THE PORTAGE REGIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PROGRAM THAT SERVES BEDFORD, CAMBRIA & SOMERSET COUNTIES. THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, ESTABLISHED IN 1990, IS A NON-PROFIT PUBLIC ENDOWMENT. THE MISSION IS TO GATHER PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUNDS BY PROVIDING AN ONGOING FLEXIBLE, AND EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR DONORS TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY WHILE MEETING THEIR PHILANTHROPIC GOALS. THE INTEREST EARNED ON THE ENDOWMENTS IS USED AS GRANTS TO REGIONAL NON-PROFITS FOR PROGRAMS IN THE EDUCATION, ARTS, CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES, HEALTH CARE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER AREAS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF OUR REGION.

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ACTS AS AN UMBRELLA FOR THE VARIED INTERESTS OF OUR DONORS. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PORTAGE REGIONAL ENDOWMENT AND THE CREATION OF AN ADVISORY BOARD, MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS LIVING AND WORKING IN THE PORTAGE AREA, WILL CONTINUOUSLY ASSESS THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FOUNDATION AS TO THE APPROPRIATE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS IN OUR AREA.

AS CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE TO THE FUND, THE INTEREST EARNINGS GROW AND ALLOW FOR MORE MONEY TO BE RETURNED TO OUR COMMUNITY. A GIFT TO SUPPORT A COMMON ENDOWMENT FOR A GEOGRAPHIC REGION MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME AND IN ANY AMOUNT.

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WELCOMES ANY CONTRIBUTION TO THE PORTAGE REGIONAL ENDOWMENT, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT SOME DONORS MAY WANT TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT FUND IN HONOR  OR MEMORY OF A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER THAT WILL ALSO BENEFIT THE PORTAGE REGION. THE FOUNDATION CAN WORK WITH DONORS TO ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR PORTAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OR BROAD TOPICAL CATEGORIES SUCH AS CHILDREN'S OR CULTURAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ONE WAY MANY DONORS FEEL ABLE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY'S FUTURE IS THROUGH A BEQUEST IN THEIR WILL. A SINGLE GIFT CAN HAVE A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. YOUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO A PART OF THAT ONGOING PROCESS TO PROVIDE A MEANS OF GIVING BACK TO THE PORTAGE REGION THAT HAS GIVEN US SO MUCH.

IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN INVESTING IN OUR REGION, FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON AVAILABLE OPTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE FOUNDATION OFFICE; 216 FRANKLIN STREET, SUITE 606, JOHNSTOWN, PA. 15901. PHONE (814) 536-7741 OR CONTACT THE PORTAGE REGIONAL ENDOWMENT FUND AT KIELCONST@AOL.COM.