Current News

Thanks to support from the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation's Community Fund and the Bill & Cathy Fraser grant program at the United Way of Cattaraugus County, the Olean Police Department recently acquired a new drone that will serve as a tool to enhance the public safety of those in the greater Olean area.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) board of directors has named Kirk Windus its next executive director of CRCF.

Following three years of fundraising and a year of construction, the Ellicottville Skatepark Committee (SK8EVL) and the Village of Ellicottville announce the grand opening date of the new concrete skatepark, located inside Ellicottville's Village Park.

From humble beginnings to a successful career in forestry, Sandy and Connie Wolfinger have developed philanthropic hearts - hearts that have continued to grow since the couple established the Wolfinger Family Fund and the Connie and Sandy Wolfinger Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will hold its second Nonprofit Link and Learn Seminar of the year, "Keep it Simple Social: An accessible approach to social media marketing for nonprofits," to be led by marketing experts Shelley Jack and Tracy DeRose on June 2.

Frank Higgins has been an ardent supporter of animal rescues and nonprofit organizations supporting the welfare of animals in Cattaraugus County for many years.

Erick Laine was a constant figure in the Olean community, always at the heart of so much impacting the region, whether it be through business, philanthropy, volunteering or just being a friendly figure.

In many ways, a matter of the heart served as the spark for the Heart of Olean Mural Project, a 10,000 square foot, four-sided mural in the heart of downtown Olean.

The multi-generational philanthropy of the Reisner family has had and will long continue to have a deep impact on the greater Olean community.

Carroll Swanson's long career in music took her across the world, but her roots in Olean led her to establish a scholarship for musically inclined student sin the Olean area.

Four donor designated funds at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation have together supported $274,753 in grants to organizations designated by their donors so far this year.

Cindy Wagner knows the value of giving, having worked in the nonprofit sector for much of her career. Wagner recently established Wagner Family Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation to give support to libraries in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties beginning in 2023. The fund's grant application process will open August 1 with a September 30 deadline, and awards will be made in November each year.

Four area school districts and one New Jersey school recently received grants supporting new projects and education opportunities, together totaling $4,633, from the Wolfinger Family Donor Advised Fund.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will launch this year's Nonprofit Link and Learn seminar series on March 21 with the "Grant Application Coaching Workshop," facilitated by CRCF's Karen Niemic Buchheit and Monica Emery and Laura Whitford of the Renodin Foundation.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation's Community Fund grant application process is open, with grant applications due April 21.

Applications for the Ratana Ratanawongsa Scholarship at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation are available to students at Allegany-Limestone Central School in grades 7-10, with a due date of March 1.

George Pancio is maybe most remembered for his famous portrayals of Santa Claus both locally and nationally, but outside of the red suit, he dedicated himself wholly to Olean schools and the community.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation board recently elected Sean Cornelius to its board of directors and named its slate of Foundation officers for 2023, including the election of Lucy Benson as board president, while also naming Dr. Yogini Kothari an honorary board member.

Vincent Horth was a "jack of all trades" who excelled in his work as a mechanic and lineman. Horth, a graduate of Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School and Jamestown Community College, was known to share his mechanic abilities to help a friend, often working on their cars.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation's 2023 scholarship process will open to applications from area students on February 1.

Dr. Brian O'Connell Sr. was a constant figure in the education field in the Olean City School District, where he worked for 36 years of his illustrious 40-year educational career.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation board of directors has announced that long-time Executive Director Karen Niemic Buchheit plans to retire September 1.

Two aspiring sheriff's deputies recently received scholarship awards to help them in attending the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Academy, sponsored by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department at Jamestown Community College.

Once again this year school resource officers from the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Department stuffed their shopping carts full of toys and clothes to bring Christmas to area families in need.

Area nonprofits again received a boost around the holiday season from the Mahar Family Foundation Fund and the Rose Pappas Foundation Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation, which together supported 23 grants.

Ninety-six area families will have a brighter Christmas this year thanks to Interfaith Caregivers Gift Tree program and support from the Carroll and Dolores Anstaett Gift Tree Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.

81 nonprofits from across the Cattaraugus County region whose work betters the lives of Cattaraugus County residents are set to fundraise and engage in friendly competition during Cattaraugus Gives on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

Tracy Bush '85, Legacy Financial Associates, and John J Irving '76, CFP, Financial Planning and Investment Advisory Services, have committed to matching Olean School students, faculty and staff, alumni, and former residents' gifts up to $4000 in 2022.

A new fund established at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will honor the contributions of individuals who have contributed to the Greater Olean area's hospitality industry by giving the Greater Olean Hospitality Wall of Fame a permanent home in the form of a sculpture that will display the names of wall of fame inductees past and present.

The Redding Endowment Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently provided for three annual grants to support the third grade classrooms at Hinsdale Central School and East View Elementary as well as the Hinsdale Maplehurst & Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department.

Leadership Cattaraugus has extended the application period for the Leadership Cattaraugus Scholarship at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation through Nov. 10.

Two community agencies, the Cattaraugus County Department of Aging and Connecting Communities in Action, recently received grants, together totaling $4,100, from the Mental Wellness in Cattaraugus Fund to support the mental health and wellbeing of Cattaraugus County residents in need.

The Paul and Mary Lou Wood Foundation Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently made possible five annual grants, together totaling $4,038.51, to charitable causes important to Paul and Mary Lou Wood.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation recently named Monica Emery to its newly-established position, grants and donor services manager.

Applications for the next cycle of grant funding from the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation's Community Fund are due October 21.

Sondra Fox has had a long career of helping patients and clients and advocating for change in the mental health field.

Seven community agencies received funding for special projects and initiatives that aim to meet the changing needs of Cattaraugus County residents from the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation's Community Fund, totaling $10,561.

The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation will conclude its 2022 Nonprofit Link and Learn webinar series on September 19 with "Cattaraugus Gives by the Numbers," led by Cattaraugus Gives Coordinator Kirk Windus.

Announcing the open period for grant applications through the Allegany-Cattaraugus-Chautauqua Fund for Women (ACC-FFW).  Grant applications, for individual grants, are being accepted August 15 through September 15, 2022.  A thorough review of applications will precede award notifications in late October 2022.  

Terrence Mark, a former English teacher at Franklinville Central School, and his wife, Judith Mark, recently established a new scholarship fund at CRCF to support students of the Franklinville Central School district.