Portaits of hunger: Stories of Americans on food stamps

It’s easy to stereotype recipients of government assistance as a small group of people who just aren’t trying hard enough to make ends meet. But according to this video report from PBS, entitled Portraits of hunger: Stories of Americans on food stamps, more than 46 million Americans – that’s about 1 in 7 of us – are on food stamps, and out of those people, almost half are employed.

It’s an eye-opening video that is very much worth the 12 minutes it takes to watch.

If you or someone you know is struggling to put food on the table, here are some local resources that can help:

State College Area Food Bank – 814-234-2310

Centre County Office of Adult Services – (814) 355-6768

Community Help Centre – 814-237-5855

-Erin

We learned a lot at the Knight Foundation’s Media Learning Seminar!

Over this past holiday weekend, a few CCCF representatives attended the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Media Learning Seminar, where we learned about emerging trends and ways to better communicate with people in our community, and how to help them communicate with each other.

We work closely with the Knight Foundation, and have received grants from them that allowed us to better assess our county’s needs, and to work on projects that will bring needed high-speed Internet access, and a 211 non-emergency helpline to Centre Countians. Because Centre County is one of 26 Knight communities across the country, and the Centre County Community Foundation is a Knight Community Information Challenge grant-winner, Knight pays for a staff member and a board member to attend the annual Media Learning Seminar, at Knight Foundation headquarters in Miami.

Eli Pariser spoke at the Knight Foundation's Media Learning Seminar this past weekend.

The Media Learning Seminar is always a  great place to get ideas for new and innovative projects, both from the very experienced and intelligent speakers, and from other community foundation administrators like ourselves.

Speakers included Amy Webb, CEO of Webbmedia Group, who talked about how to reap the benefits (and avoid the dangers) of new technology; Eli Pariser, Chairman of the Board of MoveOn.org and the author of the New York Times bestselling book The Filter Bubble, who talked about how the Internet is becoming more and more personalized, which can prevent people from experiencing diverse opinions and information; Ethan Zuckerman, director of the Center for Civic Media at MIT, and a principal research scientist at MIT’s Media Lab, who talked about his Global Voices site, which showcases news and opinions from citizen media in over 150 nations and 30 languages; and many others interesting speakers.

There were also speakers from other community foundations, who talked about innovative projects they are doing in their communities, from helping people who are interested in environmental preservation, to improving early childhood education.

We learned a lot, and we’re excited to bring that information back to the Centre County community!

-Erin

Check out our slideshow of grant presentation photos!

At the end of last year, we announced that our final 2011 round of competitive grants would bring more than $40,000 to 13 local nonprofit organizations. For that granting cycle, we decided to do something new. Rather than simply mail grant checks to the organizations that had earned them, we sent representatives from our board and staff out to see them in person. It was a great way for us to form stronger bonds with the people to whom we give grants!

We took photos at those meetings, and we’ve arranged them in a slideshow. Click here to watch it! Enjoy!

-Erin

CBICC announces awards finalists

The Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC) just released the finalists for its annual awards, one of which is sponsored by us at CCCF!

The finalists for the CCCF-sponsored Community Service Award are Georgia Abbey, from Leadership Centre County; Betsy Dupuis, from Babst, Calland, Clements & Zomnir, PC; and The Hartman Group.

Winners will be announced at the CBICC’s annual Awards Gala, on Thursday, March 1, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Cost is $75 per person and attendees must register by Feb. 16.

Other awards that will be given that night include the Corporate Philanthropy Award, the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award, the Quality of Life Award, and the Small Business of the Year Award. Click here for a list of all of the awards and the nominees!

Congrats to the finalists, and good luck!

-Erin

Workshop will help nonprofits develop sustainability plan

Michael Brand will speak about keys to nonprofit sustainability this Wednesday.

In an age in which nonprofits are scrambling for more funding, sustainability is a topic on a lot of people’s minds. For that reason, the Centre County Community Foundation is teaming up with Leadership Centre County to sponsor How To Think About Fiscal Sustainability: A Framework for Securing Your Future, a workshop in which Erie Community Foundation Program Officer Michael Brand will discuss specific ways to keep your nonprofit afloat during these difficult times.

Topics will include the five critical components of a financial plan, determining financial gaps, devising strategies for sustainability and building your nonprofit’s capacity for support and future success.

The workshop will take place from 1 to 5 p.m. this Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Ferguson Township Municipal Building Community Room. Registration costs $30, and the event is open to all.

Check out the video below to hear from Michael about the keys to a sustainability plan, and go to his website to find out more about him!

-Erin

Event to prepare parents, children for kindergarten

Erin Rowley is the Program Assistant at the Centre County Community Foundation.

Because of Countdown to Kindergarten, I now have something I almost certainly wouldn’t ever have otherwise – a picture of myself with Dora the Explorer.

But the annual Countdown to Kindergarten, which takes place tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 4) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nittany Mall, by the J.C. Penney Court, is much more than live-action cartoon characters. As a former intern with Smart Start – Centre County, the organization that sponsors it, last year I helped staff the event, which helps parents of 3-5-year-olds learn more about their kindergarten options. Representatives from public schools, private schools, and local support agencies will be on hand to answer questions and help parents decide what the best kindergarten option is for them and their children.

It also provides prize drawings and fun activities for the kids to take part in while their parents peruse the displays. This year’s theme for the activities is health and nutrition.

Me (far left) with Dora Explorer during the 2011 Countdown to Kindergarten

This event is NOT kindergarten registration; it’s simply a way to help parents and children prepare for the big transition to school.

Check out Smart Start’s website for more information about helping children prepare for kindergarten, and come out on Saturday to meet one-on-one with experts who will help you choose which options are right for your child.

-Erin

Support the United Way this Valentine’s Day!

Today is the first day of February, which means that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! And the United Way is offering a deal that will be sure to please your sweetheart, while helping local people in need.

You can buy roses or carnations through Penn State’s Liberal Arts United Way, and proceeds will benefit the Centre County chapter of the United Way. One dozen red roses cost $25, a half dozen roses cost $15, and a half dozen pink, red and white carnations cost $8. Payment (cash or check) is due with your order by Feb. 9. Checks should be made out to Liberal Arts United Way.

All bouquets, provided by Woodrings Floral Gardens in State College,will be wrapped in cellophane and include greens and baby’s breath.

For more information, or to place an order, contact Barb Edwards, 201 Willard Building, bae1@psu.edu, 814-863-0344.

There’s a good chance you’ll be buying flowers anyway, might as well support a good cause while you’re at it!

-Erin