Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center Education Fund


This fund supports students at Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center. Support aims to remove barriers and/or increase a student’s chance of success upon graduation. Support could be but is not limited to assistance with specialty clothing or tools required for an internship or a job upon graduation, transportation to and from an internship, or stipends to enhance wages for an internship. Distributions may also be made directly to the Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center to add or enhance a technical education program.

All About Children – Reach Out And Read Fund


This fund promotes literacy by providing age-appropriate books to children during their office visits to Penn State Health – All About Children or its successor.

Fund For Science Research Institutes


In 2020, this fund is being used to support the efforts of the Berks PPE Resource Network —  a coalition of dozens of ordinary people and prominent local institutions working together with their 3D printers to manufacture face shields for healthcare workers, police and other first responders, and all those who are in essential positions that leave them vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19. Learn more from this article in Berks County Living.

Albany Township Tomorrow Fund


The Albany Township Tomorrow Fund was created in honor of Pauline Levan Hamm and Gloria Longenberger Hamm and their lifelong efforts to support and improve the Albany Township community. The Fund provides grants to support community-minded organizations and initiatives that benefit the general population of Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. The fund awards grants each year using the following considerations:

Marlene L. Driscoll Fund


The Marlene L. Driscoll Fund was established to support programs that benefit residents of the Boyertown Area School District.

See news coverage about this fund from WFMZ.

Gilmore | Henne Community Fund


Chade Henne, left, and John Gilmore

The Gilmore | Henne Community Fund financially supports recreational park programs and/or financially supports recreational park improvements and maintenance in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Pools are not eligible. Up to $1,000 per park/playground may be requested and a total of approximately $5,000 in funding is available.

Wilson High graduates and NFL players John Gilmore and Chad Henne established the fund in 2010 to improve the community and the lives of children through the revitalization of parks and recreational facilities.

HISTORY

The Gilmore | Henne Community Fund was incubated at Berks County Community Foundation in 2010 and then became a full-fledged nonprofit with its own programs.

During its time as an independent nonprofit, Gilmore | Henne provided funding for programs at area parks and also renovated these facilities:

These are “before” and “after” photos of the Second and Oley Playground Revitalization project.

In 2017, the Gilmore | Henne Community Fund turned back into a fund of the Community Foundation as Gilmore | Henne focuses its mission.

Operating as a fully-functioning and independent nonprofit required overhead and oversight. Focusing on being a Community Foundation fund that supports programs run by already-existing park organizations is more efficient.

This move reduced administrative expenses since the Community Foundation already administers hundreds of funds.

Becoming an endowed fund at the Community Foundation ensures the stability of the Gilmore | Henne Community Fund for generations to come.

Only a portion of the endowment is drawn every year to fund programs at local parks. The rest of the endowment is invested to grow indefinitely as a community resource.

GRANTS SINCE THE 2017 TRANSITION

2018

2019

2020

2021

Wyomissing Public Library Endowment Fund


Grants support Wyomissing Public Library.

Wummer Family Fund


Grants support Berks Catholic High School, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church, and Villanova University.

Teacher Mini-Grants Fund


Grants of $500 or less support classroom teachers in K-12 public schools in Berks County for special materials, activities, projects, and programs.

Jean G. Roberts Memorial Fund For Gifted Education


Grants enhance the educational opportunities available to students enrolled in the gifted education program of the Tulpehocken Area School District.