Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Reflects on Positive Year
Recently, the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation Board of Directors meet to review their activities in 2023 and to re-organize as they look forward to more expansion in 2024. In the front row from left to right are Secretary/Treasurer Lisa Conrad, Chairman Jeb Soult, Jamie Straub, Vice-Chairman John Harpster, Back row from left to right are Joe Valenza, Maureen Gathagan, Dana Beauseigneur, Lee Grace Valigorsky and Trustee Representative George Weidlein. Missing from the photo are board members, Lisa Kovalick, Vicki Myers and Shayne Lumadue. (Photo courtesy of CCCF)
Edited by Julie Rae Rickard
CLEARFIELD – During their annual meeting, the Board of Directors of the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation reviewed their success in 2023.
In the past year the CCCF recorded donations totaling $3,641,651.95, up from $2,116,797.33 collected during 2022. In addition, the trustee, Mid Penn Bank reported the market value of all CCCF funds as of January 25th, 2024 totaled $17,106,213.20 up from $11,465,299.49 at the end of 2022, according to a recent press release.
2023 was a banner year for contributions to the community as well with a total of $373,030.20 distributed to organizations and people in Clearfield County. This includes $57,150 in scholarship awards, $90,590 through the community grant program awards, $15,000 to community food banks through the Basic Needs Fund and $210,290.20 in annual distributions to the beneficiaries of various endowment funds.
Executive Director Mark McCracken reported new scholarship funds for the Clearfield Area High School Class of ’72 Scholarship Fund, the Shirley Ann McKee Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Be the Kindness Fund in Memory of Westin Cantolina.
Additionally, estate settlement work was completed for the Constance McGarry Estate to finalize creation of the Fred L. and Bernece C. Rhoads Nursing Scholarship Fund along with the legal work to gain court approval to transfer the PB Zentmyer Fund from the Masonic Lodge to the Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, he said.
“With the funds created in 2023, there are now 60 total endowment or scholarship funds under the Charitable Foundation,” McCracken noted.
Board Chairman John G. Soult Jr. stated “We appreciate all the individuals, families and organizations who have created scholarship or endowment funds with the Charitable Foundation. We are thankful to everyone who made donations in support of our funds during 2023 and we are looking forward to further success in 2024.
“The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation has seen tremendous growth in recent years which benefits many students, individuals and organizations throughout Clearfield County,” Soult said.
McCracken reported to the board that discussions are ongoing with individuals, families and community organizations that could see several new scholarship or endowment funds established in 2024.
McCracken advised that he is currently working with scholarship committees and high school guidance departments to accept applications for 2024 scholarship awards. A full list of the scholarship opportunities can be reviewed at the CCCF’s website, clearfieldcharitablefoundation.org.
Also during meeting, board officers were selected for the coming year: Chairman John G. Soult Jr., Vice Chairman John Harpster and Secretary / Treasurer Lisa Conrad.
The other current members of the CCCF Board of Directors are Dana Beauseigneur, Maureen Gathagan, Lisa Kovalick, Shayne Lumadue, Vicki Myers, Jamie Straub, Joe Valenza, Lee Grace Valigorsky, Trustee Representative George Weidlein and Directors Emeritus Robert M. Kurtz Jr. and Kevin McMillen.
On the financial reporting side, the annual audit was completed for the 2022 year by Young, Oakes, Brown and Company PC Certified Public Accountants with no findings and all annual required filings to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Internal Revenue Service have been submitted and accepted, McCracken said in the release.
The Clearfield County Charitable Foundation welcomes inquiries from any individuals, families or organizations interested in establishing an endowment or scholarship fund to benefit communities in Clearfield County.
Information is available on the CCCF website or by contacting us at 814-592-7331 or emailing at cccfexecdir@outlook.com.
Online donations to any of the funds can be made on the website or by mailing checks to Clearfield County Charitable Foundation, PO Box 1442, Clearfield PA 16830. Please note checks should be made payable to Clearfield County Charitable Foundation with the name of the fund to receive the donation written on the MEMO line.