Latest news with #EmilyWood
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Really important cause': Johnstown Walk of Hope raises money for local cancer patients, pays tribute to lost loved ones
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Holding a sign that read "Wilcox Warriors," Emily Wood made her way around the track at Greater Johnstown High School's Trojan Stadium in memory of those she lost to cancer. On Saturday, the Johnstown resident remembered her brother and grandmother, while also offering support to others during the 10th annual Johnstown Walk of Hope. "This is a really important cause to me," Wood said. "All of the funds stay local and every single dollar that comes in goes right back out to the patients who need it the most." Johnstown Walk of Hope 2 Participants begin the 10th annual Johnstown Walk of Hope Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Greater Johnstown High School's Trojan Stadium. She said the walk is a way to keep the memory of her brother and grandmother alive. "I honor them every single year and keep their legacy going," Wood said. Over the past 10 years, Johnstown Walk of Hope's mission has expanded to reach patients throughout Cambria and Somerset counties to support those who are battling cancer and assist families who have children in treatment. The latest initiative is to offer scholarships to high school students who have been directly impacted by cancer in their family. The concept of local donations helping area patients has helped grow Johnstown Walk of Hope from a $30,000 fundraising event to reaching $100,000 the past three years. "What we raise goes directly to patients in treatment here in our area," said Marlene Singer, Johnstown Walk of Hope coordinator. "The need in this area to help patients is large, but the heart of the community is even larger and they want to hep their neighbor. I truly believe that because the money stays local, it's why we've been able to continue to grow to where we are today." Through an application with a patient provider, those undergoing cancer treatment can receive monetary assistance with medications, travel expenses, utilities and vehicle repairs. "I want people to come here and know they are not alone," Singer said. "I want them to come here as a cancer survivor and help other people who are in a similar situation. We also want it to be a place where people can come and reflect on someone they've lost to cancer." Fawn Slonka, of Johnstown, was walking with the First Lutheran Church team. "We've been doing this walk since the beginning, and I offer support to my sister who is a cancer survivor," Slonka said. "She loves the people who took care of her when she had her cancer and she received such great care, so that's why we support this event." Slonka said the Johnstown Walk of Hope event is essential. "People don't always get what they need from their insurance, so this is an extra helping hand," Slonka said. "We have to support those who need help. If you have a family member or a friend or know someone from your church, go and support them because they need a shoulder to lean on."
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$45K awarded to Central Pennsylvania artists, creative entrepreneurs
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — The PA Department of Community and Economic Development has awarded a total of $45,000 in grant funding to working artists and creative entrepreneurs. The funding was delivered to those whose businesses were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The PA Arts and Recory Grant for Working Artists provided a $3,000 grant opportunity for 15 artists and entrepreneurs who experienced a significant pandemic-related disruption to their income. 'We are thrilled to be a part of this opportunity that the DCED is providing for our local artists and creative entrepreneurs,' said CFA Program Officer Emily Wood. 'We are always appreciative of efforts that build up the artists and small business owners within our region, especially those who were affected by the pandemic.' The following artists and entrepreneurs were awarded a grant: Allegory Gallery – William Jones BlindCoyote – Stephen Scott BridgePerspective LLC – Serena Bridges Bright Spot Productions – Alan Silva Coltt Winter Lepley Innovative Tomato, LLC – Angela Law Ironwood ARTifacts – Joseph Hensel Kim Williams Fine Art – Kim Williams Off Pitt Street Productions – Dawn Ziviello S. Scott Steberger / Fine Art Windscape Artventures LLC – Marcene Glover YogaSong – Rachel Allen A second round of grants will be administered later this year, with the application reopening on April 1 and being available through June 1. The opportunity is open to residents of Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset or Westmorland counties who are active or creative entrepreneurs who have made a majority of theory income from their work in 2019. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Artists in region receive funding for pandemic relief
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Fifteen regional artists and creative entrepreneurs were recently awarded Pennsylvania Arts and Culture Recovery Program grants to help offset some of the economic setbacks they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will receive $3,000 apiece, for a total of $45,000, through the state's American Rescue Plan-funded initiative that is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and locally by the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. 'We are thrilled to be a part of this opportunity that the DCED is providing for our local artists and creative entrepreneurs,' CFA Program Officer Emily Wood said. 'We are always appreciative of efforts that build up the artists and small businesses owners within our region, especially those who were affected by the pandemic.' The recipients are from Cambria, Somerset, Bedford, Westmoreland and Fayette counties. They are: Allegory Gallery (William Jones), BlindCoyote (Stephen Scott), BridgePerspective LLC (Serena Bridges), Bright Spot Productions (Alan Silva), Coltt Winter Lepley, Innovative Tomato LLC (Angela Law), Ironwood ARTifacts (Joseph Hensel), Kim Williams Fine Art (Kim Williams), Off Pitt Street Productions (Dawn Ziviello), Palm Features (Chris Rodell), Pamela Cooper, Reach Marketing and Design (Wendy Gaither), S. Scott Steberger, Windscape Artventures LLC (Marcene Glover) and YogaSong (Rachel Allen). YogaSong, based in the Johnstown area, offers yoga and musical healing, including for hospice patients and victims of abuse. Allen was not eligible for many different COVID-19 programs, being a sole proprietor with no employees, while also having a part-time W-2 job that provided her a limited income. 'I'm still trying to catch up (from the pandemic), so that was just really helpful to be able to have that resource,' Allen said. She complimented CFA for the work being done to support business owners and artists. 'I think the Community Foundation does a really good job of having a pulse on the community,' she said. 'Their recent resources that have opened up to entrepreneurs, creative entrepreneurs, is a game-changer for a lot of us sole proprietors that work in the arts, healing arts, or the visual arts or musical arts.' CFA plans a new round of funding later this year. Applications can be submitted online at beginning April 1. The deadline is June 1. Grants will be available to artists and creative entrepreneurs from Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset or Westmoreland who made a majority of their income from creative work in 2019, the year before the pandemic hit.
