Meet the Grantmakers
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May 13th, 2010
Sponsored by the Human Services
Council of Indiana County
Our Presenters
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Michael Kane, Community Foundation of
the Alleghenies
Adriana Dobrzycka, Women and Girls
Foundation (WGF)
Joni Schwager, Staunton Farm
Foundation
Laurel Shaw, McCune Foundation
Michael Kane
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President and Executive Director since 2000
Management of Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund and the PA Green
Business Initiative
Oversight of operations, including strategic planning, administration,
development, finance and program management
Prior experience at Conemaugh Health Foundation, WJAC-TV,
Benshoff Printing and The Kiski School
BA from University of Pittsburgh and MA from Emerson College
Assisted in start up of Stonycreek-Quemahoning Initiative,
whitewater tourism project, Life Johnstown
Serves on Power of 32 Steering Committee, PA Highlands Community
College, ArtWorks, Johnstown Industrial Development Corporation
and the Foundation for PA Watersheds
Recently served as President of Grantmakers of Western PA
Adriana Dobrzycka
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Program Officer – assists in grantmaking and outreach efforts
that aim to increase the rights of women and girls in
Southwest PA
Graduated from St. Cloud University with a BA in Anthropology
and Political Science
Just completed a joint Master’s degree from University of
Pittsburgh in the Graduate School of Public Health and
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Adriana is from Florence, Italy
Background in human rights research and advocacy,
collaborated with Cultural Survival, The Advocates for Human
Rights and South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center in
New Delhi, India
Volunteers for Welcome Center for Immigrants and
Internationals, Operation Safety Net and Pitt FORGE
Joni Schwager
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Executive Director of the Staunton Farm Foundation since 1998. It is a
sixth generation family foundation, awarding grants in the field of
behavioral health (including substance use and co-occurring
disorders) in ten counties in southwestern Pennsylvania since 1937.
The focus is on improving access to behavioral health care for
underserved populations, decriminalizing mental illness and
improving behavioral health care in rural areas.
Responsible for all aspects of the foundation’s operations and
supervises three staff. She reports directly to the foundation’s Board
of Directors.
Joni serves on several boards and advisory committees, some of which
are: LEAD (Leading in Education and Awareness about Depression),
the regional HIV/AIDS Allocation Committee, the Pennsylvania Health
Care Funders Collaborative, United Way of Westmoreland County’s
Children, Youth and Family Impact Council, and Allegheny County’s
Mental Health Forensic advisory committee.
Joni Schwager
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She worked as a Network Development Manager and as a Clinical
Manager of an Employee Assistance Office at Merit Behavioral Care,
(1993-1998), as a Clinical Supervisor at Jewish Family and Children’s
Services (1982-1993) and a partner in a private psychotherapy
practice, (1985-1991).
Joni received her BS from Kent State University in 1979 and her MSW
from the University of Pittsburgh in 1982. A Buffalo, New York native,
she has lived in Pittsburgh since 1982. Joni and her husband, Gary,
live in the city of Pittsburgh’s east end with their daughter, Emily.
Laurel Shaw
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Senior Program Officer since 2006 where she shares
grantmaking responsibilities across the Foundation’s four
program areas: education, human services, culture, and civic;
assuring ongoing effectiveness of the overall grants program,
and representing the Foundation in the community.
Formerly employed as the Development Manager at The
Pittsburgh Project and at Carnegie Mellon in the Dean’s Office
of Student Affairs.
Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh in
Business and Public Policy and master’s degree from Carnegie
Mellon’s Heinz School in Public Policy and Management. She is
a 2003 graduate of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs
program offered by the Coro Center for Civic Leadership.
Laurel is a native of Los Angeles and moved to Pittsburgh in
1992.
Human Services Council
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Mission: The mission of the Human Services Council (HSC)
shall be to foster, promote, and facilitate cooperation among
human service organizations in Indiana County.
Definition: The HSC is a voluntary, representative, countywide
organization for agencies/individuals who are interested in
providing and improving human services in the County. The
term ‘human services’ refers to the well-being of people in the
broad sense; encompassing health, education and training,
social adjustment, recreation, employment, and environmental
conditions.
Human Services Council
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The purposes of the HSC are:
(1) To provide a forum for cooperation and sharing of information to
promote mutual understanding.
(2) To understand the needs of the community.
(3) To encourage groups and agencies to work together in
addressing those needs.
(4) To help promote the work of human service agencies and the
HSC.
(5) To provide training and staff development opportunities.
(6) To encourage collaboration and coordination to improve the
effectiveness of services.
(7) To develop a mechanism that enables agencies to decrease costs
and maximize resources.
Joining the Council
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The fee to join the Council is $30 for an agency and $20 for an
associate. Agency members receive full voting benefits and
Associate members are welcome to attend all meetings.
Associate members would include churches, businesses, and
schools/students.
To join Council, please complete the application form and
return it with your check made payable to the Human Services
Council of Indiana County, P.O. Box 1293, Indiana, PA 15701.
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