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Monday, April 9, 2018

Area nonprofit organizations receive annual support from CRCF funds

OLEAN, N.Y., April 9, 2018 — Eleven charitable organizations recently received grants from donor-designated funds at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, providing support for a variety of causes including medical flights, churches, a library and scouts.
Donor-designated funds allow donors to make annual gifts to organizations they choose to support without so much as having to pick up a checkbook once the fund is established, said CRCF Executive Director Niemic Buchheit.
“For those donors who have a cause they love and want to support each and every year, a donor-designated fund at the Foundation may fit their needs perfectly,” Buchheit said. “The Foundation handles all of the administrative duties, so the donor can support his or her favorite causes without worrying about the paperwork.”
Four donor-designated funds recently made possible annual grants to the charitable organizations chosen by each donors.
The Luella Potter Fund, established by friends of the longtime Catholic school educator, made possible a $2,142 grant to Southern Tier Catholic School and Archbishop Walsh Academy.
The Kay and Oliver Williams/Rushford Endowment Fund, established by Mr. Williams, made possible grants to eight organizations in Rushford that he and his wife supported during their lifetime.
Those organizations included:
• First Baptist Church of Rushford

• United Methodist Church of Rushford
• Rushford Library
• Podonque Cemetery
• Boy Scouts Pack 708 (for boy scouts based in Cuba-Rushford school district)
• Rushford Cemetery
• Rushford Concert Band
• CRCS Outdoors Conservation Camp
The Jim and Gail Olson Mercy Flight Fund, established by Gail Olson of Olean in part to honor and remember her late husband, made possible an annual grant, $894 this year, to Mercy Flight WNY to support the Olean station.
The Rev. Leo J. Gallina Endowment Fund for St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church made possible a $820 grant to support the church and its community outreach programs.
Another major benefit of establishing a donor-designated fund at the Foundation is that endowed funds are designed to grow support over time.
“Funds are invested for income and growth, so that level of support the donor wants to provide annually will continue to increase over time,” Buchheit added. “We have seen each of these funds grow and be able to provide more support to these organizations each year.
“In the case of a fund like the Williams fund, an endowed donor designated funds allow support to continue even after that donor passes away.”
Anyone interested in establishing a donor-designated fund of their own, or a fund of any type, can contact the foundation at 716-301-2723 or foundation@cattfoundation.org.
Donations can be made to any of these funds at 301 North Union St., Suite 203, or online at www.cattfoundation.org.
Established in 1994, the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation 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 foundation@cattfoundation.org, or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).