News & Events

Explore news, upcoming events, and highlights of our work in scholarships, grants, and community engagement across Northwestern Pennsylvania.

BBCF Awards Record-Breaking $613,440 in Scholarships to Local Students

Bridge Builders Community Foundations is proud to announce a record-breaking year of scholarship support for local students.For the 2026–2027 academic year, BBCF awarded $613,440.14 in scholarships...

Giving With Intention: Aligning Your Philanthropy With Your Financial Plan

Have you ever wondered how your charitable giving fits into your overall financial plan? For many individuals and families, generosity is an important part of life. They support causes they care...

Why Local Giving Has a Different Kind of Impact

When people think about charitable giving, large national organizations often come to mind. Those organizations do meaningful work. But giving locally operates differently — and in many cases, the...

What Does a Community Foundation Actually Do?

If you stopped someone in Northwestern Pennsylvania and asked them what a community foundation is, chances are they wouldn’t have a clear answer. Many people have heard the term, but few can explain...

Stronger Together: A Community Conversation on Food Insecurity in Venango County

Food insecurity isn’t always visible — but in Venango County, it’s very real. Nearly 50,000 people call this county home. More than 1,200 families live below the poverty line, and over 1,600...

How to Navigate Local Scholarship Opportunities: A Guide for Students and Families

Applying for scholarships can feel complicated, especially if this is your first time going through the process. Between schoolwork, activities, jobs, and deadlines, it is not always obvious where to...

Honoring a Legacy of Compassion: The Alfreda Kurtich Memorial Nursing Scholarship

Established in 2022, the Alfreda Kurtich Memorial Nursing Scholarship was created by John Kurtich to honor the memory of his late wife, Alfreda Kurtich—a woman of deep faith, kindness, and unwavering...

Bridge Builders Community Foundations Announces 2025-2026 Scholarship Recipients

Venango, Forest and Clarion Counties, PA — Bridge Builders Community Foundations is proud to announce the recipients of scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Each year, the Foundation...

Honoring a Legacy of Leadership: The Coach Patterson Charitable Foundation

Few people leave the kind of lasting impact that Coach Pat Patterson did in the Oil City community. As an educator, coach, and mentor, his influence extended far beyond the classroom and the field—he...

Enriching Our Region Through the Arts: The Venango County Arts and Culture Endowment

Since its founding in 1997 by the former Venango Area Community Foundation (now an affiliate of Bridge Builders Community Foundations), the Venango County Arts and Culture Endowment has played a...

Bridge Builders Community Foundations Celebrates 50 Years of Philanthropy and Community Impact

Today, April 30, 2025, Bridge Builders Community Foundations (BBCF) proudly marks a major milestone—50 years of philanthropic service and transformational community impact across the Oil Region....

Celebrating 50 Years of Impact: What to Expect in 2025

Bridge Builders Community Foundations is officially turning 50—and we’re celebrating in a big way! Since 1975, we’ve been connecting people who care with causes that matter, and in 2025, we’re...

Our 2025 Annual Report is Now Available!