The Crawford Central Community Foundation recently awarded $ 5,506.00 to grant recipients in the Crawford Central School District for our 2023 Fall funding cycle.     

1. CES Author’s Workshop– Cochranton Elementary School / Karen Jamieson     

2. Math Manipulatives – Second District Elementary School / Julie Clements     

3. Say Cheese – MASH / Lisa Cremonese     

4. MASH Caring Closet – MASH / Natalie Stearns     

5. MASH Lady Dawgs Softball – Alison Kightlinger     

6. Meadville Bulldog Lacrosse – Girls Team Expansion – MASH /  James Fadden   

The CCCF Grant Review Committee was also impressed with the “Pay It Forward” components of the grant applications for the Fall Funding Cycle which included publishing and illustrating books on the topic of lessons learned and a strong work ethic, offering free photo sessions for Seniors who can’t afford their Senior pictures, a book drive with books collected and placed in the “Little Libraries” in the CCSD, joining with another organization (Vantage) and  participating and delivering food during their Holiday Food Drive, helping the MMC in their annual MMC Stroke Walk, partnering with a Church (Assembly of God) to distribute clothing and toiletry items to homeless women, sponsoring a hat, gloves and scarves drive for Women’s Services as well as a Spring Can Food Drive with donations going to a Food Pantry and collecting needed items for the MASH Caring Closet.  

CONGRATULATIONS to ALL and thank you to the CCSD and communities of Meadville and Cochranton for your continued support! Remember to visit us on FACEBOOK or crawfordccf.org. 

  The Crawford Central Community Foundation recently awarded its 2023 “Pay It Forward” Scholarships to graduating seniors, Zoe Hansen Cochranton Jr.- Sr. High School and Isaiah Minor, Meadville Area Senior High School. The “Pay-It-Forward” Scholarships (each in the amount of $250.00) recognize a graduating senior from Meadville and Cochranton in the Crawford Central School District who best exemplify the spirit of giving back to his or her school and community and are nominated by their High School Guidance Counselors.

Zoe has been actively involved in school activities including the National Honor Society, Marching Band, JV/Varsity Girls Basketball and Softball and STEM Club. Zoe has also served in leadership positions including Robotics/NTMA Club, Student Council, French Club and has been involved in the French Creek Community Theatre since 2011. “Paying It Forward” in the community has included participating in the French Creek Valley Conservancy’s Annual French Creek cleanup, running the church livestream on a weekly basis and helping at Cochranton Elementary School’s Track and Field Day and Santa’s Workshop. Zoe Hansen will attend Robert Morris University in the Fall majoring in biomedical engineering.

Tamara Clark, CCCF Board Member, Zoe Hansen, 2023 Cochranton “Pay it Forward” Scholarship recipient and Mary Lynne Peters, President of the Crawford Central Community Foundation.

Isaiah (Charlie) Minor participated in the following activities at MASH – Cross Country, Swimming and Diving Team, Track and Field and the National Technical Honors Society. Isaiah also pays it forward by helping neighbors with yard work. Future plans are to pursue an apprenticeship in the electrical field and acquire a Journeyman’s License. 

 Isaiah Minor, 2023 MASH “Pay it Forward” Scholarship recipient and Mary Lynne Peters, President of the Crawford Central Community Foundation.

  The Rick Zylak Memorial Scholarship was established in July 2020 by his wife, Sherry and Rick’s children, Jordan and Jennifer. Mackenzie Hurban is the 2023 recipient of the Rick Zylak Memorial Scholarship and plans to attend PennWest University Edinboro majoring in Secondary Education and focusing on the STEAM courses. MKenna Gerard is the co-recipient of the Scholarship and plans to attend Penn State University- Main Campus and major in business marketing and finance.

Mackenzie Hurban with Mary Lynne Peters, CCCF President

MKenna Gerard Photo with Mary Lynne Peters, CCCF President

The Marilyn Kinter R.N. Memorial Scholarship Award also established by the Kinter family is in memory of Marilyn Kinter, a nurse at the Meadville Medical Center who worked in the newborn and intensive care units. Lilia Douglas, Cochranton High School graduate plans to attend PennWest University- Edinboro and major in nursing. Lissa Murphy, MASH graduate will attend Villanova University and also major in nursing.

Lilia Douglas, Cochranton HS with Tamara Clark, CCCF Board Member, Lilia Douglas and Mary Lynne Peters, CCCF President

Lissa Murphy, MASH with Mrs. Susan Sapone:

 The Robert Kinter Memorial Award is given to a graduating senior at the CCCTC who is planning to enter the workforce directly after high school in a technical profession or to enroll in an apprenticeship program. The recipient of this year’s award, established by Mr. Kinter’s daughter, Susan and family is Isaiah (Charlie) Minor, graduating senior at the Crawford County Career and Technical Center and Meadville Area Senior High School. Isaiah’s future plans include pursuing an apprenticeship in the electrical field, acquiring a Journeyman’s License and becoming a business owner.

• Student Centered Reading Nook/Book Storage– Cochranton Elementary/ Dustin Castiglione    PIF- Host an after school reading hour at the Cochranton Library. Students select their favorite story book to read to family and friends.               
• Student Centered Reading Nook/Book Storage- Cochranton Elementary/ Shyra Clayton   PIF- Host an after school reading hour at the Cochranton Library. Students select their favorite story book to read to family and friends.      
• Growing My Health– MASH/ Liza Hovis  PIF- Designate a portion of the harvest to Second Harvest Food Bank which will use fresh vegetables. 
• Readers for Children– Second District/ Julie Clements  PIF- Reach out to individuals, schools and communities asking for donations of new, stuffed Teddy Bears to be distributed at Bethesda Foster Care Program.
• Dress For Success-MASH/ MASH Boy’s Basketball/ Emily Luteran PIF- Sponsor Free Summer Clinic and sponsor a COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE to collect items for the MAMS/ MASH Caring Closet. The goal is to “reach the top of the basketball rim” with the food collection.
• Math Class Storybook– Cochranton Elementary/ Leslie Biggs  PIF- Buddy Reading with grades 3,4 and 5 to share their stories.

