MEADVILLE — The Crawford Heritage Community Foundation recently has awarded nearly $13,000 in grants to almost two-dozen Crawford County projects.

A total of $12,895 was awarded to 21 different county-wide projects from the foundation’s Unrestricted Fund and Ben Franklin Trust, the Fred Lintner Fund in the Titusville area and the Bernadene R. and John B. Cooley Fund to benefit programs for children and youth.

“We strive to understand the needs of Crawford County and support the organizations that work tirelessly to address those needs,” said Milosh Mamula, chair of the foundation’s grants committee. “Whether it is a new building for a place of learning, a computer with updated technology or simply art supplies, these grants provide the essential tools necessary for these organizations to make the community a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

The Crawford Heritage Community Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Crawford County. 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.

The following are the 21 groups that have been funded this year through the foundation:

- Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System Inc. received $350 to implement the Pennsylvania Business Week program at Cambridge Springs High School.

- Cambridge Community Radio Association received $450 to acquire the digital hardware and software necessary to stream audio on the Internet.

- Cochranton Area Public Library, which promotes learning, self-improvement and self-expression through their books and technology, received $1,000 towards a new building.

- Conneaut Lake Area Historical Society, dedicated to exploring the rich cultural heritage of Conneaut Lake and the surrounding areas, will preserve an 1865 map of Crawford County with $500 and have it available for research.

- Crawford Health Improvement Coalition received $120 for a program to train health care professionals about how to educate their patients to prevent and survive cancer.

- Creating Landscapes for Families: Community Garden at Ackerman Farm received $600 to defray some of the cost to purchase a solar greenhouse.

- Creative Expressions of Art Inc. will use $545 to purchase program and art supplies.

- The Fairview Fairmont housing development, which operates an Outreach Center that provides educational and recreational after-school activities for at-risk children and young adults, received $500 for supplies.

- French Creek Valley Conservancy was granted $1,000 for the printing of a French Creek Water Trail Map and Guide brochure.

- Friends of Drake Well Inc. received $500 for the purchase of a laptop computer for its Mobile Energy Education Training Unit.

- The Meadville Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation received $550 for its Career Camp.

- The Meadville Area Recreation Complex received $1,000 to purchase new rental ice skates to replace those that have broken due to use and age.

- Meadville Council on the Arts received $530 to purchase instruments for an after-school drumming class.

- Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center will use $750 to match a portion of an Erie Community Foundation grant to support a capacity-building project.

- The historic Tarbell House is used to educate about the oil industry and journalism of Ida Tarbell. The Titusville Alumni Association will use $600 for interior improvements to the house.

- Titusville Area Hospital will use $700 to subsidize a program that provides mammograms at no charge to women lacking adequate insurance.

- Titusville Area School District received $500 to defray some of the costs to send select middle school students on a marine ecosystem research trip in Wallops Island, Va.

- Titusville Area Senior Citizens Corporation received $500 to introduce new technology to senior citizens, which will improve data collection about program participation.

- Titusville Council on the Arts received $600 for a program to inspire, motivate and educate young performers in theater arts.

- Titusville Renaissance Inc. received $600 toward the installation of a rain garden at the base of the Victorian Street Clock in downtown Titusville.

- Women’s Services Inc., which provides counseling and emergency shelter to children and adults who have experienced abuse, received $1,000 to defray some of the cost to renovate the reception area of its shelter.



You can help

For more information about making a gift or seeking grant support for a project, write the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation, PO Box 933, Meadville, PA 16335; call 336-5206; or visit crawfordheritage.org.