JAMESTOWN – The WCA Foundation recently held its 44th Annual Meeting on June 9 at UPMC Chautauqua. During the meeting, board members and staff reflected on the Foundation’s accomplishments, celebrated key milestones, and recognized two leaders whose service helped guide a period of significant growth and transformation.
Board Chair, James Pullan, Jr. and Treasurer and Finance Chair, James Domagola were honored for their nine years of dedicated service to the Foundation. During their tenure, the Foundation strengthened its operations, enhanced its investment performance, expanded its philanthropic impact, and increased its support of UPMC Chautauqua and the patients it serves.
Their leadership helped advance key initiatives, including the hiring of the Foundation’s first full-time Executive Director, strengthening donor stewardship efforts, and expanding philanthropic support for healthcare programs and services at UPMC Chautauqua.
“The leadership and dedication demonstrated by Jim Pullan and Jim Domagola over the past nine years have left a lasting mark on the Foundation,” said Kristin Melville, Executive Director of the WCA Foundation. “They have been exceptional stewards of our mission; and their vision, commitment, and support have helped position the Foundation for continued success. We are deeply grateful for their service and the legacy they leave behind.”
The WCA Foundation welcomed new board leadership. Newly elected officers who will serve for one year: Kelly Johnson, Esq., Chair; The Honorable Jeffrey Piazza, Vice Chair; Peter Morgante, CPA, Treasurer and Finance Chair; and John A. “Chip” Johnson, Secretary. Melville said, “We’re excited to begin collaborating with this fantastic team of skilled and knowledgeable professionals.”
About the WCA Foundation
The WCA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit supporting foundation to UPMC Chautauqua. Independent from the hospital, the WCA Foundation ensures donations remain in the Jamestown community, as do the grants it awards in support of healthcare initiatives. Since its founding in 1982, the WCA Foundation has grown through the generosity of donors and careful stewardship of charitable gifts. Over $15M in support has been awarded to UPMC Chautauqua for patient care, healthcare services, medical equipment, and staff scholarships Through philanthropy, the WCA Foundation continues to connect community generosity with opportunities to strengthen healthcare today and for future generations.
Jamestown – A generous Lakewood couple has donated $100,000 through the WCA Foundation to establish a workforce scholarship fund benefiting UPMC Chautauqua employees.
Of the total gift, $50,000 will be invested into an endowment to provide a permanent source of scholarship support for future generations of healthcare workers, while the remaining $50,000 has been designated as an immediate impact gift, allowing scholarships to be awarded right away as the endowment grows and matures.
The scholarship fund is intended to help employees pursue higher education, certifications, and professional credentials that will allow them to advance within the healthcare field. Whether an employee hopes to transition to a different department, pursue a new healthcare profession, or gain specialized skills, the fund will help remove financial barriers to achieving those goals. By investing in education and career advancement, the scholarship program will empower employees to improve their personal financial circumstances while strengthening the quality of healthcare available throughout our community.
“We are thrilled and deeply honored to receive this extraordinary gift from a couple with strong ties to our community,” said Kristin Melville, Executive Director of the WCA Foundation. “Their generosity demonstrates a meaningful commitment to supporting the growth and development of UPMC Chautauqua’s healthcare workforce. This scholarship fund will create opportunities for employees to pursue new career paths, earn degrees and credentials, and achieve greater financial stability for themselves and their families. At the same time, it will help address workforce needs and enhance the care provided to our community.” The donors’ decision to create both an endowed fund and an immediate-use scholarship fund ensures that employees can benefit today while establishing a legacy for the future. While they have chosen to remain anonymous, they look forward to staying involved with the WCA Foundation and seeing the impact this investment grow.
“This transformative gift reflects the donors’ belief that investing in people is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen healthcare.” Melville, added, “One of the most inspiring aspects of this gift is that it creates an opportunity for others to join in its impact. Anyone can contribute to the fund and help invest in the future of our healthcare workforce. Together, we can create opportunities for employees, strengthen healthcare in our community, and build a legacy that will benefit generations to come. The best way to sum up this wonderful gift, is through the donors themselves whose heartfelt message to UPMC Chautauqua employees, “’BE ALL YOU CAN BE AT UPMC!’”
