Woman’s Exchange of Reading Fund
The Woman’s Exchange of Reading Fund provides grants to assist Berks County artisans in the pursuit of perfecting their art, trade, or craft. Assistance could be, but is not limited to: advanced training in their art, trade, or craft; special equipment or tools needed for their art, trade, or craft; or education on the distribution or sale of their art, trade, or craft.
An artisan is defined as:
1) a worker who practices a trade or handicraft;
2) a person that produces something in limited quantities often using traditional methods.
Decisions are generally made within 14 days of receiving the reference form from the individual you list on the application.
America 250 PA Berks County Fund
This fund supports the cost of the America 250 PA Berks County celebration.
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 of Berks County Community Foundation (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 $7,800,852; 51 loans totaling $25,161,087; and three equity investments totaling $1,600,000. Total funding since inception is more than $34.5 million.
Grant applications for the Sustainable Energy Fund are not being accepted until further notice. If you need funding for a project, use the link below to learn more about the fund’s Program Related Investment opportunity.
Jeffrey S. Waltman Sr. Legacy Fund
To honor the life of the late Reading City Council President Jeffrey S. Waltman Sr., his colleagues on the Reading City Council have established the Jeffrey S. Waltman Sr. Legacy Fund of Berks County Community Foundation. Distributions from this fund will improve recreation space or support recreational programs in the City of Reading. To contribute to this fund online, visit https://bccf.link/waltman. To mail contributions, make checks payable to Berks County Community Foundation and write “Waltman” in the memo line. Mail them to: Berks County Community Foundation c/o Waltman 237 Court St. Reading PA 19601 Jeff passed away unexpectedly at age 58 on Monday, June 13, 2022, at Reading Hospital. Jeff served as a manager of Operations and Billing at Exide Corporation and went on to serve as Assistant Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch for many years. Jeff served as the president of the Reading City Council and will be deeply missed by his colleagues there. Jeff enjoyed playing basketball, throwing football, writing poetry, reading, taking nature walks, hiking, and spending time with his granddaughters, whom he loved dearly. He will be remembered for his strong leadership, his appreciation for life, his generous heart, and his willingness to help others. Jeff is survived by his children: Ashley Waltman (Skyler) of Wyomissing and Jeffrey Waltman Jr. of Reading; his siblings: Edward Waltman, Jody Shifflett, and Karen Waltman; and two grandchildren: Sophia and Olivia. He is also survived by his longtime friend and the mother of his children, Christina Waltman.
This fund will improve recreational spaces or support recreational programs in the City of Reading, PA., in memory of Jeffrey S. Waltman, Sr., who served as Reading City Council President at the time of his passing.
Forest Crigler, Jr. Memorial Fund in Support of Youth Swimming
The Forest Crigler, Jr. Memorial Fund in Support of Youth Swimming awards grants to programs that develop, encourage, and promote youth swimming in Berks County.
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.
Friends of the West Reading Police Department and K9 Unit Fund
Distributions from this fund maintain and enhance the West Reading Police Department and K9 Unit and to support education and awareness for the citizens of West Reading regarding the West Reading Police Department and its K9 Unit.
Pamela A. and Gregory W. Heid’s Fund for the Animals
This fund awards grants to animal welfare organizations for the direct support of animal care, food and medicine.
Embracing Aging Fund
This fund provides grants to address the needs of Berks County’s older residents by removing barriers to aging well.
Home Health Care Foundation Fund
The Home Health Care Foundation Fund provides grants for organizations and programs that serve Berks County and/or those counties that are contiguous to it (Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Schuylkill). Preference will be given to organizations or programs that train or support family caregivers providing home health care to kin.
One or more of the following purposes must be met to be considered for a grant:
1. Organizations and programs that help residents recover from illness or disability at home to prevent them from needing in-patient medical care;
2. Programs and activities that support preventative healthcare for residents and overall community health to reduce the need for in-patient medical care;
3. Organizations that provide health-related charity care to residents.
Preference will also be given to organizations and programs that help individuals remain at home. Maximum grant available to an organization per grant cycle is $40,000.
History
On January 1, 2019, Tower Health assumed the operations of Home Health Care Management, Berks Visiting Nurse Association, the Visiting Nurse Association of Pottstown and Vicinity, and Advantage Home Care.
For years, each of these organizations provided compassionate and much-needed care to the communities they served. In that spirit, the Home Health Care Foundation was created as part of the merger to support charity care and other programs for the good of the community.
The Home Health Care Foundation became an affiliate of Berks County Community Foundation in 2020.
Home Health Care Foundation Board
Kim R. Berry
Jim Gierlich
Robert R. Kreitz, Esq.
Rabbi Brian I. Michelson, Chair of the Home Health Care Foundation Board of Directors
Kevin K. Murphy, President, ex officio, of Home Health Care Foundation, and President, Berks County Community Foundation
Mike Paolini
Karen S. Thacker Ph.D., RN, CNE
Frances A. Aitken, CPA, Treasurer, ex officio, of Home Health Care Foundation, and COO and Treasurer, Berks County Community Foundation*
*Serves as an officer, not a board member.
