Berks County Community Foundation, Author at Berks County Community Foundation

Reading, PA – October 9, 2024 – Berks County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the conclusion of its 3rd quarter grant cycle, which has successfully distributed vital funding to local nonprofits and initiatives dedicated to improving our community.

In this quarter, the foundation awarded grants to a diverse range of projects focusing in areas of environment and energy, education, health and human services, arts and culture, and neighborhoods and economic development; supporting the impactful work of local organizations that improve the lives of Berks County residents.

These numbers are a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to its mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County.

Q3 total grants awarded: 549

Q3 total dollar amount awarded: $1,459,851

Q3 number of organizations impacted: 275

“Grants awarded are made possible by generous donors who give back to the community they love,” stated Molly McCullough Robbins, Vice President for Philanthropic Services.

Moving forward, community members are invited to join the Community Foundation in sparking change. Here are two ways to get involved:

Give to an Existing Fund: Your contributions can help sustain the important work of established funds addressing specific needs within Berks County.

Create Your Own Fund: Whether you want to honor a loved one or support a particular cause or organization, the Foundation can help you to create a fund that reflects your passions and philanthropic goals.

For more information on how to give or create a fund, please visit www.bccf.org, email Molly McCullough Robbins at mollyr@bccf.org, or call (610) 685-2223.

About Berks County Community Foundation

Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, PA. More information is available at www.bccf.org.

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READING, PA (September 11, 2024) – The 20 members of the 2024-25 cohort for Berks County Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Management Certificate program have been selected. The executive directors and high-potential staff members begin the professional development program at the Community Foundation’s headquarters in Reading on September 18^th.

Monica Reyes, Vice President for Programs and Initiatives at the Community Foundation, explained, “The certificate program is designed to enhance or refresh the management and leadership skills of local nonprofit leaders right here in the community. It offers expert instruction from faculty at The Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University, combined with valuable peer learning opportunities, allowing cohort members to connect and learn from one another.”

The 2024-2025 class members:

Laura Biancone, Interim Executive Director, LGBTQ Center of Reading
Stacey Cole, Chief Development Officer, Animal Rescue League of Berks County
Laura Cordero, Community Builder and Initiative Coordinator, Centro Hispano Daniel Torres
Tish Davis, Executive Director, Berks Arts
Violet Emory, Executive Director, Berks Latino Workforce Development Corporation
Amy Folk, Compliance Manager, Mary’s Shelter
Amanda Ford, Executive Director, Twin Valley Community Education Foundation
Jessica Heil, Senior Director, Marketing and Digital Engagement, United Way of Berks County
Ashley Houston, Director of Collections & Exhibitions, Foundation for the Reading Public Museum
Mary Marks, Co-Director, Hannah’s Hope Ministries
Brandon Marth, Regional Philanthropy Officer, American Red Cross
Ashleigh Mills, Care Manager, Berks Encore
Benjamin Neely, Executive Director, Berks History Center
Rick Perez, CEO, Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading & Berks County
Lily Ponce, Executive Assistant, Literacy Council of Reading-Berks
Denise Pulgino Stout, Executive Director, Boyertown Community Library
Thomas Scornavacci, President/Pastor, Common Ground Recovery Ministries (Trinity Lutheran Church) & Common Ground Recovery Community
Anthony Tucci, Executive Director, Western Berks Ambulance
Ralia Vardaxis, Executive Director, Reading Science Center
David Whitehill, Executive Director, Reading Symphony Orchestra

The program

The program includes group lunches, nonprofit management webinars, and daylong in-person nonprofit management classes led by faculty members from The Nonprofit Center at LaSalle University.

The Community Foundation covers much of the cost of the program; however, each nonprofit contributes $500 for each participant.

This professional development opportunity was designed exclusively for Berks County’s nonprofit executive directors and high-potential staff members. Note that Berks County Community Foundation is not an accredited educational institution, but rather a nonprofit that seeks to bring professional development opportunities to the community for local leaders.

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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds aimed at improving the quality of life in Berks County. More information is available at www.bccf.org.

