The list of Tina Zerbian’s accomplishments is nothing short of remarkable.
As a testament to her impactful career, her staff at Connecting Communities in Action (CCA) quietly established the Tina Zerbian Resilient Communities Scholarship as a way to honor her long, successful career as she prepared for retirement. The scholarship is for students in Cattaraugus County who intend to pursue a degree or career in a human services-related field.
“In partnering with CRCF to offer the Tina Zerbian Resilient Communities Scholarship, we aim to honor Tina’s legacy and support students in their pursuit of education and a career in human services,” said Andrew Studley, the incoming CEO of Connecting Communities in Action.
Zerbian has been at the helm of CCA since 1984. With a career spanning four decades, Tina has been a cornerstone of community development and support. She became a Certified Community Action Professional in 2010, a Nationally Certified ROMA Implementer in 2017 and is also a Certified Financial Social Worker. She holds a master's degree in counseling psychology and a bachelor's degree in elementary and special Education.
Tina’s commitment to her community is further exemplified through her administration of numerous low-income housing tax credit projects as a Certified Credit Compliance Specialist and her consultancy role with TRC Companies, where she helped launch the Multifamily Performance Program in New York State.
Throughout her distinguished career, Tina has been named Woman of the Year by the Enchanted Mountain Business and Professional Women’s Club (1990), Alumnus of the Year for Leadership Cattaraugus (2008), the NYS Community Action Association’s Administrator of the Year Award (2000) and the “Friend of Civil Legal Services Award” from the New York State Unified Court System (2004). In 2019, she was inducted into the Notable Women in Human Services Hall of Fame.
“We are honored to launch this scholarship in Tina’s name,” said Kirk Windus, CRCF Executive Director. “Tina’s commitment to community service and her impactful work over the years have set a high standard for all of us. This scholarship will continue her legacy by supporting the next generation of community leaders.”
Tina and her husband, Tom, are the proud parents of their two sons, Alec and Camron.
Donations can be made to the Tina Zerbian Resilient Communities Scholarship Fund at 301 North Union St., Suite 203, Olean, NY, or online at cattfoundation.org.
Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the Foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).
