V-Z
Janine Vendemia Cancer Fund
Janine Vendemia was a special person who had that special ability to touch everyone she met. Her family understands, first hand, the difficulties that people face when they are contending with cancer. This fund will help cancer survivors and their families by providing funds for transportation, lodging, personal items that would enhance self-esteem and include counseling for family members. This fund will perpetually embody the heart of Janine Vendemia who loved children and lived to enhance the lives of others.
Gretchen Wagner Charitable Fund
In 1997, Gretchen Wagner became the first recipient of the Shenango Valley Foundation Humanitarian Award. For many years Gretchen has been active in helping others through a ministry to prisoners. She decided to use the award to establish a charitable fund to assist incarcerated individuals making the transition to life outside of prison and those individuals whose life has been affected by the AIDS virus.
The Sgt. David “Walleye” Wallace III Memorial Fund
Established in April 2009, this fund will provide a scholarship to a graduating senior of Sharpsville High School who plans to pursue a degree from a college, university, trade school or military academy. It also will provide an annual Humanitarian Award to a student, faculty member, or staff member of the Sharpsville School District who makes a difference in someone’s life.
Ward Family Foundation
Sarah S. Ward was a pioneer in women’s sports long before Title IX was even a consideration. She was a standout and an all-star in Basketball, Track, Softball, Diving and Volleyball while in high school, receiving the National Medal of Excellence in Basketball. She officiated various sports at both the high school and college level in both Pennsylvania and Maryland including; Field Hockey, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball and Swimming and Diving. She was a member of the 1st induction class of the Washington County Maryland Sports Hall of Fame. She was a champion golfer playing in and winning many pro-ams and numerous golf tournaments. She had the privilege of playing a round of golf with the then President of The United States; Dwight D Eisenhower. She coached basketball at Saint Maria Goretti High School in Hagerstown, MD and at one point her teams had an 85 game winning streak.
This scholarship is presented to a graduating Hickory High School female athlete. Sarah Ward was the Mother of former Hickory High School Health and Physical Education Teacher and Girls’ Basketball and Track coach Sally Ward.
John “Scooter” Washington Scholarship Fund
This fund will provide financial aid to members of the Sharon Wrestling Club Program. It was established in January 2010 and will assist recipients with post high school training and education.
Carol H. Wassil Foundation
This fund was created by the family and friends of Carol H. Wassil who was fondly remembered by all she touched in her life. This purpose of this fund is for general charitable purposes and may include scholarships to Notre Dame Parochial School and Kennedy Catholic High School.
Weller Family Charitable Fund
Jim and Jack Weller, co-founders of Liberty Steel, have spent a considerable amount of time and effort in supporting various charitable agencies. This fund supplies much-needed funds to individuals and agencies in need. Additionally, a scholarship has been created for dependents of Liberty Steel employees, which will provide up to five $1,000.00 scholarships annually.
James T. & Geraldine A. Weller Sr. Family Foundation
Established in November 2006 by Jim and Geri Weller, this foundation will provide funds for worthwhile charitable causes within the community.
West Middlesex Area School District Education Foundation
This fund was established in 2007 to create an endowment for the West Middlesex Area School District to serve its mission.
West Middlesex Kiwanis - Peter J. Collodi Scholarship Fund
This foundation will provide funds for deserving graduating high school seniors from West Middlesex High School based upon scholastic average. Students with the first to the fifth-highest scholastic average will be awarded varying percentages of a total award.
