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UNION CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

News

 

UNION CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES GRANTS TOTALING $26,970

At the November 2007 meeting of the Union City Community Foundation's Board of Trustees, the following grants were awarded to local organizations:

Corry Community Development Corp as fiscal agent for Union City Pride, Inc. - $6000 in funding was approved for The Gathering at French Creek 2008

Early Connections’ Success by Six Rural program - a $5000 grant was unanimously approved

Moore House – A Maria House (halfway house for men in recovery) request of $5970 for a new furnace was unanimously approved. 

St. Vincent Outpatient Clinic in Union City - $10,000 for the Evergreen grant to reduce energy and improve heating efficiency which was unanimously approved, as well.

 

New Pension Law Has Charitable Provision

Thanks to decades of deliberate savings, many of today's retirees have significant investments in their IRAs. It is now easier than ever to share some of that wealth with your favorite charity.

In August 2006, a federal law was enacted allowing certain IRA owners to contribute a portion of their retirement savings directly to charity without first declaring the withdrawal as income. This is good news because sheltered retirement funds are often the most highly taxed asset in an estate. The pension protection act can definitely help donors who want to gift a portion of their retirement funds to charity.

New Pension Law Has Charitable Provision In 2006 and 2007, holders of traditional and Roth IRAs who are at least 70 years old can make direct charitable transfers up to $100,000 per year.  This new law makes it easier for certain donors to transform their charitable intent into action now, rather than wait for a bequest or estate gift.

As with any complex gift, donors are encouraged to contact their personal professional advisors.

Click here for more information on how to donate to the Union City Community Foundation.

 

The Friends of the Union City Community Foundation Celebrate grants, Honor Volunteer at Annual Meeting

 

As announced at the Union City Community Foundation’s Friends of the Foundation annual meeting held recently, Union City has much to celebrate.  Grants were made to the new Boys and Girls Club for a Union City site, as well as new Little League ball fields and  community picnic area.  “These are just two major grants that we made throughout 2007,” said Mark Webb, chairman of the Union City Community Foundation.  “Both large and small grants make a difference, and as a volunteer, I find it satisfying to see good projects come to fruition.”

 

Webb welcomed about 70 local residents to the Union City Friends of the Foundation annual meeting hosted at the Union City Country Club.  Michael Batchelor, president of The Erie Community Foundation, was the guest speaker.  He shared with the audience the state of community foundations today and how the Union City Foundation has grown to be a multi-million dollar foundation.

 

As part of the evening, Mark Webb honored long time volunteer, Pauline Thomas, for her years of service to the Union City Community Foundation.  

Mark Webb, Pauline Thomas and Carl Thomas

The Union City Friends of the Foundation made grants throughout 2007 as follows:

Boys & Girls Club 

$152,000 over 3 years for capital campaign to build Union City site

Emergycare  

$15,000 for a cardiac monitor/defibrillator

Explorer Post 852 of UCVFC Boy Scouts 

$2,000 for camping gear

Maria House  

$1,980 towards new windows/heating

PatnerSHIP for a Healthy Community

$2,000 for dental care for the underinsured

UC Area School District Foundation  

$2,000 for healthy youth club

UC Family Support Center

$2,000 for the Kids Café

UC Little League 

$75,000 for new fields and picnic area

UC Public Library 

$1,884 for new lap top and projector

UC Senior Center 

$4,400 for floor maintenance unit

UC Volunteer Fire Company 

$1,960 for two man doors to the fire hall

 

“This is the most gratifying part of my job, when we are able to connect donors to causes they care about and the results are tangible community improvements,” said Donna E. Douglass, director of regional affiliates and donor relations, of The Erie Community Foundation. 

 

The Union City Community Foundation (UCCF) holds assets in endowment of more than $4 million and is affiliated with The Erie Community Foundation. As a public charity, the UCCF makes grants to deserving Union City area charities from the interest income resulting from investment of these assets.  Oversight of the UCCF is the responsibility of a 16 member board of trustees. For more information about the UCCF, visit the web at www.unioncitycf.org.
 

2006-2007 Grant Awards

 

Did you know that just in the last eighteen months, the Union City Community Foundation has distributed grants totaling more than $130,000?

 

One of these grants is a three year commitment to the Union City Boys and Girls Club Capital Campaign, beginning with a $52,500 gift this year followed by gifts of $50,000 each of the next two years for a total of $152,500.

 

These gifts are possible because LaRue Ottaway and David & Autumn Hoffman created substantial endowments to be used exclusively for charitable purposes in the Union City community. Since 2001 the Hoffman Fund has distributed over $425,000 to local charities.  This fund, until recently, was a geographically restricted (Union City) fund of the Erie Community Foundation. When the Union City Community Foundation became an affiliate of the Erie Community Foundation, the Erie group gifted the fund to the Union City Foundation. The Ottaway Fund has awarded grants totaling $36,346 in 2006 and 2007.

 

These other 2006-2007 Grants are as follows:

  • Early Connections Child Care Center - $9,500 Parent Education Programming

  • Elgin Beaverdam Hose Company - $1,500 Equipment

  • Erie Co. Partnership for a Healthy Community - $2,000 UC School District Dental Program

  • Penn State Cooperative Extension - $2,000 Welcome Sign project

  • Safe Horizons - $3,700 Laundry Equipment

  • Saint Vincent Outpatient Center - $27,900 (2 years) Operations

  • Union City Family Support Center - $8,232 Roof Repair, $2,000 Kid’s Café Food/Supplies

  • Union City Historical Society - $3,000 Roof Repair

  • Union City Police Department - $2,000 Bullet-proof Vests

  • Union City Volunteer Fire Department - $2,000 Security System

  • Union Township - $1,614 Upgrading Fire Hydrants

Any nonprofit organization with a charitable mission in the Union City area is eligible to apply for grants from these funds (See Grants tab at top of page). If you are interested in becoming a donor to the Union City Community Foundation, there are many ways you can do so. Click here for more information.