2022 Fall Grant Award Recipients and PIF’s

• Helping the Starving Artists Art Supplies/Jewelry Making Class– Kari Unice/ MASH *PIF– Thanksgiving/Christmas Food Drive for the Caring Closet
• MAMS Wrestling Singlet Grant Uniforms– Shelly Tidball/MAMS *PIF– Beginning Wrestling Clinic at the Elementary level.
• MASH Softball Lady Dawgs Giving Back to Dogs and Cats/ Softball Equipment and subscription for Livestream– Kaylene Carson/ MASH *PIF– Collect cat and dog food for Humane Society at all home games in April 2023.
• MASH Lacrosse and the MMC Stroke Walk– Jennifer Grasinger/ MASH *PIF- Help set up and participate in the  2023 Stroke Recovery Walk including interaction with survivors and creating a Memory Flower Garden.
• Classroom Small Group Furniture- Patricia Britton/ First District *PIF– Cookies for Cops. Collect store bought cookies to present to the School Safety Office Mr. Trenga and the Meadville City Police Dept. with a thank you card. Students will also spearhead the Food Drive for the entire school in November.
• Makerspace Supplies/ IDEA Lab (Experiment, Creativity based Projects/Supplies) Erin Gorman/ Elizabeth Heuchert / First District *PIF- personalized Thanksgiving placemats for teachers as well as nursing facility residents which will be distributed before Thanksgiving.
• –MAMS Lapgear for Flexible Seating in Math Class/Lapboards-Kelsey  Cunningham / Carolyn Brown/ MAMS *PIF– Lesson on couponing and saving money using their lapboards AND sponsoring a MAMS school wide drive collecting personal care supplies for the Caring Closet.
• MASH Girls Basketball Boosters Uniforms(grades 9-12)- Jamie Longo/ MASH *PIF– Senior Night/Jan, 2023. Donation drive to benefit the Caring Closet.
• Sensory Room/ First District Grades K-6 Equipment– Sabrina Richards/Kathleen Hootman/ First District *PIF- Cards will be made by students and sent to agencies providing care to others such as Wesbury, Juniper Village, Neighborhood Counseling, Family Services, MMC, Hospice, the Arc, and Crawford County Human Services.                  

  The MASH Guidance Department recently completed their “Pay It Forward” Project as recipients of a 2021 Spring Grant awarded by the Crawford Central Community Foundation.  

      The “MASH Guidance Update Project” was to create a “quiet space” in the Guidance Office to review scholarship applications as well as provide a meeting space in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. The CCCF helped to fund this project which consisted of purchasing chairs, a coffee table, rug, wooden rack (for scholarship applications) and a plant.

       A unique aspect of the Crawford Central Community Foundation’s application is a “Pay It Forward” component which is giving back to the community. The MASH Guidance Department’s “Pay It Forward” was donating 20 cases of water to the MASH Marching Band which will be used during Marching Band Camp, MASH football games and the Marching Band’s Annual Fall Classic Show in October. 

The MASH Football Team’s “Pay It Forward” will occur in the next few weeks as team members help on Saturday mornings with the flag football teams leading warm-ups, drills, “guest coaching” and even refereeing if need be. The Crawford Central Community Foundation thanks the Coaches, players, parents and all who are “Paying It Forward” through their actions a sense of what they’ve received and what they can offer others.

Ms. Kari Unice, MASH Art Instructor, received a 2021 CCCF Spring Grant to purchase jewelry making supplies and equipment as a new addition to the Art Curriculum which she will teach this upcoming school year. Ms. Unice also supports the Crawford Central Community Foundation with her donations of jewelry for our Fundraisers. We thank Ms. Unice and her students for their creativity and giving back to their community!   

 The Crawford Central Community Foundation recently awarded over $4,000 in funding for their 2021 Spring Grant applications.  

     Recipients include: Mike Ditzenberger, Principal and students at Neason Hill Elementary School- “Neason Hill Media Equipment”, Jennifer Dustin, MASH Guidance Secretary- “MASH Guidance UPDATE Program”, Ray Collins, MASH Football Coach- “MASH Travel Polo Shirts”, Kathryn Wagner and Grade 3 Teaching Team at First District Elementary- “Scholastic News Education/Science Spin” and Kari Unice, Art Instructor MASH – “ MASH Metal Supplies for Art Class”.

     The “Pay It Forward ” components from the grant applications are creating a YouTube video highlighting reading as a family (Neason Hill), donating cases of water for the MASH Marching Band CLassic (MASH Guidance Dept.), assisting veterans and senior citizens during the Crawford County Fair (MASH Football Team), creating posters thanking essential workers in the community (MASH Art Class) and providing families with Science News Magazines for students to read and share with their families. (First District). Additionally, the Crawford Central Community Foundation Board of Directors designated the “First District Scholastic News and Science Spin” in memory of Anita Price, avid educator and mother of CCCF Board Member, Norm Price.

     The Crawford Central Community Foundation continues to provide financial resources to enrich academic, artistic, and athletic experiences for Meadville and Cochranton students in grades K-12 in the Crawford Central School District. With the addition of the 2021 Spring Grant Awards, the CCCF has now awarded over $60,000.00.