About

You are here: Home / About

Inspire, Energize, Impact, Love

Community foundations are almost by definition forward-looking, and we like to think that applies to us, too. We’ve thought about what that means, and we arrived at the four words: “Inspire, Energize, Impact, Love.” Moving forward, we intend to work even harder on putting these words into action.

2016 Annual Report

2016 Annual Report

To all our donors:

We can’t say enough about what your philanthropy has accomplished. You have all made a noticeable and lasting difference.

To the nonprofits we partner with:

We hope we’ve helped our donors strengthen your good efforts. It’s been said that when people talk about what they value about their community, they mention friends and family, their place of worship, and the nonprofits they support—that suggests how much your efforts are valued.

Community foundations need to be many things to many people.

The whole idea of a community foundation is to channel the giving of donors who have widely varying interests and views but share a desire to improve their community. The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is the one organization in our region established to support everything—causes from education and community development to the environment and culture, and all in between.

We thank the donors who allow us to partner with them. Click here to see a complete list of those charitable individuals and organizations.

The financial statements show a strong, locally grown organization cultivated by our many donors—about 5,000 this year alone. Forty-six new funds were established and grants and charitable distributions reached nearly $6 million.

Our story is not only about money, though. We have learned that people give because they want to be connected with something. So making connections is a big part of what we do. We help donors think through their wishes, assist with the necessary language, and provide a fundamentally solid platform for their donations.

We work with nonprofits, schools, and community groups so that when donors ask we can connect them. We support programs to make nonprofits stronger so they can assist our community and be worthy of our donors’ philanthropy.

These pages highlight our 26th year. Thank you to those of you who were a part of it. We look forward to working with you and many new friends, too. We’re your community foundation, benefitting the region every day, forever.

Mark E. Pasquerilla, Board Chair
Mike Kane, President and Executive Director

Our Mission

To serve the best interests of our donors in perpetuating their philanthropic interest in financially supporting our community, using the Foundation’s integrity, accountability, and community knowledge.

Our People

Full-Time Staff

Mike Kane

Mike Kane

President and Executive Director
Mike Kane has been at the Community Foundation since 2001. During that time he has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of donors throughout Bedford, Cambria, Somerset and Indiana counties and beyond. He is interested in donors’ stories and aspirations and in the many different ways to better our community. He has served a...
Paula L. Hencel

Paula L. Hencel

Donor Services Officer
Paula Hencel brings a career of working in healthcare nonprofits to her role as Donor Services Officer at CFA. Prior to CFA, she worked with the Medical and Health Sciences Foundation at the University of Pittsburgh, and focused on securing major gifts in support of cancer research and patient care programs. She also enjoyed a...
Barb Charney

Barb Charney

Accounting Associate
Introduced to the world of nonprofits 10 years ago, Barb developed a fondness working in community services and helping people. She joined the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies in 2008. Since then, she has become devoted to helping the multiple communities and hundreds of funds that the Foundation serves. Barb is committed to efficiently managing...
Katrina Perkosky

Katrina Perkosky

Development Associate
After spending a decade in print media and radio broadcasting, Katrina Perkosky joined CFA in January 2015. As Development Associate, she is responsible for helping existing and potential donors reach their philanthropic goals. She also oversees the Foundation’s scholarship program and grant distribution. Trina grew up near Johnstown, graduated from Saint Francis University, and now...
Marisa Nelson

Marisa Nelson

Administrative Specialist
Marisa works as an administrative specialist with a personal goal to make your interactions with Community Foundation for the Alleghenies both pleasurable and helpful. She’s likely the first voice you will hear when you call our offices, and the first person you see when you visit us in Johnstown. When you do visit, be sure...