Media Contact: Erica Caceres, Communication Manager, Phone: 610-685-2231, Email address: ericac@bccf.org

PITTSBURGH – (July 23, 2024) – Green Building Alliance (GBA) will launch its newest program, Resilient Communities, in Meadville and Reading, Pa., providing both communities with a range of services to help reduce energy demand, cut utility costs, and increase energy efficiency and resiliency for the municipal buildings, commercial facilities, and nonprofit and educational institutions within each region.

The Resilient Communities program is made possible through support from the Metropolitan Edison/Pennsylvania Electric Company Sustainable Energy Fund (Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund).

Offered at no cost to participating community partners, the three-year Resilient Communities program of services will augment larger community and economic goals by enabling buildings, infrastructure, and the entire communities of Meadville and Reading to be more resilient to the effects of extreme weather and emergency events; reduce energy and water utility costs; and facilitate making each community safer, more affordable, and attractive to residents, business owners, and prospective investment.

Working with Meadville and Reading project partners, GBA will:

Provide tailored technical support and guidance to assess opportunities for energy and water efficiency improvements in municipal buildings, saving on utility costs and freeing up dollars to be reinvested elsewhere;

Facilitate growth of quality jobs in fields that support resiliency and energy efficiency initiatives, such as operating engineers, facilities managers, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) technicians, electricians, and renewable energy technicians;

Increase community vitality by reducing operational costs and improving the health and quality of small businesses, community anchor institutions, local government buildings, schools, and commercial facilities;

Open doors to new financial resources by providing grant writing assistance to pursue community resilience and energy-efficiency funding opportunities.

“We are grateful to the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund for making this expansion of GBA’s work into the communities of Meadville and Reading possible,” says GBA COO Chris Cieslak. “By investing in building infrastructure, this project will equip both communities for energy and resource stability in the face of unforeseen emergency events and market volatility. It will also facilitate modifications to reduce utility costs and make each community’s buildings safer, more affordable and more attractive to residents, business owners, and to capital investment.”

GBA will work with community partners, including Generation180 who also was awarded 2024 support under this fund. Generation180 inspires and equips K-12 schools in PA communities to adopt clean, renewable energy and improve energy reliability. With support from the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund, Generation180 offers free technical assistance to schools in PA communities interested in exploring solar energy. Schools can utilize solar energy systems with battery storage to create resilient campuses that can keep schools operating and support community needs during grid outages and extreme weather events.

“Generation180 is thrilled to work with GBA and Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund to help K-12 schools in Reading, Meadville, and throughout Pennsylvania access the benefits of clean, affordable energy,” stated Shannon Crooker, Generation180 Pennsylvania Director. “There’s never been a better time for schools to take advantage of the historic federal grants and incentives to install clean energy technologies that support healthy, resilient communities.”

The Resilient Communities program builds on GBA’s successful work in Erie, which has logged a shared utility savings of over $17 million across 20 public-private partners since partnering with GBA. GBA provided technical guidance and support for the development of the City of Erie Central Fire Station’s solar grid and battery project, allowing the fire station to serve as a community resilience hub in the event of climate disaster or grid outages. The fire station’s on-site solar array produces over 100% of the station’s energy needs, while battery storage guarantees uninterrupted emergency management operations during an outage. GBA has also partnered with Forest Hills Borough, which enacted a net-zero ordinance for their community. Forest Hills is leading the way for other communities by conducting wide-scale energy retrofits in its eight-property portfolio and recently completed one of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s first net-zero buildings.

“We’re excited to support GBA and Generation180’s work to expand energy efficiency and renewable energy throughout Pennsylvania,” says Davitt Woodwell, chair of the advisory committee for the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund and former president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. “The committee wanted to drive sustainable energy solutions that will leave a positive impact on our communities and saw no better way than to make grants to two organizations that are already making huge impacts across the state.”

