The Boy Scouts of America’s Laurel Highlands Council will honor Mike Kane, president, and executive director of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, with its Distinguished Citizen Award at the annual Harry E. Mangle Memorial Dinner on October 26, 2023. The Distinguished Citizen Award honors individuals who share Scouting’s belief in leadership, determination, and values and have contributed significantly to the growth and vitality of our community.
Mike Kane has been president and executive director of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies since 2001. During that time its assets have grown from $13 million to nearly $124 million held in over 900 funds. The Community Foundation is supported by over 14,000 distinct donors each year and by bequests and other gifts made by individuals who want to leave a permanent legacy in the region we love.
During his tenure at the Community Foundation, the organization has had critical roles in catalyzing, attracting, and stewarding funds for numerous community projects as well as a number of environmental-based initiatives, including the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, FracTracker Alliance, the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, the Breathe Collaborative, and others. During his time the Community Foundation has been a strong advocate of the development of trails in our region.
Mike has served on a number of local and regional boards, including Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, Penn Highlands Community College, Conemaugh Valley Conservancy, the John P. Murtha Foundation, and others.
He holds a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MA from Emerson College. He is a 1978 VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) graduate whose assignment at the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority focused on rebuilding efforts after the 1977 Johnstown Flood. He is married to Elizabeth Mayer and together they have two adult children. Elizabeth’s late father, Jim Mayer is the namesake of the Jim Mayer Riverwalk. Jim was the catalyst for the development of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.