Part-Time Staff

Kerstin Cochran

Kerstin Cochran

Administrative Assistant
Kerstin is the Administrative Assistant in the Community Foundation’s Johnstown office. Kerstin handles front office duties Monday through Friday, providing essential support to our Executive Director and Board of Directors. Kerstin has a long history of administrative and management experience. Born and raised in Germany, Cochran has also lived all over the world, and brings a global...
Ali Doty

Ali Doty

Communications Specialist
Ali Doty is the Community Foundation’s media liaison and public relations officer. Ali works with journalists to help the public understand the Foundation’s work, and share some of the amazing stories that come from it. Ali spent a decade in television journalism before moving into non-profit public relations. She has her master’s degree in journalism...
Kay Reynolds

Kay Reynolds

Director, Bedford County Endowments
Kay joined the Foundation in 2005 and works as the Director for the Foundations’ Bedford County Endowments. Her job is to be a strong and influential advocate of the work of the Foundation and to inform the community of its many resources that support nonprofits and projects in Bedford County. Kay came to the Foundation...
Pamela Tokar-Ickes

Pamela Tokar-Ickes

Director Somerset Community Funds
Pamela Tokar-Ickes has joined the Foundation team  in 2016 as the director of its Somerset County Community Funds. In her role, she will lead the Community Foundation’s initiatives in Somerset County, helping current donors to benefit the causes they care about, working with new donors to meet their charitable goals, and providing insight into the concerns and priorities...
Angie Berzonski

Angie Berzonski

Program/Communications Officer
Angie joined the Foundation in 2011. As Program & Communications Officer, she helps local nonprofits learn more about our grant opportunities, manages the Foundation’s grantmaking programs, and oversees its publicity and marketing. Prior to her current position, she was editor of Johnstown Magazine, and worked in public relations, television, and radio. Angie volunteers with several...
Lori Huska

Lori Huska

Accounting Assistant
Lori is the accounting assistant at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. Her primary responsibility is to record contributions. She personally sees that all donations are deposited and credited to the correct fund. Lori oversees the donor information as well as the gift data for each one. In addition, Lori receives invoices and payment requests...
Jack Anderson

Jack Anderson

Senior Development Specialist/Consultant
Jack Anderson served as the Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Mount Aloysius College for 10 years prior to his association with the Foundation. That followed a 31-year career in banking highlighted by his service as the CEO of Promistar Financial Corporation, a predecessor of First National Bank of Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of...

Board of Directors

Jerry Hudson

Jerry Hudson

Vice President Chief Quality Officer, Concurrent Technologies Corporation
Robin Quillon

Robin Quillon

Sr. Vice President, Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc., and Publisher, The Tribune-Democrat
Bill Rice

Bill Rice

RCF, CRPC, Laurel Highlands Financial Services LP
Carol Stern

Carol Stern

Retired Assistant Director/Director of Donor Services

Other Boards & Committees

Past Members – Board of Directors

Robert Allen – Executive Director, Emeritus

Dr. Frank Blackington

Abe Beerman

Scott Becker

G. Henry Cook

Kim Craig

Allan Dennison

Dr. Albert L. Etheridge

Robert Gleason, III

Dr. Curtis Goldblatt

Darryl Myers

Renuka Narahari

D. C. Nokes, Esq.

Daniel Perkins

James V. Saly

Kenneth Shorts

Matthew Smith

Robert D. Sweet

Ernest Wadsworth

Foundation Officers

Mike Kane, President

Mark Pasquerilla, Vice-President and Chairman of the Board

Terry Dunkle, Treasurer

Gary Horner, Secretary

ACADEMIC ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD

Mrs. Louise Fisher

Ms. Wanda Keller

Mrs. Dorene Lape

Ms. Connie J. McClain

Ms. Lois Miller

Ms. Kristine Olsen

Ms. Wilda Sanna

Mrs. Anita Sukenik

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Ms. Amy Edminson

Mr. John Kriak

Mr. Mark Pasquerilla

Dr. Robert Swanson

Mr. Mario Wilfong

BEDFORD COUNTY ENDOWMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Mrs. Lynn Ashe

Ms. Trudy Barefoot

Mr. John Blackburn, III

Ms. Lori Copley

Mr. James Gonsman

Mr. Brian Jeffries

Mr. Michael Lamb

Mr. H. Dean Lemley

Mr. Robert D. Sweet, Jr.

Mr. Mark Thomas

BORK FAMILY FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Mr. David Bork

Mr. David Bork, Jr.

