School News

Last Updated on Monday, 30 October 2017 14:30

The Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) is pleased to announce the 2017 Philanthropists of the Year are John and Sophie Choratch, who are being recognized posthumously at the Foundation’s Philanthropy Banquet on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe.

Proceeds from the event will support the charitable activities of the WCCF, including the John and Sophie Choratch Scholarship Fund.

The Foundation created the Philanthropist of the Year award in 1999 to recognize local philanthropists for exceptional generosity to the Washington County community.
Lifelong residents of Donora, John Choratch and Sophie Andrews Choratch married shortly after Sophie graduated from high school. John was already employed at the Donora steel mill when they were married.

When the mill closed, John and Sophie purchased John’s Flower Shop in Donora as a means to provide for themselves. The flower shop was one of three flower shops in Donora at that time. Shortly after making that purchase, John suffered a heart attack and died, leaving Sophie to manage the store on her own.

As Sophie was preparing her will, she instructed her attorney, the former Paul Barna, to include some financial gifts to family members, as well as $25,000 to the local Meals on Wheels program and $25,000 to the Donora Public Library.

Sophie clearly believed in education, as she instructed that the residue of her estate be used to create a perpetual fund to provide scholarships to local high school students. Sophie wanted students to be able to attend any post-secondary school in the country to pursue any vocation. The WCCF was selected to administer the scholarship fund.

One of the students who has been helped is Alana Luppino, a graduate of Washington High School who is attending the University of Miami. “Last semester I was able to receive my open water diver certification through my school's SCUBA club, which will be beneficial for my prospective career as a marine scientist,” she said.

Brooke Dorsey, a graduate of McGuffey High School and current business major at West Liberty University, said having the scholarship cover a portion of her tuition enabled her to purchase a camera to pursue her love of photography.

“This scholarship has helped me in choosing my major to become a nurse,” remarked Mikala Maltony, a graduate of Washington High School who is attending the University of Akron. “If it wasn’t for this scholarship and for both my parents, my father a firefighter and my mother a nurse, I wouldn’t have found my passion for helping others and wanting to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Boomer Kemp, a graduate of Peters Township High School and current public health major at Slippery Rock University, said the scholarship support enables him to volunteer more at college. “Volunteering is my way of earning this scholarship,” he said.

Chartiers-Houston High School graduate Hunter Saieva wants to help police officers who have been wounded in the line of duty. She said, “My father was injured by a bullet and God gave him a second chance at life. Since then, I knew that I couldn't follow in his footsteps and worry my family. I am continuing my education here at Penn State as a psychology major in hopes that I will get to help police officers talk and cope with situations they've been through.”

Alex Adams, a graduate of California Area High School and current finance major, hopes to one day provide help to students like he has been helped. He said, “The Choratch scholarship has enabled me to attend California University of PA and focus on my studies. I want to be able to be in a position one day to give back to the community, help others maximize their educational potential and possibly have a scholarship of my own to award.”

Anyone with additional information regarding John or Sophie Choratch, or anyone wishing to make a reservation to the banquet, is encouraged to contact the Community Foundation at 724-222-6330 or info@wccf.net.

[Click on Gallery to view photos of the scholarship recipients.]