JOE DEMOTT COMMUNITY FUND AWARDS GRANT TO SUPPORT PORT ALLEGANY SCHOOL DISTRICT ART PROGRAM

PORT ALLEGANY, PA — The Joe DeMott Port Allegany Community Development Fund, held at the McKean County Community Foundation, awarded a $2,000 grant to the Port Allegany School District to help purchase a new ceramic kiln, ensuring students can continue participating in a longstanding art education program.

For more than 34 years, ceramics has been an important part of the district’s art curriculum. Each year, approximately 180 to 200 students in grades seven through twelve participate in the art program, where they explore their creativity through hand-building, wheel-thrown pottery, and other ceramic projects. A functioning kiln is essential to completing these projects and continuing this valuable educational experience.

Recognizing the need for a new kiln, Port Allegany School District art teacher Doug Triplett took the initiative to seek funding to help preserve the program for future students. With an expected lifespan of 10 to 20 years, the new kiln could benefit 1,800 to 4,000 students over its lifetime.

Joe and Sue DeMott established the Joe DeMott Port Allegany Community Development Fund in 2018 to support projects and initiatives that improve quality of life in Port Allegany. The fund is a true community effort, welcoming donations from individuals, families, businesses, and anyone who wants to support the area’s future.

An advisory committee of community members with strong ties to Port Allegany makes grant decisions. Each year, committee members carefully review applications from local organizations, schools, and community groups, considering the community’s needs and the potential impact of each request.

“One of the things that makes this fund so special is that it brings the community together to support the community,” said Tiffany Boschert, Executive Director of the McKean County Community Foundation. “Our committee members take their responsibility seriously, and with so many deserving projects, these decisions are not always easy. Each application receives thoughtful consideration. This grant is a wonderful example of how community giving can support something meaningful today while creating opportunities for students for many years to come.”

The Joe DeMott Port Allegany Community Development Fund continues to grow through the generosity of community members who believe in investing in Port Allegany. Every contribution helps strengthen the fund’s ability to support local projects, organizations, and initiatives for years to come.

Those wishing to contribute can donate online at www.mckeancountyfoundation.org by clicking the “Donate Now” button and selecting the Joe DeMott Port Allegany Community Development Fund. Checks may also be made payable to the McKean County Community Foundation and mailed to P.O. Box 708, Bradford, PA 16701, with the fund name included in the memo line.

The McKean County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies. Through charitable funds established by generous donors, the Foundation supports local communities through grants, scholarships, and charitable initiatives that improve the quality of life throughout the region. For more information, contact the Foundation at 814-834-2125.

Photo caption: Pictured from left are Mark Errick, Joe DeMott Fund Committee Member; Tiffany Boschert, Executive Director of the McKean County Community Foundation; Toncha Barber, Acting High School Principal; Doug Triplett, Port Allegany School District Art Teacher; Leslie Kallenborn, MCCF Board Member and Joe DeMott Fund Committee Member; and Joe Lashway, Joe DeMott Fund Committee Member.