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.
Teacher Mini-Grants Fund
The Teacher Mini-Grant Program provides grants up to $500 for Berks County K-12 school employees to support a classroom activity or project. The activity or project must improve student learning and enhance the existing curriculum. Creative projects are given preference. This program is supported by the Berks County Association of School Retirees Scholarship and Grant Fund, the Public Education Foundation Fund for Instructional Innovation, the Ben Franklin Trust Fund, and the Teacher Mini-Grants Fund.
Friends of Berks County Sheriff K9 Fund
Grants support the Berks County Sheriff K9 Unit.
William H. Krause Memorial Fund
Grants support the surviving spouses or dependents of firefighters, police, or paramedics killed in the line of duty within the counties of Berks, Schuylkill, Lancaster, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks in Pennsylvania.
Richard Groff and Meda Kern K9 Corps Endowment Fund
Grants support law enforcement agencies in Berks County and contiguous counties to help them acquire and maintain protective equipment, training, and education for any municipal law enforcement K9 Corps.
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.
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.
Fallen Firefighter’s Bravery Fund
Grants provide financial assistance to aid in the initial time of grief to the family of a fallen firefighter. Preference is given to the families of fallen firefighters within the geographic territory of an affiliated organization of the Tri-County Fire Prevention Associates, Inc. as it existed on October 11, 2000.
B Strong B Rich Fund
This fund provides financial assistance for expenses not covered by insurance for Berks County residents who are under the age of 30 and have been diagnosed with or are recovering from a diagnosis of cancer.
Berks County Transition Coordinating Council Fund
Grants support the successful transition of youth with disabilities, living within the area served by a Berks County school district, from school to adult life.
This fund supports the Berks County Transition Coordinating Council Mary Mazzoni Scholarship and the Berks County Transition Coordinating Council Mary Kester Award.
