Community comes together for Cranberry CUP
CRANBERRY TWP — Standing on the dewy Community Park baseball field Saturday morning, Aug. 5, Anthony Bertolino, president of Cranberry Community Uniting People, told attendees what the organization was all about.
“It’s community uniting people,” he said. “Just like all of you are here today doing the same thing and spreading this goodwill throughout the community to help people that are in need, and for community projects that really enhance what a great place Cranberry Township is.”
The 24th Annual Cranberry CUP’s opening ceremony celebrated that unity as it recognized the many beneficiaries of the organization’s projects.
“It’s bringing community together to help families that have had some stressful times in their lives and need some financial support,” he said. “The CUP gets behind them and supports them with some of their daily needs, whether it’s paying some of their utilities or their housing or just daily expenses.”
Fundraising through a variety of tournaments and events, the organization names an “Inspirational Family” each year to support — culminating in the August golf, softball and cornhole tournaments.
Since its inception, it has raised over $2.2 million for local families.
“The one thing that all of our recipients have in common is that their lives have drastically changed in the blink of an eye — the life they lived and loved was suddenly altered without any warning,” vice president Robin Shaffer said. “This truth can be seen in our 2023 Inspirational Family, the Forsyths.”
In December 2022, Bertram “BJ” Forsyth was killed in a car crash near the intersection of Route 19 and Ehrman Road, hit by an alleged drunken driver.
The tragedy left his wife, Jennifer, and three children — Emma, 15, Ko, 19, and Braden, 22 — in dire emotional and financial straits.
“When we lost our main breadwinner, it was such a relief to have that kind of help,” Jennifer said. “Honestly, it’s such an amazing charity and I hope more people support it.”
Jennifer said the family was nominated in winter of this year before being named the organization’s 2023 Inspirational Family in spring.
“I honestly am speechless, but I’m going to try to say a few words,” she said. “I think the theme of our family this weekend has been ‘grateful’ and it has been the past few months since we have found out about the Cranberry CUP and we’ve been working with them.”
As beneficiary for the 2023 Inspirational Family, she said the organization would be managing the family’s bills for the coming year.
“When we first moved to Cranberry, we were looking for a good and community and good schools for our kids, and to say that we have found that good community and the good schools, we found that tenfold,” Jennifer said. “The community has been so supportive of our family even before BJ died. We found our village, we found our people.”
While the organization does fundraising year-round to support local families, Bertolino said this first weekend in August is the highlight of the group’s efforts.
“This is our particular flagship weekend,” he said. “On Friday, we had a golf outing at Cranberry Highlands — it was a sold-out outing — we had a kick-off party immediately after that. Then we have, of course, our softball tournament on Saturday and Sunday. We’re also doing the cornhole event this year and a picnic.”
Proceeds from all of the organization’s events go to supporting community projects and families in the township.
“And we have other events throughout the year,” he said. “We have a Good Friday Golf Outing, we have a wine and bourbon tasting event. So, our organization supports families all year.”
Bertolino said the organization also manages a Christmas program for families in need as well as a scholarship program for Seneca Valley High School seniors.
As part of the opening ceremony, board member Roy Rudolph announced the 2023 winner of the Cranberry CUP Scholarship.
“We asked one simple question, in terms of an essay, ‘What is the biggest issue facing our community, and how as a community can we address it?’” Rudolph said. “This year, we had 22 essays and applications that we received.”
Of those 22, senior Hannah Cairns was awarded the $2,000 scholarship.
“I’m very honored, that’s for sure,” Hannah said. “The main thing in my life is community and volunteering.”
Her essay on mental health in the community recommended increasing the availability of therapy, healthcare and food resources through community resource centers in the township.
“As someone that has had their own personal struggle, I believe that making it a more inclusive environment for a lot of different people will be beneficial to the community,” Hannah said.
As the ceremony concluded and the tournaments began though, Bertolino said he was looking forward to another year of bringing the community together.
“I’m very proud to live in this township and of the people that are here,” he said. “When they step up and support others, our community comes together.”
