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. Community leaders, donors, volunteers, and elected officials gathered to commemorate the half-century legacy of BBCF and to cast a bold vision for its future.
President and CEO Trenton Moulin opened the commemoration by honoring those who have shaped the Foundation’s journey—from its visionary founders to the thousands of everyday community champions who give their time, talent, treasure, and ties to help others.
“Reflecting on the past can be powerful,” Moulin remarked. “But I’m not tethered to the past—I’m filled with hope. Hope for the future of this organization and the communities we serve.”
Since its founding in 1975, BBCF has established more than 250 charitable funds and awarded over $20 million in grants and scholarships. From supporting local startups and students to responding to crises and championing new ideas, the Foundation has grown into a force for good in Venango, Clarion, Forest, and surrounding counties.
The Foundation’s history is rich with milestones:
- First donations received and grants made in 1976
- $1 million in total assets achieved in 1994
- Expansion to Clarion and Forest Counties in 2008
- Partner of the Year – Venango Area Chamber of Commerce – 2015
- First gift of real estate in 2018
- Over $2 million in community impact in a single year in 2020
Key figures were honored during the celebration, including Janice Horn, a longtime board member and donor known for her quiet yet powerful advocacy; Benjamin McFate, the founding attorney whose foresight birthed the Foundation; Stephen Kosak, the former executive who revitalized the Foundation in the late 1980s; and Theodore Welch Esq., whose legal counsel and leadership ensured the Foundation’s stable growth.
“We are the torchbearers of their vision,” Moulin said. “Each of us has a role to play in writing the next chapter of this story.”
As the program turned toward the future, longtime board member and current board secretary Lynn McCaslin shared a powerful reflection, challenging attendees to imagine the legacy they will leave for future generations. “Picture your youngest loved one. Where will they be in fifty years? Will they have seen our example of service—or will they benefit from it?”
McCaslin introduced the “4 T’s of Philanthropy”—Treasure, Time, Talent, and Ties—as guiding principles for ongoing impact. She underscored the Foundation’s growth from $3 million in assets when she joined the board to $21 million today, and projected the potential for $50 million in assets with $5 million in annual community reinvestment in the years to come.
Quoting philanthropy expert Jessica Browning, McCaslin added, ““Right now, philanthropy is struggling. External factors like tax policy, social disconnection, worship pattern and more are threatening to undo America’s philanthropic legacy. We can’t let that happen.”
Bridge Builders’ roots run deep, but its sights are set on the horizon. From expanded educational access to addressing future societal challenges—like technology, health care, housing, and sustainability—BBCF aims to remain a driving force in uniting people and resources for the common good.
The 50th anniversary celebration will continue throughout the year with a series of public events, including the unveiling of a community art piece, the publication of a written history of BBCF, and a gala fundraiser featuring former NFL quarterback Charlie Batch on September 27, 2025.
As BBCF looks to the future, its mission remains the same: to connect people who care with causes that matter. Today’s celebration was not just a tribute to the past but a call to action—for the next 50 years and beyond.