“The City of Meadville is excited to be named a Resilient Community and for the good work that is sure to result from the partnership with GBA,” says Autumn Vogel, City of Meadville Councilmember and liaison to the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee. “This program will help us achieve goals set in our Climate Action Plan for a safer, healthier, more resilient Meadville. Through this partnership, we’ll get much needed support to make improvements to our aging building stock, making the people of Meadville safer and more comfortable in their homes and buildings, while helping residents, community partners, and local businesses save money. It’s a win-win-win. We’re eager to get started and grateful for the opportunity.”

“I’m very excited to partner with the Green Building Alliance. This partnership will increase our capacity and provide critical technical assistance to our community partners, businesses, schools, and our staff as we are working towards our Reading for 100 goal of 100% clean, renewable energy by 2050,” says Reading Mayor Eddie Morán. “The City of Reading and many of our community partners have begun the transition process, and working with GBA will help facilitate and expedite a just transition. We are big fans of Erie’s success and are looking to duplicating it in Reading.”

Media Contacts:

Laura Ellis, Green Building Alliance, 412.952.7844, laurae@gba.org

Erica Caceres, Berks County Community Foundation, 610.685.2231, ericac@bccf.org

About Green Building Alliance:

Green Building Alliance (GBA) positively transforms the world through the built environment to create a sustainable, healthy, and just future for everyone. As Western Pennsylvania’s authority on sustainable design, GBA drives the market for healthy communities while equipping designers, manufacturers, developers, and policymakers to catalyze systemic change. GBA manages the largest 2030 District in North America (the Pittsburgh 2030 District), and in 2019, established Pittsburgh as the 2nd International Center of Excellence on High Performance Building in the world. GBA partners across Western Pennsylvania, with strategic alliances including the 2030 District Network, United Nations and International Living Future Institute.

About The Metropolitan Edison/Pennsylvania Electric Company Sustainable Energy Fund

The Sustainable Energy Funds were created as a result of electric utility deregulation and subsequent settlement agreements by Pennsylvania Electric Utilities. The funds are designed to promote the development of sustainable and renewable energy programs and clean-air technologies on both a regional and statewide basis. Two of those funds, the Metropolitan Edison Company Sustainable Energy Fund (Met-Ed Sustainable Energy Fund) and the Pennsylvania Electric Company Sustainable Energy Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund), began distributing money in the form of grants, loans, and equity investments for a variety of projects within the territories originally served by the two electric companies. The two funds share an advisory committee and are commonly referred to in the singular as the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund. Since inception in 2000, the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund has approved 279 grants totaling $7,209,518; 51 loans totaling $25,161,087; and three equity investments totaling $1,600,000. Total funding since inception is more than $33.9 million.

About Berks County Community Foundation

READING, PA (July 29, 2024) – Berks County Community Foundation has elected two new members to its Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2024.

Dr. D. Michael Baxter is a graduate of the Temple University School of Medicine. After nearly 30 years, he retired from his position as Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Reading Hospital in 2019. Since then, he has served on numerous community non-profit boards and currently volunteers as a physician at the Berks Free Medical Clinic and Faith Care Medical Clinic.

Tricia Ludgate is a Certified Financial Planner with 34 years of experience. She has established a reputation for expertise and dedication in guiding individuals and families toward their financial goals. Tricia received her BS in Business Management from Kutztown University, complemented by Masters-level courses at American University of Financial Planning. Her volunteer and board service work includes Co-County Wellness Services (Past-President); Power of the Purse Fund of Berks County Community Foundation (Past-Steering Committee member); Berks County Elder Abuse Task Force; Immediate Past-President of Estate Planning Council; and Financial Planning Association (FPA) – Tri-State Chapter. Her passion for helping others extends beyond finances, as evidenced by her active involvement and dedication to community and financial literacy.

Board members may serve three, three-year terms.

Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing and distributing charitable funds aimed at improving the quality of life in Berks County.

The Community Foundation manages more than 380 charitable funds. Each year, those funds distribute scholarships and grants to support local students and assist a variety of nonprofit organizations and causes. More information is available at www.bccf.org.

Reading, PA (June 14, 2024) – The Innovation Fund of Berks County Community Foundation supports collaborative projects focused on improving environmental health and climate resiliency in Berks County. Projects that include collaboration across sectors and opportunities for partnership building were prioritized.

