[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/2″]We are featuring a very special organization this Friday: The Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains.[/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”2680″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”http://cabotsusq.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/frontwithflowers2.jpg” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Although their Twitter presence @CommunityFDN is rather new, this institution has been an integral part of the Montrose & Susquehanna County communities for some time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Cabot has worked closely with the Foundation over the past few years and we are all very happy to watch their online presence grow.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]So what is the Foundation exactly? In Cristine Clayton‘s words:

We are a non-profit financial institution.  We manage funds that provide assistance to local nonprofit organizations within our community in the Endless Mountains region of Northeast PA.  We also administer the Education Improvement Tax Credit program, which provides scholarship assistance to over 200 local children each year.  The EITC program allows local businesses to redirect their tax dollars to help education right here at home – often at very little to no out-of-pocket cost to the donor.

We also spoke with Cristine about the Foundation’s new Twitter presence:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Are you the person responsible for the tweets? And how did you come to the decision of joining Twitter?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Both Peter Quigg, our President, and I contribute to the Community Foundation’s tweets.  We each have a different focus within the Foundation and want to share what’s going on.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We began tweeting as part of our new online presence campaign.  We recently rolled out a new website and have begun to connect via social media.  We want to know what matters to each of our donors and think that social media will allow us a new perspective.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]How long have you been tweeting?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We just joined in December of 2012.  We are brand-spanking new to Twitter and hope to connect with others in our community soon![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]How do you hope Twitter will help spread your mission and raise awareness of your organization?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We would love to connect with local businesses interested in EITC so we can increase the number of kids we help, as well as individuals that would like to plan for long-term charitable giving.  Our funds allow donors to have a sustainable effect on our region by donating 5 % of their fund’s value to a local nonprofit every year – perpetually.  Our EITC program allows businesses to contribute to local education in a way that costs less and maximizes impact.  I believe that every business would jump at the chance to participate in this program – some just don’t know about it yet![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”2678″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”http://cabotsusq.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/eitcbanner_final.png” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We follow local individuals and businesses to see what is important to our community.  We also keep abreast of national and global news for Community Foundations and the nonprofit sector.  Community Foundations are growing by leaps and bounds – I recently posted about Mark Zuckerberg’s donation of nearly half a BILLION dollars to a local Community Foundation.  It will be amazing to see how that gift grows and the direction they take.  A gift to a Community Foundation is truly the gift that keeps on giving – forever.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Is there anything else you would like to add about the Community Foundation?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We had the opportunity to work with Cabot Oil & Gas with their Endless Mountains Health System Community Match campaign this summer.  It’s great to see the amount of time, effort, and money that has been contributed to such worthy causes in our area.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]They have also contributed to our EITC program, which provided over 140 students 100% funding at the Susquehanna County Career & Technology Center.   Each of those kids is truly grateful for the opportunity that they have been given.  We look forward to working with Cabot in the future![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]We have over 140 funds currently.  Donors are welcome to contribute to any of our funds or can schedule time to learn about starting a fund of their own.  We would be happy to explain our funds and our EITC program anytime!  You can email – [email protected], visit our website www.community-foundation.org, or call :  (570) 278-3800.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]