NORTH EAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
HISTORY

In 1991 St. Mary’s Seminary located on Division Street had been for sale for a few years after the school had been closed.  Being a major parcel with grand buildings encompassing many acres within the borough and township, a presentation was made to Mercyhurst College by Director Lisa Miller Gensheimer and some members of the North East Chamber of Commerce.  Dr. William Garvey, president of the college had viewed the property but was concerned with the amount of dollars needed for renovation and upgrades to make it a branch campus of the main campus in Erie. In the presentation from the Chamber a commitment of $500,000 was made to Mercyhurst from the Chamber to be paid over a five- year period to help offset the anticipated costs.  It was anticipated that the monies would come from local businesses, industry and residents of North East.  Mercyhurst Board of Trustees approved the purchase after this presentation and pledge.

To begin solicitations and have a vehicle to funnel the funds to Mercyhurst, it was determined to form the North East Community Foundation and the initial meeting was held on April 23, 1991 at 9:00 A.M. at Parkside.  With the assistance of Attorney Dan Hill, David Gesue conducted the first meeting. At the meeting of May 7, 1991 nine directors were elected and officers appointed. These first directors were Robert Mazza, Ernest Lake, Robert Mikytuck, David Gesue, James Weidman III, Geraldine Smith, Sharon Swift, Robert Jez, and Robert Miller. The officers were Chairman David Gesue, Vice Chair Robert Mikytuck, Secretary Sharon Swift and Treasurer Ernest Lake.Tax exempt status as a Public Foundation was received from the IRS on September 21, 1991.

Pledges were received from all aspects of the community and the first payment to Mercyhurst was made on September 15, 1991.  The second pledge payment was made in March of 1992 and an editorial of support was printed in the North East Breeze the week of March 8, 1992.

In January 1992, an anonymous gift of $100,000 was received by the Foundation to be used for other charitable purposes and to establish us as a true Public Foundation within the community.

This allowed us to make our first grant of $2,500 to bring Artrain to North East that was sponsored by N.E. Arts Council, N.E Historical Society, N.E Lakeshore Railroad Society and the N.E. Chamber.

In February 1994 action was taken to establish future funding sources beyond Mercyhurst and a Founders Group was formed from current supporters and letters were sent to solicit funds beyond the Mercyhurst pledge. As a result, we granted funds that year to McCord Library, Community Nursing Services and the North East Arts Council.

On September 21, 1994 an invitation was extended to local attorneys to attend an Informational Breakfast meeting to discuss NECF plans for estate planning and Planned Giving programs.

In early 1997 we received $136,005 from the estate of Dorothy Bertges-Thornton.  The income from this gift had designated distribution to be done yearly to six local organizations. Because of these two major gifts and investment returns, we have been able to grant over $30,000 from the Bertges Thornton Fund and nearly $100,000 from the Foundation account.

 In October of 1995 the Board of Directors was increased in number by a By-law change that specified at least nine but not more than fifteen members. We are currently a 12 member Board.

At the October 18, 2000 Board action was taken to become affiliated with Erie Community Foundation and the document was signed on March 14, 2001. During this process we changed our accounting period from fiscal to calendar year beginning July 1, 2001 to coincide with Erie Community Foundation. Committee structures were established and as a result there are a Grant Making, Asset Development and Marketing committees.

Michael Batchelor held educational sessions for the NECF Board during February and March of 2001 to acquaint them with the workings of a Public Foundation and the services they can provide to donors.

Yearly financial support continues from the community. Most notable has been from the Robert S. and Janet L. Miller Family Foundation through the United Way in 2002 and 2003.

Our Mission statement of The North East Community Foundation is to assist a diverse group of donors in improving the quality of life in and around North East, Pa. by creating permanent and flexible endowments, making it easy to carry out the donor’s philanthropic interests in a professional and timely manner.