Kristin Melville
Executive Director, WCA Foundation
51 Glasgow Avenue, P.O. Box 840
Jamestown, NY 14702-0840
Phone: (716) 664-8665 Office
Email: Melvillek@upmc.edu
Donate: wcafoundationjamestown.org
For more information about the Pathways to Advancement: Workforce Development Fund or other ways to support healthcare in our community, please contact the WCA Foundation.
Jamestown – Cummins, Inc. employees are all heart. For more than a decade, Cummins employees have purchased flowers and chocolates on site for their significant others in celebration of Valentines Day with all proceeds benefiting UPMC Chautauqua’s Cardiac Care. Cummins Employee Resource Group and their Women’s Empowerment Network are led by Mellisa Pollino and Dori Highhouse who manage a core team of 30 people across all three shifts hosting a variety of meaningful fundraising activities. Their largest events, Heart Awareness, International Women’s Day, International Day of the Girl, and Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns bring awareness to their employees and while raising community funds for non-profit organizations.
UPMC Chautauqua has been the beneficiary from their annual Heart and Breast Cancer Campaigns. Kristin Melville, Executive Director of the WCA Foundation, remarked at the check presentation, “Cummins employees have helped citizens of Chautauqua County stay healthy. Funds from their health campaigns have made improvements to the hospital’s patient cardiac gym, expanded the mammography patient treatment area, and introduced vital education and prevention programs that raise awareness for their employees. Cummins employees are some of the most generous and thoughtful donors, and this gift of $4,900 is just one more commitment demonstrating their dedication to the health of our communities.
Pictured: L – Jennifer Hetrick, Cummins Employee Resource Group; Kristin Melville, Executive Director, WCA Foundation, and Melissa Pollino, Cummins Employee Resource Group and Women’s Empowerment.
Jamestown — The WCA Foundation has awarded a historic grant of $770,441 to UPMC Chautauqua—the largest allocation in the Foundation’s 44-year history. This funding represents the spendable earnings from endowed funds held by the Foundation and underscores its long-standing commitment to advancing local health care.
The WCA Foundation’s mission is to enhance patient care through philanthropic support to UPMC Chautauqua, ensuring the hospital has the resources necessary to deliver expert, timely, and compassionate medical care to all residents of Chautauqua County.
Thanks to the generosity of community donors, the WCA Foundation has had a profound impact on health care in the community. Grant funding has supported the acquisition of vital medical equipment, expanded cancer and cardiac care services, strengthened mental health and substance use programs, enhanced emergency services, provided scholarships, and promoted healthy beginnings for new parents and newborns. Over the past 44 years, the WCA Foundation has contributed more than $15 million in grant funding to drive innovation and sustain essential medical services. The Foundation’s priority in their criteria of giving clearly maintains its mission to support patient care.
Tracy Gates, President of UPMC Chautauqua, expressed her appreciation to the Foundation and its leadership for this significant investment. She emphasized, “These funds are critical to the health of the community and play a vital role in delivering effective, high-quality care for local patients.” Ms. Gates highlighted the key purchases supported by the WCA Foundation 2025 allocation.
Emergency Family Consult Room An Emergency Room Family Consult Room provides a private, quiet space where families can receive difficult news, grieve, and ask questions with dignity after the loss of a loved one. This dedicated space helps reduce emotional distress and improve family satisfaction during one of the most difficult moments they will experience.
The GE Voluson Ultrasound System – Strengthens the hospital’s women’s health services by delivering clearer, more advanced imaging that supports earlier and more confident diagnoses for mothers and babies. This technology enhances quality of care, improves the patient experience, and helps clinicians provide the highest standard of prenatal and gynecologic care for our community.
Kristin Melville, Executive Director of the WCA Foundation, expressed her gratitude to the Foundation’s board, community donors, and the individuals and families who have established endowments in support of the hospital. She noted, “The generosity, foresight, and commitment of donors have been instrumental in anticipating the evolving health care needs of the community and ensuring UPMC Chautauqua will continue to have the resources necessary to serve patients well into the future.”
