Born out of that idea was the Brokenstraw Valley Fund (BVF).

The purpose of the Brokenstraw Valley Fund is to make charitable donations primarily in the fields of the arts, education, health, and community related activities all in accordance with the guidelines of the Community Foundation of Warren County. It is the responsibility of the oversight committee to ensure the Brokenstraw Valley Fund is effectively managed and donations are recommended in accordance with the fund’s purpose.

Donations made by the public are left untouched as investment capital and will continue to grow. Grants will only be distributed from the interest generated by the fund’s principal/investment capital.

Since 2019, the Brokenstraw Valley Fund has awarded more than $27,350 to community projects and improvements, such as paving/concrete work for the Warren County Fair, masonry work at the Wilder Museum and the Ramps Ministries project through the Youngsville New Life Church. The Ramp Ministries serves those with short or long term need for better access to their home. In the last two years, the ministry has provided ramps to more than 20 homes in the Youngsville/Brokenstraw area. This year, the BVF is providing a $2,000 grant to the Ramp Ministries to continue with their work in the community.

Those who want to support the Brokenstraw Valley Fund can do so on Wednesday, May 13, through the Community Foundation of Warren County’s Warren Gives event.

In its 14th year, Warren Gives is an annual online giving event that has grown from raising $146,000 in 2013 for the benefit of 87 charitable causes, to a record breaking amount of over $1,000,000 to 110 charitable causes that serve Warren County residents.

Last year, the Kinzua Youth Development Center received $97,957 which is a new record high for an organization. In addition, donations surpassed the $7,000,000 mark of total dollars raised by the Warren Gives event over its 13 years.

Mark King, executive director of the Community Foundation of Warren County, said he hopes that this year Warren Gives will surpass $1,000,000 again. Doing so would bring the total amount raised to more than $8,000,000.

“This is all due to the incredible generosity for Warren County and a reflection of how much Warren County values its charitable organizations,” King said.

The Community Foundation underwrites all the event costs including covering credit card processing fees so that 100% of what a donor gives goes directly to the organizations they choose. In addition, every donation grows due to the match pool. The match pool has increased from $75,000 in 2025 to $85,000 this year. Every donation made gets a piece of the match pool.

Match pool sponsors are Community Foundation, DeFrees Family Memorial Fund, Betts Foundation, Calvert-Pearson Insurance, Crossett, Ellwood National Forge, Northwest Charitable Foundation, McComas Charitable Fund, Sara Sokolski Memorial Fund, Superior Tire & Rubber, & United Refining Company, as well as three new Match Pool Sponsors, the Price Family Charitable Fund, the Richard T. Betts Family Foundation and Whirley Drinkworks.

Added to the list of charitable organizations are Northern Pennsylvania Regional College and the Warren County Crime Stoppers, bringing the count to 112.

Check donations are due by Monday, May 11, with checks made payable to the Community Foundation of Warren County and Warren Gives on the memo line. In order for the foundation to apply the check to the selected organizations, donors should use a Check Acceptance Form, which is available at WarrenGives.org or at the foundation office. Checks and the required form may be mailed or dropped off to the foundation office but must be received by Monday, May 11, to be eligible for a portion of the match pool dollars. Qualified Charitable Distributions from retirement accounts are welcomed.

Online donation is from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 13, at WarrenGives.org. If using a debit or credit card online, there is a $10 minimum donation on the safe and secure site.