Western Pa. nonprofits roll dice on casino company grants

Twenty-four nonprofits throughout Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland and Washington counties are among 150 entrants vying for $50,000 in grants through the Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.'s Community Aces Challenge 2015.

One $15,000 grant and one $10,000 grant each will be awarded in the small and large market categories.

The event was open to the first 150 eligible nonprofits within 60 miles of the 15 casino properties Isle of Capri owns or operates in seven states.

“We received over 300 entries. We were pleasantly surprised with the number of charities,” said Jill Alexander, Isle's spokeswoman.

Agencies are competing for votes on the Community Aces Challenge Facebook page, where visitors may learn about the proposed projects and cast votes through March 20.

“Facebook allows us to limit voting to one per day per user. ... It's how we keep the voting fair,” Alexander said.

Local organizations are competing in the small market category of Farmington, where the Lady Luck Nemacolin is located.

“At Isle of Capri Casinos, we believe in being good neighbors through charitable giving and volunteer work. Our Community Aces program, named in honor of our founder, Bernard Goldstein, now includes the Community Aces Challenge. The Challenge is designed as a social media competition for nonprofit projects which will improve the quality of life of those who live and work in the communities we call home,” said Virginia McDowell, Isle's president and chief executive officer, in a release.

Nonprofits submitted essays and photos describing projects they hope to finance with a winning grant, and how the project would benefit their communities.

They include:

• Westmoreland Fayette Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Greensburg, Camp Conestoga dining hall roof replacement.

• Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp., Keystone Project apartment renovation.

• Redstone Foundation (nonprofit arm of Fayette County Chamber of Commerce), Uniontown. Take Pride Fayette, pride of place effort working with businesses, schools, organizations.

• The Village of FPC child-care center, California. Free child care for single parents/full-time students who meet academic requirements and volunteer at center.

• Fayette County Association for the Blind, Uniontown. Vision for Living support and activity program.

• Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, Lemont Furnace. “Future of Fayette” Program.

• Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern PA, Washington. Purchase small passenger van for client transportation in Fayette County.

• Fayette County Community Action Agency Inc., Uniontown. Food bank programs.

• East End United Community Center, Uniontown. Accountability, Connecting, Educating, Sharing, (A.C.E.S.) Mentorship program for males.

• War & Veterans Inc., Uniontown. Final phase, World War II Indicator for 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack.

• Nicholson Cancer Fund Inc., Connellsville. Ninth annual bike run and dinner to raise funds to help local cancer patients struggling with daily living expenses.

• Friends of Ohiopyle, rehabilitation of Jonathan Run Trail in Ohiopyle State Park.

• Unity A Journey of Hope, Vanderbilt. Establish a thrift-antique store to support mission of granting wishes to adults with a life-limiting illness.

• Laurel Area Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers Inc., Faith in Action, Latrobe. Recruiting/retaining younger generation of volunteers.

• Ohiopyle-Stewart Community Center. Purchase/install backup emergency generator.

• Ligonier Valley Learning Center Inc. Summer mental health wellness program for children.

• Stage Right School for the Performing Arts, Greensburg. Arts N' Autism program.

• Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor, Latrobe. Bring the restored 1938 Serro's Diner home to the Lincoln Highway Experience museum.

• Turkeytown VFD, South Huntingdon. Replace squad truck.

• Mountain Fellowship Community Center, Markleysburg. Remodel community building.

• Genesis House Ministries Inc., Uniontown. Programming and housing for men released from prison or referred as alternative sentencing.

• Friends of Laurel Hill State Park, Somerset County, replace wooden boat/fishing docks.

• Somerset Conservation District, purchase equipment for educational conservation efforts.

• Confluence Creative Arts Center, develop a series of after school and weekend drop-in art classes.

Winners will be announced the week of April 6, National Volunteer Week.

Mary Pickels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com.