The first grants have been awarded from The Innovation Fund, which was established in 2023 with support from the Conservation Equity Fund and the Hawley and Myrtle Quier Fund of Berks County Community Foundation:

$15,000 to Alvernia University’s Bog Turtle Creek Farm for expanding food access in the City of Reading

$15,000 to PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center for promoting renewable energy in Berks County

$8,000 to the Berks Agricultural Resource Network (B.A.R.N.) for the Greater Reading urban agriculture bus tour

$5,000 to the Berks County Earth Day Committee for the annual Earth Day event

$2,900 to Brandywine Heights Middle School for the Toad Creek restoration and stream study

$15,000 to Berks Nature for planting trees in the City of Reading

$15,000 to Northwest Middle School to create an outdoor educational area

$12,500 to Berks Nature for the Return on the Environment study

$5,000 to the S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation for aquaponics and hydroponics classroom programming

“The grants awarded will provide essential resources to support local projects that address critical environmental challenges, promote sustainable practices, and enhance the overall resilience of our communities to the impacts of climate change,” said Emily Smedley, environment and energy program officer at Berks County Community Foundation. “The Innovation Fund was the result of group meetings and one-on-one interviews with community members, and review of several trusted local reports. Those conversations and research determined where grant funding should be focused to maximize community impact.”

To learn more about The Innovation Fund, please visit https://bccf.org/funds/the-innovation-fund/.

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Media contact: Erica Caceres, Communication Manager, ericac@bccf.org / 610-685-2231

Reading, PA (May 9, 2024) – The Power of the Purse in Berks County Fund of Berks County Community Foundation recently awarded $75,000 in grants to nine organizations. The Power of the Purse Fund supports organizations and projects that focus on women’s education, economic empowerment, safety, rights, and health.

The following grants were awarded:

$10,000 to Connections Work for a program to provide transportation, ID’s, and work-related clothing to remove any barriers to employment for individuals with justice involvement.
$8,500 to Hannah’s Hope for staff training in Trauma Informed Care.
$3,000 to John Paul II Center for Special Learning for their Girl Talk 101 program that creates a safe space for female students ages 10-45 with any disability to talk about their bodies, rights, safety, and self-advocacy with staff and community experts.
$5,000 to Literacy Council of Reading to supply resources such as bus passes to enable female participants the opportunity to participate in Literacy Council classes.
$3,750 to Mary’s Shelter to provide housing and supportive services to homeless unaccompanied youth.
$15,000 to Opportunity House to offer financial assistance to empower women and ensure entry into permanent housing.
$10,000 to Reading Science Center to provide STEM opportunities through hands-on programming for girls in Berks County.

$15,000 to Safe Berks to help eliminate barriers that survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault face in obtaining and/or maintaining employment by providing direct support and financial assistance for education and employment needs.
$4,750 to VOiCEup Berks to send Berks County youth to a national youth leadership conference to foster leadership skills.

“From an outsider’s perspective, you think that there are these big mountains that you have to go over, but sometimes it’s a small amount of money or just a small gesture that can make the difference for someone being successful and getting out of poverty or getting a job,” said Chiara Renninger, founder of Power of the Purse. “I learned that just small things can really make a huge difference to people.”

“Being able to enhance the spirit of the Power of the Purse (POP) initiative is really empowering for the women in our community,” said Cindy Miliam, health and human services program officer. “POP funding for these organizations supports the belief that woman play a pivotal role in driving change and shaping the future of Berks County.”

Power of the Purse Fund was created in 2012 as a women’s giving circle. For more information, click here.

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READING (January 19, 2024) — Reading, PA – Berks County Community Foundation is proud to announce the addition of a new team member, Molly McCullough Robbins. Molly will be joining the organization as the Vice President for Philanthropic Services.

In this new role as Vice President for Philanthropic Services, Molly will be responsible for creating new funds and delivering services to donors. Molly will serve as part of the Community Foundation’s senior leadership team, advising the president on corporate strategy and management issues. She will seek opportunities to expand the foundation’s impact and oversee the management and development of the Community Foundation brand.

