During the week of November 12-18, 2012, the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation will join more than 700 community foundations across America for Community Foundation Week to tell the stories of lives changed, jobs created, and communities transformed through philanthropy’s partnership with private and public community leaders and organizations.
“The Crawford Heritage Community Foundation works every day to help address the most pressing issues facing our community. Our grants have assisted in many ways. Patients’ in-need have received care and medication. Families have been kept safe and sheltered from abuse and homelessness. Children have learned about business, computers, theater and music. Adults have received support to improve literacy skills, earn a GED and make smart financial choices. Senior citizens have been taught art and technology. Local parks, greenways, historical sites and recreational areas have been improved. Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” said Christian Maher, executive director. “In a down economy, with limited resources and a growing need for services to help families in need, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions to some of our most challenging social problems”
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources, from generous people, to benefit local organizations that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities.
Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—that is advancing solutions to a wide range of social issues. The 2011 Columbus Survey found that despite the recession, giving by the nation’s 100 largest community foundations actually increased slightly in 2010 to $3.7 billion and exceeded prerecession levels seen in 2006 and 2007.
Launched in 1989 through a proclamation by former president George H.W. Bush, the first Community Foundation Week included a congressional briefing about the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.
The Crawford Heritage Community Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Crawford County, Pennsylvania. The Foundation helps people make the most of their philanthropy by giving to endowed funds. Grant awards are made from these funds to support the causes donors care about as well as worthwhile programs they select. They manage more than 100 funds, which benefit more than 100 different organizations, scholarships and charitable purposes. More than $3.5 million has been awarded since the organization was established in 1998.