Create an endowment to honor the memory of a loved one that will grow and endure, contact the WCA Foundation and learn how a small contribution can serve an entire community. Contact Kristin Melville, Executive Director, WCA Foundation, melvillek@upmc.edu or 716-664-8665. The WCA Foundation is a 501 C (3) nonprofit organization.
Jamestown – Nothing beats a hot bowl of soup on a cold day. The WCA Foundation challenged area restaurants to compete in the Best Soup in Chautauqua County at the SOUPer Bowl Sunday XI, held at the Celoron American Legion on Sunday, February 1st.
2 Gingers Inn located at 1118 E. Second Street, Jamestown won the Championship for Best Soup in Chautauqua County. The second-place winner was GameTime Sports Bar & Grille located at 850 Foote Avenue. Nearly, $4,000 was raised to benefit UPMC Chautauqua’s Medical Lab Science Program.
Pictured: L-R, UPMC Chautauqua Med Lab Coordinator, Kyle Jordan; Michele Harms, UPMC Chautauqua Med Lab Director, 2 Gingers Inn Chef, Shaibu Bilar Alfa; 2 Gingers Inn Owner, Lisa Painter; Medical Lab students, Kyle Owings, Cleo McDermot, Kayla Martinelli.
Area restaurants who competed were Group Ther-Happy, Buddy Brewster’s Ale House, Studio D Catering, UPMC Chautauqua Cafeteria, UPMC Chautauqua Kitchen, Kidder Farms Market, Phil- N- Cindy’s Lunch, and 3 C’s Catering.
Sponsors of the event included Media One, WellNow, Shults Auto Group, and the Celeron American Legion. A special appreciation to all gift basket donors, guests, and event volunteers.
For more information about the WCA Foundation and to make a donation, contact WCA Foundation, at 716-664-8665 or visit wcajamestown.org.
Framed In Pink, an endowment fund established by the late Sue Lamb and her family at the WCA Foundation presented a check of $18,651 from the proceeds of their Framed in Pink Bowling Over Breast Cancer event that was held on October 5, at Jamestown Bowling Company to UPMC Chautauqua Mammography Department staff. The funds will benefit UPMC Chautauqua’s Mammography Department expansion project that will improve patients’ comfort and care. The WCA Foundation has completed their breast cancer campaign for capital improvement. The project is expected to be completed in 2026. L-R: Emily Zamboink, UPMC Chautauqua, Patti Reed, Kristin Melville, WCA Foundation, Julie Abramson, Eileen Bertrando and Brooke Mareri, UPMC Chautauqua. The Framed in Pink Committee is underway with their 2026 event planning. For More Information and to sponsor contact, Julie Abramson, at julieabramson@yahoo.com, or to make a donation visit wcafoundationjamestown.org, or call at 716-664-2100.
Jamestown, NY — The WCA Foundation is honored to announce the establishment of the “Beeutiful” Lianne Edborg Memorial Cancer Fund, a new endowment created by Lianne’s family to support cancer care at the UPMC Chautauqua Hillman Cancer Center.
This meaningful endowment serves as a lasting tribute to Lianne’s life, spirit, and the love she shared with her family and community. Inspired by her love for bees, the fund’s name reflects qualities that defined Lianne—strength, courage, resilience, teamwork, and the power of community.
The “Beeutiful” Lianne Edborg Memorial Cancer Fund will provide long-term support for patients receiving cancer treatment locally, ensuring access to compassionate, high-quality care for generations to come. Through this gift, Lianne’s family is transforming their grief into a powerful source of comfort and hope for others facing cancer.
During her journey, Lianne received care close to home through UPMC Chautauqua, while also benefiting from specialized treatment at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and UPMC Hamot. The ability to remain near family while accessing advanced cancer care made a profound difference during an incredibly difficult time.
“This endowment is a beautiful expression of love and belief in the importance of exceptional local cancer care,” said Kristin Melville, Executive Director of the WCA Foundation. “Lianne’s legacy will live on through every patient supported and every life touched by this fund.”
