The Boyertown Area Charitable Program provides grants for programs that improve the quality of life for the residents of the Boyertown Area School District. The program distributes grants from the Boyertown Area Community Fund and the Boyer Foundation Fund. The Boyer Foundation Fund was established to support Boyertown area health, social, recreational and safety organizations. The fund was created in memory of Daniel and Blanche Boyer, who were lifelong Boyertown residents and community leaders. The Boyertown Area Community Fund was established to support charitable programs within the geographic area served by the Boyertown Area School District.
This opportunity will award multiple grants with total awards totaling up to approximately $65,000. Applications are due by August 15. Decisions will be announced by the end of October.
Distributions from the fund shall be used to underwrite the cost of the America 250 PA Berks County celebration.
This fund will improve recreational spaces or support recreational programs in the City of Reading, PA.
Distributions from this fund support the nonprofit Reading Area Firefighters Museum in Reading, PA.
The Reading Area Firefighters Museum is committed to the preservation of the Liberty Fire Co. No 5 building, which was constructed in 1876 at South Fifth and Laurel streets. This commitment includes the building contents, such as firefighting memorabilia, antique furnishings, and the John Wanamaker designed-“best room.” The museum serves as a permanent facility for the public exhibition and the safe storage of items related to the history of firefighting in the Reading and Berks County areas.
Grants from this fund underwrite the cost of the City of Reading’s 275th anniversary celebration. Any unused gifts to the fund may be used by the City of Reading to underwrite the cost of future anniversary celebrations for the City of Reading.
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.
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:
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.
Distributions from the Mount Penn Preserve Partnership Fund are for capital improvements that protect, promote and enhance the natural beauty, heritage and attractions of the Mount Penn Preserve.
The Mount Penn Preserve is a partnership of the governments of Berks County, the City of Reading, and the Borough of Mount Penn, and the townships of Alsace and Lower Alsace.
Explore the Mount Penn Preserve through an interactive map of points of interest and eateries. The map will be enhanced periodically, so check back! Once the page loads, use the arrow at the bottom of the screen to navigate through the points of interest.
Follow the Mount Penn Preserve Facebook page for current events, happenings and news.
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.
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.
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