Announcing The Flamecrest Foundation

The Flamecrest Foundation is a new, federally recognized nonprofit focused on supporting and encouraging community leadership in and around Greensburg, Pennsylvania with plans to expand throughout the rest of Westmoreland County. Our first two initiatives are sharply focused on Greensburg Salem High School students actively working to improve their community.

The James P. Vrable Scholarship for Service to Others predates the Foundation itself by five years. Named in honor of my late father, it annually awards $2,000 each to two graduating seniors with outstanding histories of community service and volunteership. We are continuously impressed and inspired by the caliber of young people who apply; two awards never feels like enough.

To accompany the rollout of The Flamecrest Foundation, we are proud to announce our newest initiative, Spark Grants. Open to all Greensburg Salem High School students, Spark Grants are micro-grants of $200 to $500 each, awarded to individuals with an idea to improve their community in a tangible way and the drive to see it through to completion. We hope to expand to other schools in the near future.

For the first five years of awarding the Vrable Scholarship, it was no more complicated than reading through the applications, deciding on the winners, and mailing out a couple money orders. Incorporating it into an official nonprofit was a natural, if delayed, extension of that process.

The name “Flamecrest” is intentionally vague so as not to inadvertently limit the scope of our efforts down the road. It is meant to evoke a small light in the darkness, seated on a distant hilltop. Hopefully that light can serve metaphorically as both a beacon and source of warmth.

Thus far, all the money awarded has come directly from myself or members of the Vrable family. This will remain true for the first batch of Spark Grants as well. Since none of us would consider ourselves to be “rich” in the conventional financial sense, this is likely not a sustainable funding model, especially if we want to continue to expand our programs indefinitely. Our hope is that we may eventually inspire others to contribute both financially and through partnerships to keep the Foundation alive and growing for years to come.

In order to serve the community, we need to hear from its members. The Flamecrest Foundation is eager to entertain ideas, suggestions, and feedback on how we can improve our impact and reach more people. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any thoughts or questions you may have.

My most sincere thanks,
Scott Vrable