Meet the Grantmakers May 13th, 2010

Meet the Grantmakers

• May 13th, 2010

• Sponsored by the Human Services Council of Indiana County

Our Presenters

• Michael Kane, Community Foundation of the Alleghenies

• Adriana Dobrzycka, Women and Girls Foundation (WGF)

• Joni Schwager, Staunton Farm Foundation

• Laurel Shaw, McCune Foundation

Michael Kane

• President and Executive Director since 2000

• Management of Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund and the PA Green Business Initiative

• Oversight of operations, including strategic planning, administration, development, finance and program management

• Prior experience at Conemaugh Health Foundation, WJAC-TV, Benshoff Printing and The Kiski School

• BA from University of Pittsburgh and MA from Emerson College

• Assisted in start up of Stonycreek-Quemahoning Initiative, whitewater tourism project, Life Johnstown

• Serves on Power of 32 Steering Committee, PA Highlands Community College, ArtWorks, Johnstown Industrial Development Corporation and the Foundation for PA Watersheds

• Recently served as President of Grantmakers of Western PA

Adriana Dobrzycka

• Program Officer – assists in grantmaking and outreach efforts that aim to increase the rights of women and girls in Southwest PA

• Graduated from St. Cloud University with a BA in Anthropology and Political Science

• Just completed a joint Master’s degree from University of Pittsburgh in the Graduate School of Public Health and Graduate School of Public and International Affairs

• Adriana is from Florence, Italy

• Background in human rights research and advocacy, collaborated with Cultural Survival, The Advocates for Human Rights and South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center in New Delhi, India

• Volunteers for Welcome Center for Immigrants and Internationals, Operation Safety Net and Pitt FORGE

Joni Schwager

• Executive Director of the Staunton Farm Foundation since 1998. It is a sixth generation family foundation, awarding grants in the field of behavioral health (including substance use and co-occurring disorders) in ten counties in southwestern Pennsylvania since 1937. The focus is on improving access to behavioral health care for underserved populations, decriminalizing mental illness and improving behavioral health care in rural areas.

• Responsible for all aspects of the foundation’s operations and supervises three staff.  She reports directly to the foundation’s Board of Directors.

• Joni serves on several boards and advisory committees, some of which are: LEAD (Leading in Education and Awareness about Depression), the regional HIV/AIDS Allocation Committee, the Pennsylvania Health Care Funders Collaborative, United Way of Westmoreland County’s Children, Youth and Family Impact Council, and Allegheny County’s Mental Health Forensic advisory committee.

Joni Schwager

• She worked as a Network Development Manager and as a Clinical Manager of an Employee Assistance Office at Merit Behavioral Care, (1993-1998), as a Clinical Supervisor at Jewish Family and Children’s Services (1982-1993) and a partner in a private psychotherapy practice, (1985-1991).

• Joni received her BS from Kent State University in 1979 and her MSW from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982. A Buffalo, New York native, she has lived in Pittsburgh since 1982. Joni and her husband, Gary, live in the city of Pittsburgh’s east end with their daughter, Emily.

Laurel Shaw

• Senior Program Officer since 2006 where she shares grantmaking responsibilities across the Foundation’s four program areas: education, human services, culture, and civic; assuring ongoing effectiveness of the overall grants program, and representing the Foundation in the community.

• Formerly employed as the Development Manager at The Pittsburgh Project and at Carnegie Mellon in the Dean’s Office of Student Affairs.

• Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Business and Public Policy and master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz School in Public Policy and Management. She is a 2003 graduate of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs program offered by the Coro Center for Civic Leadership.

• Laurel is a native of Los Angeles and moved to Pittsburgh in 1992.

Human Services Council

• Mission: The mission of the Human Services Council (HSC) shall be to foster, promote, and facilitate cooperation among human service organizations in Indiana County.

• Definition: The HSC is a voluntary, representative, countywide organization for agencies/individuals who are interested in providing and improving human services in the County. The term ‘human services’ refers to the well-being of people in the broad sense; encompassing health, education and training, social adjustment, recreation, employment, and environmental conditions.

Human Services Council

• The purposes of the HSC are:

• (1) To provide a forum for cooperation and sharing of information to promote mutual understanding.

•  (2) To understand the needs of the community.

•  (3) To encourage groups and agencies to work together in addressing those needs.

•  (4) To help promote the work of human service agencies and the HSC.

•  (5) To provide training and staff development opportunities.

•  (6) To encourage collaboration and coordination to improve the effectiveness of services.

•  (7) To develop a mechanism that enables agencies to decrease costs and maximize resources.

Joining the Council

• The fee to join the Council is $30 for an agency and $20 for an associate. Agency members receive full voting benefits and Associate members are welcome to attend all meetings. Associate members would include churches, businesses, and schools/students.

• To join Council, please complete the application form and return it with your check made payable to the Human Services Council of Indiana County, P.O. Box 1293, Indiana, PA 15701.