Before her role at the Community Foundation, Molly spent five years as Executive Director of Wyomissing Area Education Foundation, where she led development initiatives, cultivated donor relationships, planned fundraising events, managed the content creation for all promotional materials, provided leadership and support to Board and committee members, and served as a liaison between the Education Foundation and the school district. Prior to WAEF, Molly spent 10 years as Director of Communications and Assistant to the Director of Advancement for an independent school in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Molly graduated from Wyomissing Area High School and then earned her Bachelor of Arts from Hobart & William Smith Colleges, with a major in psychology and a minor in Women’s Studies. She completed the Berks County Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Management Certificate program in 2020. After living in Colorado, Maui, and St. John for over 20 years, Molly returned to Berks County in 2017.

“We are excited to welcome Molly to our team,” said Kevin Murphy, President of Berks County Community Foundation. “Her background aligns seamlessly with our commitment to sparking positive change in our community.”

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About Berks County Community Foundation

Media Contact: Erica Caceres, Communication Manager, Phone: 610-685-2231, Email address: ericac@bccf.org

READING (December 7, 2023) — Berks County Community Foundation recently approved $62,369 in grants to nine Boyertown area organizations through its Boyertown Area Charitable Program.

These grants are distributed from the Boyertown Area Community Fund, which supports a variety of programs and organizations within the geographic area served by the Boyertown Area School District, and the Boyer Foundation Fund, which also supports Boyertown area health, social, recreational, and safety organizations.

Since 1997, the program has granted more than $1,000,000 to over 60 Boyertown area organizations, providing much-needed support for a variety of causes.

The fund awarded the following grants in 2023:

Douglass Township Police Department received $2,439 to purchase medical kits for each patrol vehicle. The supplies funded through this program will ensure the Douglass Township Police Department is equipped to aid residents of the Boyertown Area School District.

Gilbertsville Fire and Rescue Company received $6,030 to purchase materials that will allow the regional fire chiefs a stationary area that can be out of the elements to operate at an emergency scene safely and effectively.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia received $5,000 to fund a trip to Disney World for an eight-year-old Boyertown resident.

Greater Philadelphia YMCA received $10,000 to support programs at the Boyertown YMCA, including the Youth and Government teen civic engagement program, the Special Olympics swim team, and the Active Older Adults programming for seniors.

Reading Hospital Foundation received $1,000 for Gwen’s Closet at Reading Hospital. Through Gwen’s Closet, Reading Hospital staff provide new clothing at no cost to patients who need new clothes at the time of discharge and during their stays.

Second Wind Bicycles received $12,000 for the Give a Bike, Change a Life project. Through this project, bicycles are fixed and distributed for free to those who need them the most, such as financially at-risk families, refugees, individuals in recovery, those struggling with homelessness, and children within the community.

The S.P.A.R.K.S Foundation received $5,000 to bring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming to students across the Boyertown Area School District. This program will benefit youth through academic enrichment, providing future career opportunities and allowing youth to explore the realms of STEM while having fun.

General Carl Spaatz Regional Army Air Corps Museum received $6,500 to preserve irreplaceable historical items and to provide Boyertown Area School District students with free guided tours of the museum.

Studio B Art Gallery received $7,900 for its I Am: Proud of You and Me! project. This project will provide opportunities during community events for students and adults to create artistic responses to the sentence starter “I Am: Proud of You and Me because…” and culminate in an art exhibit, podcast episodes, and booklet of episode notes, news articles, activities, and a mural.

To support future grants provided by the Boyertown Area Charitable Program, donations are always accepted. To learn more, contact Emily Smedley, Environment and Energy Program Officer, at emilys@bccf.org. or click here for more details.

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About Berks County Community Foundation

Media Contact: Erica Caceres, Communication Manager, Phone: 610-685-2231, Email address: ericac@bccf.org

(August 21, 2023) – JOHNSTOWN, PA – The Metropolitan Edison/Pennsylvania Electric Company Sustainable Energy Fund (Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund) announced today that a new funding opportunity is available to nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Effective immediately, the fund will offer program-related investments (PRIs) to organizations within the Met-Ed and Penelec territories in Pennsylvania.

The Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund, developed to provide funding for sustainable energy-efficiency and clean energy technology development, will offer PRIs typically ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 to projects that fulfill the mission of the fund. Program-related investments are low-interest loans, which provide capital that must be paid back. Loans will be offered at 4-6 percent interest with a maximum 10-year payback period. The final interest rate, loan term, and loan amount will be determined by the fund’s advisory committee in partnership with professional loan advisors at JARI Growth Fund, a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

“The committee wanted to create a bigger impact than ever before with this funding,” says Davitt Woodwell, chair of the advisory committee for the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund and president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. “By offering larger pools of funding, we can drive sustainable energy solutions that will leave a positive impact on our communities. And by offering loans, we can use the money that is paid back for more projects in the future. We are excited to see the outcomes of the projects.”

With increased funding currently available for these types of projects from various sources, such as the federal and state government, this PRI opportunity will continue to move the needle on developing sustainable and renewable energy programs and clean-air technologies as the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund has since its inception.

Learn about the application process and criteria at https://bccf.org/met-ed-penelec-sustainable-energy-fund-loan-opportunity/.

The Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund is administered by Berks County Community Foundation and the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies respectively. For further information, contact one of the following staff members whose location is closer to your organization and/or project:

Angie Berzonski, Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, Johnstown, Pa.: aberzonski@cfalleghenies.org, 814.315.2982

Emily Smedley, Berks County Community Foundation, Reading, Pa.: emilys@bccf.org, 610.685.2223

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The Metropolitan Edison Company Sustainable Energy Fund of Berks County Community Foundation and the Pennsylvania Electric Company Sustainable Energy Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies distribute funding for a variety of projects within the territories originally served by the two electric companies. The two funds share an advisory committee and are known in the singular as the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund. More information available here: https://bccf.org/funds/sustainable-energy-fund/.

Community Foundation for the Alleghenies (CFA) is a public, nonprofit foundation that manages funds to strengthen communities in Bedford, Cambria, Indiana, and Somerset counties. CFA empowers individuals to become philanthropists, donors to make meaningful change, and caring citizens to design a legacy. For more information, visit www.cfalleghenies,org.

Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for the region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, PA. More information is available at www.bccf.org.

Formed in 2016, the JARI Growth Fund (JGF) is a certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) and equal opportunity lender which supports low-to-moderate income individuals, minorities, woman-owned entities, and people with disabilities throughout the Southern Alleghenies region. JGF provides capital encouraging a diverse economy, building vibrant communities, enhancing the quality of life for residents of the region, improving housing, and addresses the needs of unserved, underserved, and minority communities throughout the region. More information is available at https://www.jari.com/.

Contact: Erica Caceres, Communication Manager, Berks County Community Foundation,ericac@bccf.org, 610-685-2223

READING, PA (August 2, 2023) – Berks County Community Foundation recently awarded more than $80,000 in grants to thirteen organizations from the First United Church of Christ Mission Fund and the St. John’s UCC Reading Fund.

The organizations receiving grants and the amounts received are as follows:

$1,100 to the Reading Musical Foundation for its Summer Music Camp Scholarship Program. This program awards scholarships to Berks County students so that they may attend a summer music camp of their choosing. This funding will support the cost of camp scholarships for two Reading School District students.

$3,000 was granted to Bethany Children’s Home to support summer programming. During the summer months, Bethany Children’s Home provides fun, first-time experiences for its residents like going to the beach, an amusement park, or an art museum. Funding will support travel expenses, meals, souvenirs, and potential admission costs.

$3,500 to Reading Youth Legion Baseball. Reading Youth Legion Baseball will provide children from the City of Reading with the opportunity to play competitive baseball while keeping costs affordable. Funding will support umpire fees, registration and insurance costs, uniforms, and equipment.