The WCA Foundation is deeply grateful to Lianne’s family for their extraordinary generosity and for entrusting the Foundation to steward this meaningful legacy. The “Beeutiful” Lianne Edborg Memorial Cancer Fund will stand as a permanent symbol of remembrance, compassion, and hope within the community.
To make a donation to “Beeutiful” Lianne Edborg Memorial Cancer Fund or to learn how to support cancer care through the WCA Foundation at the Hillman Center UPMC Chautauqua, please visit wcafoundationjamestown.org or contact, Kristin Melville, Executive Director, at melvillek@upmc.edu or call the WCA Foundation at 716-664-8665. All funds donated to the WCA Foundation support Chautauqua County residents.
Pictured: L to R: Melissa Pollino, Cummins Engine; Eileen Bertrando, Supervisor, UPMC Chautauqua Mammography department; Emily McAllister, Cummins Engine; Kristin Melville, Executive Director, WCA Foundation; and Sharla Bunk, Christina Thomas, Brelynn Ball, Caitlin Webster, all from Cummins Engine.
Cummins Engine employees present the WCA Foundation with a check from their recent employee Breast Cancer Education and Prevention Fundraiser. The funds will benefit the UPMC Chautauqua’s Mammography department expansion which will provide increased comfort and care for patients.
The WCA Foundation has been raising funds through community events and the support of area businesses during the month of October to educate the public on early breast cancer detection. The funds raised through the campaign will help complete the mammography department’s expansion at the hospital. Cummins Engine employees for more than a decade have rallied financial support from their employees for non-profit organizations.
The WCA Foundation and UPMC Chautauqua have been grateful recipients of these generous funds. Kristin Melville and Eileen Bertrando spoke to the group about the importance of early detection and how UPMC Chautauqua is helping to save lives. For more information or to contribute, visit wcafoundationjamestown.org.
The Shades of Pink Golf Tournament proudly celebrated its 9th year of raising funds to support breast cancer care and education at UPMC Chautauqua.
Founded by Anne and Steve Sischo, the annual event is held on the first Friday in August and has become a community tradition. The Sischos have been tireless advocates for local breast cancer care, beginning with an initial commitment of $5,000. Today, their Shades of Pink Endowment at the WCA Foundation has grown significantly, helping thousands of area patients—from those receiving preventive screenings like annual mammograms to those undergoing breast cancer treatment.
This year’s tournament raised $12,900 through the generous support of business sponsors, volunteers, and golf participants.
With October recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the community is encouraged to continue this vital work by donating to the Shades of Pink Endowment Fund at the WCA Foundation.
For more information, visit wcafoundationjamestown.org or contact the WCA Foundation office in Jamestown at 716-664-8665.
Framed in Pink returns on Thursday, October 5, at 12 p.m. at the Jamestown Bowling Company, launching a month of fundraising events hosted by the WCA Foundation in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Founded in 2014 by the late Sue Lamb, Framed in Pink has become a beloved community tradition, drawing nearly 150 participants each year. Lamb’s family and friends proudly continue the event in her memory, raising funds and awareness for local breast cancer care.
Proceeds benefit breast cancer prevention and treatment at UPMC Chautauqua, helping ensure patients receive vital care close to home. This year’s goal, $20,000 will support the expansion of the hospital’s mammography suite, improving access to screenings and enhancing patient comfort.
“We’d love to surpass our goal this year,” said Committee Chair Julie Abramson. “Every donation strengthens local breast cancer care. We are grateful for the businesses, individuals, and in-kind contributors who rally behind this cause.”
To register, donate, or provide an in-kind contribution, contact Julie Abramson at julieabramson at yahoo.com. For a listing of October events hosted by the WCA Foundation visit wcafoundationjamestown.org or contact the foundation at 716-664-8665.
Photo Caption:
Framed in Pink Committee organizers are ready to launch the first fundraising event hosted by the WCA Foundation in observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. The Committee accepts a check for major event sponsor, Lifted Dispensary.
Left to right: Patti Reed, Corin Derby, Julie Abramson, Kristy Moore, Jim Mee, Jamestown Bowling Company, owner, Brooke Mareri, Megan Ludwiczak, Tim Scoma, Lifted Dispensary.