A small nonprofit investing in community service leadership in southwestern Pennsylvania.
The Flamecrest Foundation is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering community service leadership in southwestern Pennsylvania. We are initially focusing on Greensburg Salem School District with plans to expand throughout the greater Westmoreland County community.
Today, our work takes two forms. The James P. Vrable Scholarship for Service to Others recognizes Greensburg Salem High School seniors who have demonstrated a genuine commitment to helping others. Spark Grants are micro-grants of $200 to $500 to kickstart community service projects initiated and led by highly motivated students. With the help of individual donations, we will continue to expand upon initiatives and outreach.
Our name is meant to evoke a small light in the darkness, seated upon a remote mountaintop in the wilderness. Hopefully, it can serve as both a beacon and a source of warmth.
We're intentionally small. We have no paid staff, no office, and no overhead beyond basic web hosting costs and minor administrative fees—and even that is covered out-of-pocket by our founder, Scott Vrable. Every dollar donated to The Flamecrest Foundation goes directly to the individuals and projects we serve.
If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us directly. We would love to hear from you!
Yes, The Flamecrest Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our EIN is 39-3341536.
Yes, donations to The Flamecrest Foundation are tax-deductible as allowed by law. You will receive a receipt for your donation via email. Our EIN is 39-3341536.
100% of every donation goes directly to our projects. As of right now, all donations go to the Spark Grants program. (The Vrable Scholarship is funded entirely by the Vrable family and does not accept outside donations.) As our programs grow, we will continue to expand the scope of where your donations go.
The Flamecrest Foundation is led by a three-person, unpaid, volunteer board listed below. Flamecrest was founded by Scott Vrable, graduate of Greensburg Salem High School, who currently lives in California. The other members of the board are teachers at Greensburg Salem High School.
We are always looking for new ideas and ways to support the community. If you have an idea for a project you'd like to see funded, please contact us directly. In the future, we will also be looking to add board members with diversified backgrounds in Westmoreland County to help us expand our reach and impact.
You can contact us directly via the the contact page. We will do our best to respond to your message within 24 hours.
Literally speaking, it's a small bird native to Taiwan. For the purposes of this foundation, however, it's a metaphor for a small but persistent light on a distant hilltop.
The Flamecrest Foundation is led by an unpaid, volunteer board committed to its mission.
Founder & President
Scott Vrable is a 2001 graduate of Greensburg Salem. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and son and works as a Web Developer. He was inspired to start The Vrable Scholarship by an off-hand remark from a co-worker during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Scott believes whole-heartedly in giving back to one's community and he truly loves the Greensburg area and its people even if he cannot be there as much as he would like.
Board Member
Jeremy Lenzi has been teaching for 28 years. He has taught English at every level in grades 9-12, Journalism, Freshman Seminar, and Yearbook. He has been honored to serve on Greensburg Salem's Scholarship Committee for the past 18 years. Jeremy has also served as an Adjunct Professor in the Education Department at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, teaching an Instruction and Learning course, for the past 10 years.
In addition, he has coached both Cross Country and Track & Field for over 30 years. Jeremy has also served on the Race Committees for the Steve Snider It's a Beautiful Day 5K and the Kevin Gatons Memorial Day 5K as well as in the role of Assistant Advisor for the Greensburg Salem Mini-THON.
Jeremy is a proud member of the Greensburg Salem Class of 1989.
Board Member
Cheryl A. Harper is an experienced educator with more than 30 years of teaching physics in the Greensburg Salem School District. A Saint Vincent College alumna with degrees in Physics, Mathematics, and Curriculum & Instruction, she is passionate about inspiring students and creating supportive learning environments. Cheryl has developed and taught a wide range of physics courses, led national teacher-training initiatives through the Contemporary Physics Education Project, and advised the National Honor Society, championing service and hands-on learning.
As a board member of Flamecrest, she brings her commitment to stewardship, transparency, and strengthening communities to support the organization’s mission of empowering and uplifting others.
Now more than ever, we need to come together and invest in each other. Every cent of your donation goes directly toward supporting community leadership in southwestern Pennsylvania.
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