$4,623 to The S.P.A.R.K.S. Foundation for its Classroom Visitation Program. This program brings STEM lessons to elementary school students who are otherwise not able to participate in extra-curricular activities due to financial barriers. The hour-long program of lessons coupled with experiments covers topics that address educational standards in science for the grade level. Funding will support the costs of materials used for the STEM lessons and overhead costs such as rent, office supplies, and utilities.

$4,790 to Berks Youth Chorus to teach young people to perform confidently in a choral setting and to help students improve their overall musicianship. This grant will support the costs of operation that would normally be paid through a raised tuition. Keeping tuition costs low allows students to participate, regardless of their family’s income level.

$5,500 to The LGBT Center of Greater Reading for its Discovery Day Camp. Discovery Day Camp is geared towards helping youth ages 14 to 18 explore their identities in a safe and healthy environment. Through this camp, participants will learn, connect, and express themselves with like-minded individuals. Funding will support activity supplies, breakfast, lunch, insurance, and training for facilitators.

$6,500 to GoggleWorks Center for the Arts for its ongoing “GoggleWorks Gardens at Lauer’s Park” project. This project has four local gardens, which serve as local green spaces and outdoor classroom spaces for students. This program will provide two recurring weekly classes in the garden classrooms, as well as four after-school art programs. GoggleWorks Gardens at Lauer’s Park is a collaborative program of Lauer’s Park Elementary, Longwood Gardens, Rodale Institute, The Food Trust, and local farms. The funding will support program staff salaries.

$6,510 to Opportunity House for kitchen equipment upgrades. This grant will support the cost of upgrading the kitchen, which will allow the shelter to produce meals more efficiently and offer a greater selection of meal options. Funding will support the cost of a planetary floor mixer, a combination food processor, an immersion blender, and a meat slicer, as well as the cost of shipping for these appliances.

$6,750 to Immanuel United Church of Christ for its Preschool summer camp. This project provides summer day camp programs for children ages three to five. The goal of the day camp is to help students retain their school year momentum during the summer and to help younger students start their preschool education in a Christian setting. This grant will support the teacher’s salaries and supplies for snacks and crafts.

$8,000 to Hope of the Nations (HOTN) Hope Center for its Summer Arts Camp. The weeklong summer arts camp will feature dance classes and hands-on crafts. HOTN will partner with Feet on the Streets Ministries to serve elementary and middle-school-aged children. Funding will support camp administration, food for students, craft supplies, dance instruction, and more.

$8,250 to Café Esperanza for a project called “The Breakfast Club.” This project works to combat hunger in the summer months by providing free, nourishing breakfast to kids that would typically get free breakfast at school. Café Esperanza plans to provide additional summer enrichment activities for students, such as gardening, an art camp, a support group, and an anti-bullying program. Funding will support the costs of food, plants, garden expenses, art supplies, and salaries for supporting staff.

$10,000 to New Journey Community Outreach Inc. for its ongoing Fighting Poverty, Feeding Hope project. The goals of this project are restoring hope, dignity, and comfort in the community, while providing individuals in need with clothing and food through various outlets, including a daily soup kitchen, weekly grocery distribution, and an emergency food distribution and clothing center. Through this program, New Journey Community Outreach Inc. plans to serve 50,000 lunches and provides food pantry groceries for 9,200 families and emergency food for 480 families. Funding will support program staff wages, professional fees, and utility costs.

$10,000 to The Salvation Army for its Rental Assistance Program. The Salvation Army – Reading helps support local individuals and families who are struggling to pay rent, with an emphasis on supporting older clients who live on a fixed income. This allows these individuals to stay in their homes, reducing homelessness and eviction in the community. Funding will pay landlords to support families in need of rental assistance.

Both the First United Church of Christ Mission Fund and the St. Johns UCC Reading Fund were created with the goal of supporting causes that were important to the churches, with an emphasis on addressing pressing needs for youth. To learn more about the St. Johns UCC Reading Fund, visit https://bccf.org/funds/st-johns-ucc-reading-fund/. To learn more about the First United Church of Christ Mission Fund, visit https://bccf.org/funds/first-united-church-of-christ-mission-fund/.

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