Woman’s Exchange Of Reading Fund
This fund will assist local artisans in the pursuit of perfecting their art, trade or craft.
Albert Boscov Memorial Scholarship Fund
Scholarships are for graduating seniors from a Berks County high school who will pursue their education in the areas of performing arts, entertainment, or sports management.
Michael Constantine Film Education Fund
An anonymous donor established the Michael Constantine Film Education Fund of Berks County Community Foundation to honor the late actor.
ReadingFilmFEST announced the $25,000 gift in 2021. This fund will award grants to ReadingFilmFEST to educate students and emerging filmmakers on how to develop and showcase their craft.
A Reading native and a Reading High grad, Constantine was best known for his Emmy-winning role as high school principal Seymour Kaufman in the TV series Room 222 from 1969 to 1974. He found a new generation of fans with his portrayal of Kostas “Gus” Portokalos, the Windex-toting father of the bride in the 2002 film My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He died August 31, 2021, at age 94 in his Reading home surrounded by family.
Read about the gift that established this fund at yahoo! news.
William And Beulah Eshelman Memorial Fund
This fund was established in 2010 through a bequest to Calvary United Methodist Church in memory of William and Beulah Eshelman.
The fund may provide educational loans to assist deserving, active members of Calvary United Methodist Church in Mohnton, PA, in pursuing some form of post secondary education. Church membership must have been for at least one year to qualify. Members may be attending a 2-year or 4-year college or a vocational school either full- or part-time or pursuing some type of post-secondary education through a certification program. There is a $5,000 lifetime maximum that will be awarded to any one individual. Individuals may apply more than one time.
Loan terms and requirements:
The lifetime maximum amount available in loans to any one individual is $5,000.
A Promissory Note signed by the borrower and a Surety Agreement (co-signer) legally binds him/her to the repayment terms as specified in the note. Non-eligible cosigners include: spouse of applicant, fiance or fiancee of applicant, or pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church.
If full repayment of the loan is made within the first year after the change in status (graduation from program or discontinuance of enrollment in education program), no interest shall be charged. If the borrower elects to repay the loan over an extended period of time, the total amount must be paid in installments, at least quarterly, over no more than a four (4) year period, with the following interest rates applicable on the outstanding balance on the anniversary date thereafter:
- Beginning at the end of the 1st year of change in status: 3% + $25 per year
- Beginning at the end of the 2nd year of change in status: 4% + $25 per year
- Beginning at the end of the 3rd year of change in status: 5% + $25 per year
- Beginning at the end of the 4th year of change in status: Terms of the note will be enforced.
St. John’s UCC Reading Fund
The St. John’s UCC Reading Fund was established in 2020 to support organizations and causes that were important to the mission of the church. Grants support programs and initiatives that reduce hunger, offer shelter or improve housing, meet a pressing need for youth, or create or maintain open space.
Distributions are made in the following order of preference:
• Religious organizations or causes within a one-mile radius of 149 S. 9th Street, Reading, PA.
• Organizations or causes within a one-mile radius of 149 S. 9th Street, Reading, PA.
• Religious organizations or causes in the City of Reading.
• Organizations or causes in the City of Reading.
• Religious organizations or causes in Berks County.
• Organizations or causes in Berks County.
This opportunity will award multiple grants with total awards totaling up to approximately $27,000.
St. John’s was located at 149 S. Ninth St. in Reading. It was formed in 1871 as St. John’s Reformed Church of Reading.
In 2017, a majority of its remaining members voted to dissolve St. John’s United Church of Christ as a legal entity.
In 2019, the church filed with Berks County Court to transfer much of its assets to the Community Foundation and to give its building and some assets to Open Door Mennonite Church, Lancaster County, to establish the South 9th Street Mennonite Church in the building.
In 2020, the St. John’s UCC Reading Fund of Berks County Community Foundation was created to continue the church’s mission.
Amos Lemon Burkhart Art Scholarship Fund
The Amos Lemon Burkhart Art Scholarship Fund was established at Berks County Community Foundation in 2018 in memory of Amos Lemon Burkhart, a 2017 graduate of Governor Mifflin High School. Amos possessed both great technical ability in drawing and painting, and unusually advanced conceptual gifts, as evidenced by his large body of work. Amos was awarded a presidential scholarship at Montserrat College of Art for fall of 2018 to study animation and painting. Sadly, Amos suffered from mental illness and trauma and passed away in May 2018 at 19 from causes related to substance abuse.
This fund provides scholarships to graduating seniors of Governor Mifflin High School who display extraordinary artistic promise and will be furthering their education after high school.
Recipients of the scholarship must plan to continue their education after high school; however, the recipient does not have to continue his/her education in art. In the event the recipient does not attend college immediately after high school, recipients have until the fall semester, the year after the scholarship is awarded, to use the scholarship.
Scholarship recipients are selected by faculty in the Art Department at Governor Mifflin High School.
Wummer Family Fund
Grants support Berks Catholic High School, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church, and Villanova University.
First United Church Of Christ Mission Fund
This fund supports organizations and causes that were important to the mission of the First United Church of Christ in Reading, PA.
Distributions from the fund will be made to support one or more of the following:
- Programs and initiatives that help children from Berks County participate in activities that their families would not otherwise be able to afford. Activities include, but are not limited to, piano or organ lessons, summer camps, choral programs, and language classes.
- Programs and initiatives that benefit senior citizens from Berks County.
- Programs and initiatives that reduce hunger in Berks County.
- Ministry and outreach and/or the establishment of new churches for United Church of Christ congregations in Berks County.
- Reading City Church for organ and piano tuning, building maintenance, and/or ministry and outreach.
This opportunity will award multiple grants with total awards totaling up to approximately $50,000. Typical grant awards are under $10,000.
See below for media coverage from the Reading Eagle of grants that were awarded from this fund in 2020.
Baseballtown Charities Fund
Grants support organizations or programs that help to enhance youth baseball programs in the area of greater Reading, PA, with an emphasis on inner-city programs.
Lucy M. Born Fund
When Lucy’s husband, James P. Born passed away, his estate was split between the fund that he established in his name and another fund, The Lucy M. Born Fund, that was created in honor of his wife. Both funds continue to make regular charitable donations, just as Jim and Lucy had wanted.
Grants support Berks Catholic High School, the Catholic Diocese of Allentown, Lifeline of Berks County Inc., and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis).
