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:
- Grant funding is to be for the general benefit of the Albany Township community and not for programs/activities restricted to members or beneficiaries of a single organization.
- Grants may not be made for the benefit of pre-identified individual residents.
- Grants benefiting youth education and advancement will be given priority.
- Activity-based programs will be preferred over facility/material support.
- Community enhancement/improvement programs will be preferred over support of existing programs/activities.
- Funding shall be used only for secular purposes. While religious organizations may be eligible for grants, the grant funding shall be used for the benefit of the general community, and not to advance religion-focused organizational goals.
- The activities funded by a grant must be completed and a grant report submitted within one year from the date of award notification.
Marlene L. Driscoll Fund
The Marlene L. Driscoll Fund was established to support programs that benefit residents of the Boyertown Area School District.
Mount Penn Preserve Partnership Fund
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.
Gilmore | Henne Community Fund
The Gilmore | Henne Community Fund supports recreational park programs, improvements and maintenance in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Pools are not eligible. 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 eight park facilities.
In 2017, the organization dissolved back into a fund of the Community Foundation. 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.
Wyomissing Public Library Endowment Fund
Grants support Wyomissing Public Library.
Frank C. Kiehne Charitable Fund
This fund benefits the YMCA of Reading and Berks County and YMCA of the USA.
It memorializes Sgt. Frank C. Kiehne, who passed away in 2014 at age 88.
Frank served in the Marine Corps during both World War II and the Korean War, during which time he was assigned to facilitate the first racial integration of a US military base under the orders of President Truman. He went on to become the CEO of the Reading and Berks YMCA from 1961 to 1970, where he was responsible for such advances as finding the financing to install a $1 million swimming pool.
In 1970, Reading Mayor Yarnell named September 1 “Frank C. Kiehne Day” in honor of his service to the city. In later years, he became the CEO of the YMCA of Washington DC, then the Director of the International Division of the YMCA of the USA, a consultant for the Peace Corps, and finally Secretary for Refugees and Rehabilitation for the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva, Switzerland.
Frank was a tireless and fearless advocate of the oppressed, dedicating endless hours to this work, taking him to many of the most troubled and violent places in the world, at times facing soldiers while at the point of a bayonet. He was known for having a special talent for forming effective working coalitions among opponents and groups at odds with each other. More information about his long career can be found in his obituary from the Washington Post.
Richard L. Henry Memorial Fund
Grants support the Jewish Federation of Reading; Safe Berks; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and Ronald McDonald House locations in Philadelphia and Hershey. In addition, the fund addresses issues related to breast cancer and visual impairment among residents of Berks County.
Daniel G. Ebbert Charitable Fund
Grants support Bear Creek Camp, Wilkes-Barre; Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries; Gettysburg College; Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Reading; and Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia.
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.
Reading Rising Summit Fund
Grants support a conference aimed at encouraging innovation in Reading, PA.
