Thanks to a $15,000 grant, the Burgettstown Community Library underwent significant renovations to enhance safety and create a more welcoming environment.
Updates included replacing aging ceiling tiles in the children’s area, ensuring the safety of young visitors, and refreshing the library’s interior with calming blues and greens.
These improvements have transformed the library into a vibrant, inviting space for patrons of all ages. Programs like Storytime and the summer reading program, which engaged over 60 children, continue to thrive in this revitalized environment. Life-long patrons have praised the updates, and new visitors are delighted by the library’s refreshed look and welcoming atmosphere.
From Outdated to Upgraded: Southwest Training's Technology Transformation
Southwest Training’s mission to empower individuals and prepare them for successful careers has been given a major boost with a $10,000 grant that funded the purchase of Dell All-in-One computers.
These computers replaced outdated machines from 2010 that were no longer able to support the software and programs essential to helping individuals advance in their careers. With the addition of built-in web cameras and microphones, participants can now access virtual workshops, complete online assessments, and even attend interviews from the comfort of the computer lab, equipping them with the skills and certifications needed to secure better job opportunities.
This grant has enabled Southwest Training to continue its vital work, ensuring that everyone in the community, regardless of their background or experience, has the tools they need to succeed in today’s rapidly changing job market.
Taking the Online Stage: Little Lake Theatre’s New Website
Thanks to a $15,000 grant, Little Lake Theatre launched a redesigned website in the summer of 2024 that has transformed how they connect with their patrons and community.
The new site offers seamless navigation, enhanced accessibility, and reliable integration with their box office software, making it easier than ever for individuals to purchase tickets, sign up for classes, or register for auditions.
This redesign has already made an incredible impact: a 10% decrease in bounce rate, 8% more pages viewed, and 700 additional visits in just three months. Behind these numbers are stories of theatre-goers finding their perfect show, students discovering their passion on stage, and volunteers saving valuable time.
Driving Change: Summit Legal Aid’s Program for License Restoration
Summit Legal Aid is a lifeline for individuals and families navigating tough times, offering free legal services that change lives.
Thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Foundation, they launched a driver’s license advocacy program that’s already making a profound difference.
With compassionate guidance, a dedicated attorney helped 32 clients restore or preserve their licenses, advocating with PennDOT, and navigating the complex path to meet restoration requirements. This program doesn’t just solve legal issues, it is helping clients to reclaim their financial stability, pursue meaningful employment, and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.
Improved Access, Increased Impact: Mon Valley Youth’s Website Transformation
The Mon Valley Youth & Teen Association in Donora has transformed its outreach with a $10,000 grant for a website redesign.
The new platform streamlines online registration and payment for Camp Watakamini, benefiting over 150 students annually, and includes a donate button that has boosted contributions to support their mission of empowering local youth and families.
Positive feedback from the community underscores the site’s ability to disseminate information quickly and efficiently, making it easier to inform families about upcoming events, distribute food, and offer resources for those in need.
Little Lift Program: Small Grants, Life-Changing Impact
With a $5,000 grant, Blueprints’ Little Lift Program brought hope and relief to 28 individuals and families facing tough times.
These small but powerful grants provided essential support, like car repairs that helped parents get to work and children safely to school, a new bed for a grandmother caring for her grandson after water damaged her room, and utility payments that kept a struggling single mother’s home warm and safe.
For these families, the Little Lift Program was more than financial aid, it was a lifeline. It allowed parents to provide for their children, ensured safe and stable homes, and gave caregivers the tools they needed to thrive.
Youth for Christ: Ensuring Every Student Has a Ride to Success
For many local youths in Canonsburg, access to life-changing programs was once out of reach.
Thanks to a $10,000 grant, Youth for Christ Metro Pittsburgh has removed that barrier by purchasing a 12-passenger van to transport students to the Armory Youth Center.
This van has become essential, especially after the middle school moved further away. It helps an average of 30 students each week attend after-school programs, sports, and summer camps - opportunities that provide mentorship, community, and a safe space to grow. Without reliable transportation, many students, particularly those from low-income families, would miss out on these transformative experiences.
Payne Chapel AME: A Legacy of Service, Community, and Faith
The Payne Chapel AME Church Cemetery stands as a testament to over 800 lives, including veterans of the Civil War, American Indian War, WWI, WWII, and the Korean War, along with the church’s founders.
With the support of a $5,000 capacity-building grant, the church introduced new signage and brochures, transforming the cemetery into a place where visitors can connect with its rich history through self-guided tours.
On June 1, 2024, Payne Chapel celebrated its 200th anniversary with the dedication of new signage, followed by a moving Veterans’ Day tribute to honor those interred. These efforts not only preserve a sacred space but ensure its legacy and the powerful stories it holds will inspire and educate for generations to come.