Western PA Families of Fallen Heroes Foundation
Created in 2004, the purpose of this fund is to provide charitable funds for the families of soldiers that have lost their lives in Afghanistan or Iraq, including the parents of soldiers who might be excluded from government financial help. The foundation seeks to be of assistance long after the military’s responsibility is exhausted – long after a family gets a knock |
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| on the door from a military representative telling them their loved one has been killed. Aid is given to needy families ranging from help with utility bills, car repairs and medical expenses to providing funds for funeral related expenses like car rentals, motel rooms and flowers. Funding also is used to set up special events so that families may be together such as football, hockey or baseball game outings, an annual picnic and trips to places such as Walter Reed Hospital to visit the wounded. The fund also hopes to provide personal bracelets with the name of the fallen hero for members of the immediate family. In an effort to allow families to relax and come to terms with their pain, the foundation also seeks donations of the use of property such as cabins or cottages where families can go to be alone. Anyone who wishes to provide professional counseling also is encouraged to do so. The foundation is comprised solely of families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The foundation would like to ask all Americans to never forget the family and friends of those who lost their lives. |
Joan B. Wilcox Starfish Foundation
This fund, which was established in 2005, seeks to honor the life of Joan B. Wilcox by making grants that will benefit children at Sharpsville Elementary School.
Winner Foundation
The Winner foundation was created in 1990, by the James E. Winner, Jr. family. This family recognizes their responsibilities to those in need. The Winner Foundation was created to support education programs, Christian endeavors, social charities and the needy. Over the years the Foundation has helped hundreds of students in a student loan program, and to date has donated more than 31,000 pairs of shoes to school age children throughout Mercer County through their "Shoe our Children" program. This program was implemented in 1994 with the intention that all children returning to school have a new, proper fitting pair of shoes to start their new school year. It also initiated the "Students for Charity" program which actively involves and educates high school students in both raising and distributing funds for charity.
WIN-WIN Foundation
WIN-WIN Foundation stands for "When-In Need- We're Involved Now." It was founded by a group of local women that had all been affected by the devastations of cancer in some way and wanted to support local cancer patients in need. The money donated goes to support low income working women within our local communities diagnosed with cancer that cannot afford their living expenses, medications, or other medical expenses during their cancer treatment. The foundation holds an annual benefit "Pretty In Pink" exclusively for women. The event provides information and education on cancers such as breast cancer & ovarian cancer in addition to raising money for needy families with cancer. Potential recipients of the funds are identified by the American Cancer Society, and Social Workers at our local hospitals.
Wolves Club of Farrell Den IV Scholarship Fund
Established in 2002, this fund will provide funds for scholarships that coincide with the governing Trust Agreement dated July 3, 1990, naming Wolves Club of Farrell, PA. Den IV as Trustee. The purpose of that Trust agreement provides that scholarships shall be awarded to students from Farrell High School, Sharon High School, Sharpsville High School, Hickory High School, West Middlesex High School, Kennedy Catholic High School and Brookfield High School. The amount and the disbursement of these designated funds shall match the Trust agreement and be at the discretion of the Wolves Club of Farrell, PA. Den IV.
Benjamin J. & LaVaun A. Wood Foundation
Established in November 2008, the
Benjamin J. & LaVaun A. Wood Foundation will provide funds for Mercer County
residents that are graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in the health
care field. Applicants may include, but are not limited to, medical and
osteopathic physicians, nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse
anesthetists.
Jerry Woods Scholarship Fund
This fund was created by his daughter Nicole and members of his family to perpetuate the memory of Jerry Woods, an outstanding basketball player whose life ended prematurely. The mission of this fund is to provide an annual scholarship to a Mercer High School senior basketball player, who has demonstrated leadership, sportsmanship, and determination.
Yokes and Collins Memorial Fund
Mr. & Mrs. Arden Yokes and Dr. & Mrs. Thomas F. Collins established this fund in 1996. Annually a grant is made from this fund to support the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Paul and Rita Young Charitable Foundation
Established in November 2008,
the Paul and Rita Young Charitable Foundation will provide funding to:
Community Food Warehouse and Prince of Peace for the feeding and shelter of
homeless people in our region; to an annual scholarship for students in
graduate programs that will work in human services, and have a financial
need; and toward cancer research.
Robert and Mary Zorzi Charitable Fund
By supporting the charitable needs that exist within our community, the generosity of Robert & Mary Zorzi continues in perpetuity.
