The Crawford Heritage Foundation gives back to the community through discretionary grants. They prioritize giving to improve upon the effectiveness of existing programs and support projects that incorporate preventive or curative approaches to the problems and challenges of our community. The foundation has recently awarded grants totaling $11,178 to fourteen different organizations.
Grants are made county-wide from the Crawford Heritage Foundation Unrestricted Fund and Ben Franklin Trust, in the Titusville area from the Fred Lintner Fund and from the Bernadene R. and John B. Cooley Fund to benefit programs for children and youth.
“Education was not in the forefront of our minds when we chose to support these projects. But, that theme links many of them. Tutoring will help adults to find good jobs. Children will be taught about the arts, music and finance. We are also helping people to improve our environment and share that lesson with others,” says Lisa Pepicelli Youngs, President.
Child to Family Connections works to unify families after a child has been removed from its care. Their intensive program helps family members develop the communication and behavioral skills necessary to build healthy relationships and ultimately regain custody. Assessment tools to measure program outcomes will be purchased with a $720 grant.
Erie Homes for Children and Adults provides care for people with developmental disabilities. A grant of $500 will purchase therapeutic equipment to improve the health and well-being of people with developmental disabilities residing in a Titusville group home.
The French Creek Valley Conservancy is devoted to preserving the biological diversity of French Creek, which provides habitat for more than 80 species of fish and 26 species of freshwater mussels. Their annual creek clean-up event will be expanded in scope with assistance from a $1,080 grant to purchase equipment and supplies.
A grant of $770 to Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania will purchase “Journey” handbooks to keep the price for participation affordable for girls from Crawford Central School District. Girl Scouting promotes a positive self-image, stress management and healthy living. Participants are more likely to do better in school and less likely to succumb to negative peer pressure.
Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania helps young people to become financially literate and workforce ready. A $1,000 grant will help present educational programs at schools in Crawford Central School District.
The Meadville Council on the Arts will purchase keyboards to expand their music education program to include group piano lessons with a $516 grant. Children who learn and practice music are likely to develop areas of the brain linked to spatial intelligence and improve their academic performance.
Mystic Mountain Training Center in Cambridge Springs is home to a summer camp as well as year-round equestrian, outdoor and environmental programs. A grant of $700 will purchase building materials for a climbing wall and ropes course to be used in team building activities.
The Pennsylvania Council on Economic Education promotes financial literacy through the “Stock Market Game.” A $500 grant will help present the program at schools in Crawford Central School District.
Many local job seekers want to be considered for higher-paying careers but lack the mathematical skills needed by businesses. The Regional Center for Workforce Excellence—in collaboration with the PA Careerlink®, READ Program and PMI—is sponsoring math enrichment courses to address this need. A grant of $892 will purchase text books for the coursework.
Children born to mothers who smoke are more prone to intellectual problems and long-term illness. A program of the Titusville Area Hospital provides support and incentives to pregnant and post-partum women who quit smoking and remain smoke-free. An $875 grant will help more children to be born smoke-free and healthy.
The Titusville Area Senior Citizens Corporation received an $875 grant in support of their intergenerational pen-pal program which fosters education and interaction between senior citizens and children.
A $750 grant to the Titusville Shade Tree Commission will purchase three trees to help develop a stronger, healthier urban forest.
Women’s Services, Inc. supports victims of domestic and sexual violence through counseling and emergency shelter, among other services. A $500 grant will help improve administrative efficiency through the purchase of a computer capable of running desktop publishing applications.
The YMCA of Titusville runs an after-school enrichment program for children in grades 1-5. The curriculum promotes health and well-being through social, educational, cultural and physical fitness activities. A grant of $1,500 will be used to purchase program supplies.
