Eighty Four, PA – The Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) is pleased to announce the first round of grants from the GIVE Washington County Fund. Grants of $5,000 each have been awarded to the Mon Valley Initiative and the Penn State Nittany AI Alliance.
Initiated by the EQT Foundation, the GIVE Washington County Fund aims to support local nonprofits, schools, and municipalities in perpetuity. The EQT Foundation contributes $25,000 annually to the fund and matches landowner contributions up to $10,000 per lease agreement for the first year.
The Mon Valley Initiative, which serves more than a dozen municipalities in the Monongahela River Valley, will use its grant to upgrade technology in its Charleroi office. These improvements will allow jobseekers to access remote learning opportunities, basic computing classes, and a wider range of job opportunities.
The Penn State Nittany AI Alliance will use its funding to develop a proof-of-concept AI solution to address deer-related crop damage in Washington County. The project will engage local farmers, the Marianna Outdoorsmen Association, and the PA Farm Bureau to help policymakers make data-driven decisions. In addition to benefiting the community, the project provides valuable AI workforce experience for participating students.
Contributions to the GIVE Washington County Fund can be made through the WCCF website at www.wccf.net or by calling 724-222-6330. EQT leaseholders may also enroll on the WCCF website to take advantage of the EQT match opportunity.