Mrs. Jessica Borowitz

Mr. Michael Grimes

Mr. Mark Pasquerilla

Mr. James Rihs

Mr. Michael Sahlaney, Esq.

Mr. William Shulick, Esq.

DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE

Mrs. Lynn Ashe

Mr. John Ayres, Esq.

Mr. Terry Dunkle

Ms. Jennifer Johnson

Ms. Sue Mann

Mr. Bill McKinney

Ms. Melanie Miller

Mr. Hank Parke

Mr. Mark Pasquerilla

Mr. John Reed

Mr. Michael Sahlaney, Esq.

Mr. Rick Smith

Ms. Paula Thomas

Ms. Michelle Tokarsky, Esq.

Mr. William Uhlig

EVERETT AREA FUND

Mr. Don Burd

Ms. Wendy Dunkle-Daley

Mr. Justin Hillegas

Mr. Dan Iseminger

Ms. Leesa Keys-Waite

Ms. Jessica Michael

Mr. John Mobus

Mr. Gary Shetter

Mr. Ken Tewell

Mr. David Wallace

Executive Committee

Mr. Terry Dunkle

Mr. Robert Eyer

Mr. Gary C. Horner, Esq.

Mr. John Kriak

Mr. Richard Mayer

Mr. Mark Pasquerilla

Mr. Michael Sahlaney, Esq.

Ms. Sally Sargent

Ms. Michelle Tokarsky, Esq.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Ms. Vickie Beer

Mr. Terry Dunkle

Mr. Robert J. Eyer

Ms. Melissa Komar

Mr. Mark Pasquerilla

Mr. Mario Wilfong

INVESTMENT COMMITTEE

Mr. Samuel Catanese

Mr. Casey Craig

Mr. Raymond E. DiBattista

Mr. John Kriak

Mr. Mark Pasquerilla

Mr. William Rice

Mr. Tyler Trimbath

MARKETING COMMITTEE

Mr. Dennis Brawley

Ms. Lauren Cascino-Presser

Mr. William Glosser, Esq.

Ms. Kellie Goodman-Shaffer

Ms. Dan Hill, Esq.

Ms. Jeannine McMillin

Mr. Mark Pasquerilla

Ms. Melissa Radovanic

Ms. Leah S. Spangler

Dr. Robert Swanson

Ms. Colleen Tretter

MEYERSDALE WIND POWER FUND ADVISORY

Ms. Connie Anderson

Dr. Grant Atwell, II

Mr. David Clapper

Dr. Tracey Karlie

Mr. Harold Nicholson

Ms. Carol Stern

PENELEC SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ADVISORY BOARD

Mr. Scott Gebhardt

Mr. Brian Hill

Mr. Frank Plank

Ms. Marybeth Smialek

Mr. John W. Ubinger, Jr.

Mr. Brian Vayda

Ms. Beverly Weaver

Mr. Gregory Winger

Mr. Chady Zablit

PORTAGE REGIONAL ENDOWMENT

Mr. John Adams

Mr. George Fetsko

Mr. Michael Kiel

Mr. Russell Kiel

Ms. Linda Miko

Mr. Randy Stager

SOMERSET COUNTY COMMUNITY FUND ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Ms. Michele Beener

Ms. Vickie Beer

Mr. G. Henry Cook

Mr. Theodore Deskevich

Mr. Raymond E. DiBattista

Mr. John Fiesta

Mr. C. Gregory Frantz, Esq.

Mrs. Lana Miller

Mr. Matthew G. Melvin, Esq

Mr. Hank Parke

Ms. Pamela Ream

Mr. Bill Rice

Ms. Carol Stern

SOMERSET COUNT COMMUNITY FUND DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE

Ms. Michele Beener

Mr. Scott Bittner, Esq.

Ms. Sharon Clapper

Mr. Theodore Deskevich

Mr. Bruce G. Hottle

Mr. Sean Isgan

Mrs. Lana Miller

Ms. Melanie Miller

Mr. Hank Parke

Ms. Carol Stern

Mr. Brian Whipkey

Mr. James Zimmerman

Auditors

Barnes, Saly & Company, Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Our Financials

*It is the policy of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies to make available Form 990-T for any years in which it files that form.