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CATTalyst COllective contributes $5k to The Elevate Fund at CRCF

by Tyler Veno

Donation aims to empower women entrepreneurs in Cattaraugus County

Wed, Jul 2nd 2025 02:00 pm
Pictured are members of the CATTalyst COllective and Elevate Fund founders and CRCF board member Shelley Jack. Back from L-R: Tom Cullen, St. Bonaventure University Entrepreneurship Center; Bob Forness, Olean Business Development; Kathleen Martel, JCC Workforce Development & the Hatch; Shelley Jack; Keri Kerper, city of Olean Community Development ; Jason Miller, Cattaraugus-Allegany Workforce Development Board. Front, L-R: Megan Hageny, Economic Recovery Corps Fellow; Brianna Shay, JCC's the Hatch; and Kimberly Lamendola, Southern Tier West Regional Planning Development Board.
Pictured are members of the CATTalyst COllective and Elevate Fund founders and CRCF board member Shelley Jack. Back from L-R: Tom Cullen, St. Bonaventure University Entrepreneurship Center; Bob Forness, Olean Business Development; Kathleen Martel, JCC Workforce Development & the Hatch; Shelley Jack; Keri Kerper, city of Olean Community Development ; Jason Miller, Cattaraugus-Allegany Workforce Development Board. Front, L-R: Megan Hageny, Economic Recovery Corps Fellow; Brianna Shay, JCC's the Hatch; and Kimberly Lamendola, Southern Tier West Regional Planning Development Board.

The Elevate Fund, a women-led giving circle managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, recently received a $5,000 donation from the CATTalyst COllective. 

The Elevate Fund is a participatory philanthropy group created to empower, connect and inspire women and girls in Cattaraugus County. Through pooled contributions and shared leadership, participants will support initiatives that help women thrive—whether through education, entrepreneurship, mentorship, or other areas identified by the group.

The CATTalyst COllective is a collaboration of key entrepreneurship and business service organizations across Cattaraugus County focused on economic and workforce development opportunities in the county. The collective was formalized in 2024 thanks to a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

The collective chose the Elevate Fund as a philanthropic vehicle to meet its goal of providing support for women owned businesses and women entrepreneurs in Cattaraugus County. 

“The collective also hopes that its support will encourage others to join in supporting the Elevate Fund as it begins its work”, said Bob Forness, Olean Business Development Corporation President and Executive Director.

“This fund resonates deeply with our mission,” said Kirk Windus, CRCF executive director. “By supporting women and girls through The Elevate Fund, we’re investing in the foundation of our community’s future prosperity.”

Established in March 2025, The Elevate Fund aims to support immediate grantmaking, with a portion allocated to an endowed fund to ensure the fund’s long-term sustainability. 

Membership in The Elevate Fund is structured to be inclusive and accessible. Anyone interested in becoming a supporter can learn more at cattfoundation.org/the-elevate-fund.

The $5,000 gift will be added to the fund’s pool to provide annual grant support. The donation strengthens the fund’s ability to support community-level programs designed to uplift women and girls across the region. 

“We are deeply grateful for this generous gift from the CATTalyst COllective, which furthers our momentum in the Elevate Fund and reflects a shared belief in the power of women to strengthen our communities,” said Shelley Jack, founding board member of The Elevate Fund. “As we continue to shape the Fund’s leadership, governance and next steps, we invite others to join us—whether by contributing, sharing ideas, or simply learning more."

Established in 1994, CRCF 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  [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).