CRANBERRY TWP — The Cranberry Township Community Chest has raised more than $346,000 in five months since starting fundraising for the 2015 Project of the Year.

The project is a $500,000 initiative to recruit and retain more volunteer firefighters in Butler County.

That money will go to a $130,000 emergency trailer used in recruitment, training and education for all fire departments in the county.

The remaining money will fund 15 to 20 scholarships at the Butler County Community College. Anyone who pledges two years of service to a volunteer fire department will be eligible for a scholarship.

Officials with the community chest started fundraising for the project in July during Cranberry Township’s Community Days celebration. Nearly 300 people have donated $346,527.

Bruce Mazzoni, treasurer of the community chest, said he is pleased to cap off the year with so many donations. However, he’s also ready for a push to the finish line when the new year starts.

“We’re thrilled with the continued support coming in for the volunteer firefighter initiative and from all our project partners, including the Butler County commissioners, the Butler County Fire Chief’s Association, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, BC3, the Butler and Cranberry Eagle newspapers, the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company and the volunteers with the community chest,” Mazzoni said.

“We want to thank everyone for their support and wish them a healthy and safe 2015.”

The most recent round of donations includes a $250 gift from Tammy Mariutto and Dennis Moyer, $200 from Roger and Michelle Myers, and $150 from Glenn H. Graner,

Also $125 from these people: Larry and Rose Romboski Jr., Warren Mathe, Dean and Deb Pikoulas, Robinson Fans, and the Beck family.

Also $100 from these people: Mark and Suzanne Williams, Kathleen and Robert Boykin, Robert and Jennifer Miller, Robert and Anne Herman, Jennifer F. Maitland, and Jeffrey A. Fuller.

Also $50 from these people: Tracy and John Geyer, Dennis and Cheryl Bishop, Vicki Kelley, Percy and Cheryl Simpson, Stephen and Kathy Herman, Alick and Jean Kennedy, Steve and Fran Nagy, John F. Ingham, Sheptak Advertising, Dolores Whittington, and John Miksa.

Also $25 from these people: Kathy Francisco, Dean Witt, Gary Thompson, Stephen and Sharon Brunish, Richard Jordon and Judy Baughman, Stephen Fucsko Jr., John and Michelle Mitzel, Steven and Ellen Parnes, Yuanquan Xu and Yan Zhang, Debbie Fabio, Dana deVyver, Howard Russell, Chuck and Trish Spagnolo, and Mary Lou Laslavic.

Also, $20 from Linda Hangliter and $10 from Sue Creen.

Anyone interested in donating to the project should visit the community chest’s website at www.ctcchest.org.