Preserving the Local Environment in southwestern Pennsylvania: Part of the Mission of the Colcom Foundation

The Colcom Foundation was begun
during the lifetime of Cordelia S. May. She provided additional funding
following her death in 2005. The foundation continues its work today in the
path that Cordelia directed. 

  

The website of Colcom talks about the foresight, dignity, and compassion of its
founder. The grants that award today and in the future will continue to honor
those traits and seek to keep them alive. 

  

There are three major areas that are the beneficiaries of the impact of the Colcom Foundation. They are
carrying capacity, local environment, and local community. The local
environment is one that warrants an in-depth examination. 

  

When the Colcom Foundation mentions local environment, it refers to southwestern
Pennsylvania. Specifically, there are fourteen counties within that definition.
They include Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria,
Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland. 

  

One of the foundation’s efforts involves the Pittsburgh Airport Corridor. Their
impact involves over 700 acres in conservation areas. This effort is called by
the name of the Hollow Oak Land Trust. 

  

Another of the foundation’s impacts on the local environment is supporting a fund that
provides short term no interest loans to land trusts and nonprofits who need
funds to purchase and protect land in southwestern Pennsylvania. 

  

They also fund the Westmoreland Land Trust which specifically works in Westmoreland
County to preserve property that has value for future generations for
recreation or simply to protect the land from development. 

  

One more endeavor is WeConservePA. This organization is dedicated to protecting the
land in general including waterways. A driving force is to provide outdoor
recreation areas for the citizens of the area. 

  

There are other projects of the Colcom Foundation that involve local environment.
They are all tied into the ideal of preserving land in southwestern
Pennsylvania for present and future generations. See related link for
additional information. 

  

Learn more about Colcom Foundation on https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=COLC002