The Foundation understands that many charities are facing cash flow issues related to COVID-19 so it will be issuing payments of $5,000 to each of the 25 Charity of Excellence finalists at this time. The charity selected later this year for the top award of $25,000 will receive a second payment of $20,000.
In total, the WCCF will distribute $150,000 to local charities through this special grant cycle. The grants are made possible by the Alvin and Carol Berthold Fund. Lifelong residents of McDonald, the Bertholds were longtime supporters of the WCCF. Their fund, valued at more than $5 million, is the largest discretionary grant-making fund of the WCCF.
During this special grant cycle, applicants were evaluated on four criteria: quality and variety of programming; community impact as gauged by the number of people served relative to the operating budget; volunteer engagement; and the organization’s financial improvement over the last five years.
The 25 Charity of Excellence honorees are as follows:
Blueprints: Serves as a catalyst to mobilize the resources of the entire community to enable families and individuals in our service area to attain the skills, knowledge, motivations, and opportunities to become self-sufficient. It now serves nearly 20,000 people each year in more than 35 programs.
Bradford House Historical Association: Preserves and promotes the history and heritage of the David Bradford House and Museum, and educates the public on the role of David Bradford and the Whiskey Rebellion in American history. It offers guided tours, educational symposiums, and other special events which attract visitors from across the country.
CASA for Kids: Provides advocates for abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system by recruiting, screening, training, and supervising community volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) who will provide a voice on behalf of the child. CASA for Kids served 162 children in 2018.
Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA: Increases awareness of domestic violence and its effect on the community, empowers those victimized by providing advocacy and safe and effective services, and works for social change designed to eliminate domestic violence. In 2019, more than 10,500 individuals were reached in Washington County through prevention and education programs.
Donora Public Library Association: Provides a balanced collection of print and electronic resources and services to patrons of all ages for their educational, cultural, and recreational needs. The service area of Donora Public Library includes more than 9,700 people in the boroughs of Donora and Finleyville as well as the townships of Carroll, Nottingham, and Union.
Dress for Success Pittsburgh: Empowers women who are entering and returning to the workforce across southwestern Pennsylvania. Last year, the Washington branch of Dress for Success Pittsburgh provided services to nearly 1,000 women in the county with the addition of new mobile services boutiques.
Friends of the Canonsburg Town Park: Raises funds to enhance, improve, and repair various park assets to keep pace with the growing needs of the Canonsburg community. The organization has built pickle ball and basketball courts, maintained the pool and softball fields, and offered the free Concerts in the Park series.
Genesis of Pittsburgh: Dedicated to providing a complete spectrum of programs and services that offer positive, life-enhancing solutions for pregnant women, children, and families in need in Allegheny, Washington, and surrounding counties. In 2019, Genesis of Pittsburgh provided child care necessities for 4,160 client visits through its distribution centers.
Lemoyne Community Center: Develops, shapes, defines, and stabilizes the community with education, arts, health, and recreational programs. The Lemoyne Community Center serves approximately 25,000 youth annually with its curriculum-based programming.
Literacy Council of Southwestern PA: Empowers adults and families with literacy skills that enable them to lead successful, fulfilled lives as members of our community. To date, the Literacy Council of Southwestern PA has served men, women, and children from 54 countries around the world.
Little Lake Theatre: Presents live theater that is thoughtful and well-balanced to appeal to all audiences. In addition, it provides training and hands-on experiences to emerging and experienced actors, designers, and technicians to involve the community. Each year, the Little Lake Theatre serves close to 20,000 patrons, children, students, and volunteers through its various services.
Low Cost Spay Neuter Washington County (Fix ‘Ur Cat): Provides low-cost options for spaying/neutering domesticated and community cats living in Washington County and the surrounding areas. More than 1,800 spay/neuters were provided in 2019 alone.
Meals on Wheels @ the Crossroads: Prepares and delivers nutritious meals to senior citizens and other individuals in special needs situations. The organization serves Eighty Four, the Meadowlands through Finleyville, Canonsburg, Houston, and Muse, as well as parts of Bridgeville/South Fayette. More than 30,000 meals were provided in 2019.
Mon Valley YMCA: Provides quality family programming that impacts the community each day. The Y gives everyone a place to play, to learn, to be healthy, to eat well, and give back. As of December of 2019, the Y had 7,145 members, and 165 children were served by its child care department.
Mon Valley Youth and Teen Association: Offers programs, activities, and services to children and adults in the surrounding communities that provide and promote education, self-esteem, and responsibility to self and others. The association seeks to improve those conditions in our society, which affect the youth of today and in the future. A total of 3,246 individuals were served in 2019.
Mon-Vale Health Resources, Inc./Monongahela Valley Hospital: Its mission is to enhance the health of the residents of the mid-Monongahela Valley area. Mon Vale Health Resources system has over 40 specialties, servicing a wide range of needs for patients and community members.
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum: Communicates the story of Pennsylvania's Trolley Era to a diverse audience through the preservation, interpretation, and use of the collection of electric railway and railroad equipment, associated artifacts, and photo/document archives. More than 30,000 people visited the museum last year.
Presbyterian SeniorCare Network: Provides a regional system of housing, personal care, Alzheimer's and dementia care, long-term and rehabilitation healthcare, and community services for older adults. In 2020, Woodside Place of Washington will open the first free-standing, residential dementia care community in Washington County.
Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services: Stabilizes and improves the families, housing, and finances of low-income and other vulnerable southwestern Pennsylvania residents through legal advice, representation, and other assistance. Last year, it assisted nearly 567 people with family, juvenile, and abuse matters; 244 with housing issues; and 229 with economic matters.
The CARE Center: Provides a unique continuum of quality, recovery-based, trauma-informed, integrated services including education, intervention, and management, treatment, aftercare, and referrals to individuals and their families. These services are provided for thousands of people annually.
TRPIL(Transitional Paths to Independent Living): Serves as a community-based, cross-disability nonprofit organization designed and operated by people with disabilities. In 2019, TRPIL served 2,567 consumers who utilized its numerous services, such as Nursing Home Transition, Personal Attendant Services, Youth programs, Home Modifications, and information and referral calls.
Village of FPC: Provides quality child care services for parents attending school full-time, with the purpose of assisting the parent in completing education required for financial self-sufficiency. Child care has been provided for 606 children, while 104 have graduated from pre-kindergarten. Through two locations, the Village of FPC offers care for the equivalent of 88 full-time children per day.
Washington Area Humane Society: Provides shelter, safety, and food for the orphaned and abused animals of Washington County with the goal of placing them in loving homes, along with public education, affordable outpatient veterinary services, and investigation/resolution of animal abuse cases in the community. In 2019, the WAHS saved 1,104 animals, 98 percent of which were from Washington County.
Washington Hospital: A community hospital dedicated to improving health and providing patient care to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or ability to pay. In 2019, the hospital had almost 48,000 Emergency Department visits; 17,000 admissions or observation patients; almost 15,000 surgeries, endoscopies, and heart procedures; and over 1 million diagnostic laboratory and radiology tests.
Washington Symphonic Orchestra: Entertains, educates, and inspires the community by presenting excellent musical performances. Each concert gives anywhere from 65 to more than 200 musicians and other performers the chance to share their talents with peers and their home community.
The video announcing the 25 Charity of Excellence honorees may be accessed by clicking here.
About the Washington County Community Foundation
The WCCF promotes and facilitates local philanthropy including hosting an annual day of giving, WCCF Gives, that supports more than 100 local charities. The WCCF administers a broad grant-making program and maintains a searchable online database of charities in Washington County. To learn more about the Foundation’s activities, please visit www.wccf.net.