Current News

Twelve nonprofits assisting Cattaraugus County residents impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic have received a total of $27,000 in grants from the COVID-19 Response Fund for Cattaraugus County to help them provide for the basic needs of the county's most vulnerable populations.

Leaders of the COVID-19 Response Fund for Cattaraugus County recommended four local nonprofits to the Western New York Covid-19 Community Response Fund as potential grant recipients and together this week they received almost $130,000 to support their efforts to help those impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The COVID-19 Response Fund for Cattaraugus County has raised almost $30,000 in donations, but additional donations are still being sought to meet increasing needs from nonprofits.

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation and other area funding organizations are collaborating to lead a coordinated philanthropic response by establishing the COVID -19 Response Fund.

After careful consideration by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation's board of directors and staff, CRCF's scholarship deadline will remain April 1.

It has been years since the Allegany/Olean area has had a public skate park, but a group of dedicated volunteers are working to change that by leading efforts to fundraise for and construct the Allegany River Skate Park.

For hundreds of athletes over the years, "Grandpa Jack" Reading was a constant - an always smiling face and a calming presence - at the top of the hill.

Applications for grants from the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation's Community Fund are due April 21.

SK8EVL raffled off a pair of skis and a snowboard during the Bad Ski Suit Party held Saturday, February 29th at Madigan's, raising $2,500 for the Ellicottville Skatepark Fund. Jeff Andreano won the Elan Ripstick 86 skis donated by Mud, Sweat n' Gears, and Ryan Peterson won the commemorative Crown Royal snowboard donated by Doug Anderson. Madigan's donated the cover charges from the Bad Ski Suit Party to SK8EVL to raise even more money for the skatepark.

With the support of the F. Donald Kenney Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, the Tri-County Arts Council will be holding the first solo show of the Southern Tier Biennial in its new gallery space this fall.

The Ellicottville Skatepark Committee (SK8EVL) and Finnerty's Tap Room will host SOUP-to-SKATE, a fundraising event in support of the Ellicottville Skatepark on Sunday, March 29th from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Finnerty's downtown Ellicottville location.

The recently established Mike and Laura Bysiek Memorial Fund, managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, made possible a total of $1,000 in grants to six organizations in the fund's inaugural year.

From adoption as a foster child to some of the highest courts in the United States, Ginger Schroder thanks her education for most of her life's accomplishments.

With support of the Redding Endowment Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, third grade classrooms at Eastview Elementary were equipped with a new series of books creatively combining math work and character education.

SK8EVL will give away a pair of Elan Ripstick 86 skis retailed at $599, and a commemorative Crown Royal snowboard during the Bad Ski Suit Party to be held Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Madigan's, 36 Washington St., downtown Ellicottville. The skis, donated by Mud Sweat n' Gears, and the snowboard, donated by Doug Anderson, will help raise money to construct a permanent concrete skatepark in Ellicottville's Village Park.

In 2019, 100 individuals received a reminder to love themselves, thanks to the Love Yourself Valentines Day program at the YMCA, supported by a grant from the Mental Wellness in Cattaraugus County Fund. With the support of a second grant from the Mental Wellness in Cattaraugus County Fund, attendees received that same assuring reminder this year at the second annual "Love yourself - You Matter" event, led by the YMCA and ReHabiliation Center's Swizzy's Cause program.

Friends and Family of Elisa Hughey have honored her memory through the Elisa B. Hughey Scholarship for the Arts since she lost her battle with cancer in 2016.

Announcing the open period for grant applications through the Allegany-Cattaraugus-Chautauqua Fund for Women (ACC-FFW).  Grant applications, for individual grants, are being accepted February 1 through March 15, 2020. A thorough review of applications will precede an award announcement on or around April 30, 2020.  

Allegany-Limestone Central School students seeking enrichment outside of the general curriculum can apply now for the Ratana Ratanawongsa Scholarship, managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

The Cattaraugus County Trappers Association recently established a new scholarship at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation that will support aspiring conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts in their educational pursuits.

Area students can begin applying for scholarships managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation on February 1.

The deadline for Leadership Cattaraugus scholarship applications has been extended to January 31.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently elected Shabana Chauhdry to join its board of directors in 2020 and re-elected five members currently serving and its slate of officers for 2020.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2019, staying true to its mission of "growing good" by awarding a new record total in grants - over $1.6 million for local, state and national nonprofits and charitable causes.

Sisters Jean Gonska and Lorraine Diggs learned their family-first values from their loving parents, Mike and Laura Bysiek. Recently the pair decided to leave a lasting legacy in memory of their parents by establishing the Mike & Laura Bysiek Memorial Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to support a number of nonprofit organizations in the community each year.

Armed with carts and detailed shopping lists, 11 Cattaraugus County Sheriff deputies took to the aisles of Walmart on a special mission, to deliver Christmas to needy area families.

With the help of $1,721 in support from the Carroll and Dolores Anstaett Gift Tree Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, the Interfaith Caregivers Gift Tree program will again be giving disadvantaged area families a brighter Christmas this year.

Both the Mahar Family Foundation Fund and the Rose Pappas Foundation Fund make grants that support causes near to the heart of their respective fund advisors, Mrs. Francis (Roberta) Mahar Jr. and Betty Pappas, including help for the community's needy around the holidays each year.

In just 24 hours Cattaraugus Gives raised $110,996 for nonprofits in the Cattaraugus region, tripling the final results of the 2018 program.

The Higgins Memorial golf Tournament Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation made possible over $5,000 in grants in 2019, including a recent $3,000 grant to Empire Animal Rescue Society in Salamanca.

In 2002, Skip and Greta Wilday decided to establish an endowment fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation that would give support youth development and enrichment in memory of their daughter, Kaleigh.

If you have ever thought to yourself How can I directly make my community a better place? I think one place to start is charity. Cattaraugus Gives provides you the opportunity to support 65 nonprofits, all of whom directly invest in that mission of providing a brighter tomorrow.

The Ellicottville Skatepark Committee (SK8EVL) and the Village of Ellicottville have been awarded a $300,000 Built to Play Skatepark Grant to help develop a public skatepark.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently named Taylor Green full-time database manager and donor services manager.

With the help of local business sponsors and generous individuals, the 2019 Cattaraugus Gives prize package now totals almost $11,000.

Ellen Hughey Reynolds credits a meaningful portion of her life's success to the education she received, in both academics and life in general, at Olean High School.

Scholarship applications are available for Leadership Cattaraugus' Class of 2020 applicants through the organization's scholarship fund, managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation

The Veggie Wheels program entered its fifth year with a number of changes - new leadership, a new endowment fund, a new collaboration - but one important thing remained the same: the programs mission of supporting a healthier future for the disadvantaged in Cattaraugus County.

The village of Little Valley has always remained close to Carol Gloff's heart despite moving away, and so she recently decided to establish the Little Valley Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to help give back to the community that raised her.

Grant applications for the next funding cycle of the Community Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation are due October 21. The Community Fund at CRCF provides grants to deserving projects and initiatives that support efforts to meet the changing needs of the community, said CRCF Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit.