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by Susan Shelly McGovern

With a state budget finally signed into law and the federal government reopening on the same day last week, some Berks County public school administrators remain concerned about potentially lasting impacts caused by a lack of funding for more than four months.  

Significant funding for school districts has been held up since July 1 due to a failure by Pennsylvania state legislators to agree on terms for the state’s FY2025-26 budget. Legislators finally reached an agreement on a $50.1 billion spending plan and Gov. Josh Shapiro signed it into law on Nov. 12.

On the same day, President Donald J. Trump signed a funding bill to reopen the federal government following a 43-day standoff in Congress.

While education leaders welcomed those events, there is uncertainty about when the delayed funding will reach them and concern about potential consequences of the interruptions to funding that forced some districts to take out loans and delay or cancel programming and school activities.

Federal Funding Concerns Remain

Wayne Gehris, chief financial officer of the Reading School District, is concerned about potential cuts to Medicaid that could affect ACCESS reimbursements to the district, totaling between $1.5 and $2 million a year.

That could impact health care coverage for some low-income students or those with disabilities.

He also worries that demand for free meals provided by Reading schools will increase due to uncertainties concerning SNAP benefits, which many students and their families rely on.

“Not all students rely on the free breakfast program, but a reduction or delay in SNAP funding may cause more students to participate,” Gehris wrote in response to a county-wide survey of school districts facilitated by the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU).

Christian Lelllig, chief financial officer of the Daniel Boone Area School District, reported his district also has been affected by federal cuts and the shutdown of the government.

“Federal programs such as Title I, special education (IDEA) and school meal funding have experience delays in payments, which has created uncertainty for our budgeting and staffing,” Lellig said.

And Lucille Gallis, chief financial officer for the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), reported that Preschool Development Grant funding, which provides mental health supports for preschool and childcare centers across Pennsylvania, has been eliminated for fiscal year 2026.

State Impasse Affected Most Berks County Districts

While 53% of school districts that participated in the BCIU survey reported experiencing impacts from federal cuts and the government shutdown, 80% said they were negatively affected by the state budget impasse.

Many districts reported putting a hold on or limiting non-curricular and extracurricular expenditures, deferring non-critical maintenance, delaying purchasing and reducing programming.

Tim Matlack, superintendent of Antietam School District, said that field trips were cancelled and after school activities like the MATHCOUNTS competition are in jeopardy.

“It’s frustrating for the teachers and the kids and the parents,” Matlack said. “It’s been a frustrating time for everyone in education.”

Officials in districts that were forced to take out loans are concerned about interest they will need to pay, an unanticipated expense they do not expect to be reimbursed for.

Reading School District entered into a $90 million tax and anticipation note, advancing $10 million on Nov. 7 to pay salaries and other necessities. The BCIU has secured $17 million in loans and was in the process of obtaining another $10 million when the state budget passed.

Some districts that didn’t need to take out loans, including Muhlenberg School District, reported having to tap into reserved funding.

“We’re relying on what we have budgeted and our reserves, which means we’ll lose the interest we would have earned on those dollars,” said Dr. Joseph Macharola, Muhlenberg Superintendent.

And while a budget has finally been passed, it’s likely it will take some time for funding to trickle down to school districts and allow for normal operations.

Funding Cuts, Budget Delays and Government Shutdowns are Bad for Education

 Even with the passing of the state budget and reopening of the federal government, educators and administrators remain on edge.

Pennsylvania has a history of budget delays, some of which have resulted in lengthy impasses, including one in 2015 and 2016 that lasted nine months.

That causes frustration among district officials, who work hard to get their budgets submitted to the state by June 30, as required.

The uncertainty associated with cuts and funding delays causes a high level of anxiety, which eventually can affect daily operations.

Lellig summed up the situation like this.

“Repeated budget cuts and delayed funding weaken the quality of public education by increasing class size, reducing programming and straining teachers and resources. Over time, these issues widen inequities between districts and harm student learning and overall outcomes,” Lellig wrote.

Dr. Khalid Mumin, superintendent of the Reading School District and former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education, noted that public education is experiencing a time of significant change, but will continue moving forward to serve students, families and communities.

“It’s like a cruise liner that has to keep moving forward, even though the seas are a little rocky,” Mumin said. “Education will keep moving forward and we’ll continue to serve the young people, who are our future.”

by Susan Shelly McGovern

The Literacy Council of Reading-Berks has served the local community for nearly six decades.

The council helps clients improve reading skills and language proficiency, prepares them for employment, helps students achieve high school equivalency certification, provides workforce development and works with permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship.

Suddenly, however, the future of the organization appears uncertain as it anticipates federal funding cuts for its next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

“I never thought we’d be in this position,” said Ryan Breisch, executive director. “We’ve relied on federal funding since it was authorized in 1987.”

Specifically, the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks depends on federal funds made available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was signed into law in 2014.

WIOA funds account for about 20% of the literacy council’s total budget of $760,000, with other funding coming from the United Way of Berks County, the state, private donations, fee-for-service work with area businesses and an annual fundraising event.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA funds are intended to improve the nation’s workforce system by helping people attain high-quality jobs and careers while also assisting employers in hiring and retaining skilled workers.

And that, said Breisch, is exactly what the funding accomplishes.

“That funding pays for classes for students working to improve English proficiency skills so they can obtain employment or advance to higher paying jobs,” he said. “And it helps us to keep the lights on in our classrooms and pay our staff members so we can continue to meet the needs of our community.”

Clients Are Seeking Better Lives

Breisch, who has been employed by the literacy council for 30 years and has served as executive director since 2010, said people who find their way to the organization are self-motivated and prepared to work hard to advance.

“They want to make a better life for themselves,” he said. “And that ultimately results in better circumstances for our entire community.”

Breisch spoke of Gabi, who moved from Brazil and, with help from the literacy council, was able to graduate from nursing school and obtain employment in the health care field.

He related the story of Juan Pablo, an industrial engineer who, with his American wife and children, moved to Berks County from Mexico in 2002 to care for his ailing father-in-law. Able to speak only Spanish, Juan Pablo sought help from the council, became proficient in speaking and writing English, and landed a meaningful job that he’s held for 17 years.

“We have thousands of success stories,” Breisch said. “And when people are successful, they can contribute to the success of others.”

Uncertainty Makes Planning Nearly Impossible

Ongoing uncertainty about its budget for next year has made planning for 2026 nearly impossible, according to Breisch.

On top of not knowing what will happen with its federal funding, Literacy Council staff worry that Pennsylvania’s ongoing state budget impasse could eventually result in adverse financial consequences.

And, explained Breisch, if federal funding does come through for 2026, which at this point is by no means guaranteed, it’s unclear what conditions may be attached to it.

“We aren’t giving out student handbooks at this point because we don’t know what classes we can include in them,” Breisch said. “And we’re planning on only doing a half-year budget for 2026 for now because we have no clue what will happen after June 30.”

While the current uncertainty is disconcerting, the Literacy Council continues to look forward to its move from its current headquarters in West Lawn to Tec Centro’s building at 450 S. Sixth Street in Reading. The move is tentatively planned for January.

The rent they will pay for the new space should be substantially less than costs for upkeep of its current building, which the Literacy Council owns, Breisch said. And funds from the sale of the current building will allow grant money to be applied for education rather than to pay for rent or building upkeep.

“We’re worried about a lot of unknowns right now, but we’re also excited about moving and working more closely with Tec Centro and the clients it serves,” Breisch said. “We’ll keep doing what we do to the best of our ability.”

At the Community Foundation, we want to improve life in Berks County by connecting its residents with accurate information.

What do these cuts mean for Berks County residents, nonprofits, businesses and donors?

The impact of federal funding cuts, government shutdowns, and state budget impasse are being felt on a local level.

While philanthropy helps create vibrant and healthy communities, it cannot replace the stability of federal or state investments. Affordable housing, food security, access to education, workforce development, affordable healthcare and much more depend on federal dollars. When that funding is stripped or halted, we risk a reduction in essential local services.

Local philanthropy has never and will never be able to fill the void of government funding.  

Why Stories of Impact?

We hear directly from Berks nonprofits, agencies, businesses and individuals how federal cuts impact their capacity to serve the community. To connect Berks County residents with accurate information, we’ve engaged a local freelance reporter to elevate the voices of those impacted. These articles shed light on the real-world effects of these budget changes on local organizations and individuals.   

This research has been captured in the form of articles that you can read below.

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Note from Monica Reyes, VP for Programs and Initiatives:

Opinions expressed in the Government Cuts, Local Impact Series do not necessarily represent those of Berks County Community Foundation.

Click here to read the bio of our reporter, Susan Shelly McGovern

Susan is a freelance writer, editor, and researcher. Over the course of a long and varied career, Susan has crafted thousands of articles, written or contributed to more than 50 books, generated copy for advertising and marketing firms, edited a variety of manuscripts, researched corporate histories and generally applied her skills to whatever projects presented themselves.

But what Susan has enjoyed the most is telling stories.

As a feature writer for the Reading Eagle, area colleges and universities, health care systems, treatment centers and others, Susan has had the opportunity to tell the stories of first-generation college students, people struggling with addiction, veterans, business executives, health care workers, educators, patients dealing with serious illnesses and people who have triumphed over adverse circumstances.

As a long-time, invested resident of Berks County, Susan has witnessed some of the challenges local people experience with food insecurity, homelessness, incarceration, alienation and other extremely challenging situations. She has worked with agencies including New Journey Community Outreach, Opportunity House, Berks Coalition to End Homelessness, Family Promise of Berks County and Connections Work.

Read the Impact Stories Now

Ed Lombardo has a connection to Berks County Community Foundation that goes back many years. A lifelong Berks resident, high school football coach, community volunteer and investment advisor, Ed recognizes the importance of philanthropy.  

Earlier this year, Ed reflected on his history of giving, which includes the Lombardo Family Scholarship Fund and the Lombardo Family Memorial Fund. To learn more about Ed’s connections to Muhlenburg, read his feature in this year’s edition of our annual magazine, 237 Court. Click here to view the magazine; Ed’s story begins on page 3. 

To learn more about establishing a fund at Berks County Community Foundation, click here or email mollyr@bccf.org.  

The Community Foundation may be best known for our grantmaking, but a considerable portion of our time is spent on community initiative work. One such project is focused on attracting and retaining college students to Berks County. 

Albright College, Alvernia University, Kutztown University, Penn State Berks, and Reading Area Community College have long been cornerstones of our community. The addition of Drexel University’s medical school campus in West Reading has created even more opportunities for higher education in Berks County.  

Data from Albright, Alvernia, and Penn State Berks shows that they enroll about 35% of their students from Berks County. That means that 65% of their students have chosen to relocate to Berks County for four years of their lives.   

The Community Foundation began to investigate this topic by gathering a group of Berks County residents – college and university leaders, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, business owners, and civic groups to discuss ways to attract and retain students to Berks County. Student engagement with the local community supports better retention.  

One focus area emerged: it is essential to make it easier for students to find local employment through internships, mentorships, and better connections between employers and campuses.   

As a result of these conversations, a first-of-its-kind event is happening soon! On July 10^th, 2025, Alvernia University is hosting a collaborative Internship Summit.

This event is designed for businesses and employers to help create meaningful and effective internship opportunities. For more information and to register, click on the link.  To stay up to date on the Foundation, visit our News and Events page.

Berks County Community Foundation hosted our annual scholarship luncheon on May 21^st, 2025, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Reading. Members of our staff welcomed students and their families, donors and scholarship fund representatives, and community leaders to gather in recognition of the impressive achievements of local students and the generosity of donors who enable students to pursue their dreams. 

At the 2025 Scholarship Luncheon, the Community Foundation will award over $700,000, bringing the total amount disbursed since its inception in 1994 to over $14,700,000! Thousands of recipients have benefited from these scholarships over the years as they continue to pursue higher education. 

The annual scholarship luncheon highlights the strength of community support. Each scholarship offers essential resources and inspiration for students to forge their own paths, making a difference in Berks County and beyond. 

Kim Sheffer, Lifelong Learning Program Officer, welcomed guests and highlighted the significance of the Berks’ Best Award recipients’ accomplishments. Berk’s Best awards are a partnership between Berks County Community Foundation and the Reading Eagle, with coordination support from BCIU. Kim also congratulated all of the 2025 scholarship recipients and commended the dozens of volunteers who spent countless hours reviewing hundreds of scholarship applications.  

Dr. Radha Pyati, Chancellor and Dean of Penn State Berks, shared advice and personal stories about the impact of relationships in her keynote address.  

If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of local students through educational support, please consider giving to one of our many scholarship funds today! 

Scholarship season is a busy time for high school seniors, and it’s busy at the Community Foundation, too! We use an online application portal to receive and evaluate applications, and we send notifications through the portal to evaluators and applicants. Sometimes, those notifications go into the recipients’ spam folders. 

If you are awaiting an email from the Community Foundation regarding the status of your application or instructions about the process, please check your spam/junk folders. The following information might be helpful: 

• Decision email notifications originate from administrator@grantinterface.com. 

• Replies to these notifications will be directed to scholarships@bccf.org. 

Please visit the FAQ page for more information regarding the process. 

Best of luck to the Class of 2025! 

Before Grantmaking, Let’s Understand Community Foundations 

Community foundations pool resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support nonprofits within their communities. It all starts with a donor or donors working with us to establish a fund to support their charitable goals. We currently manage nearly 400 different funds totaling approximately $140 million. Most of those funds are restricted to support specific organizations or areas of interest. 

Our Grantmaking Process 

1. Identifying Community Needs: Our team of program officers, each of whom is an expert in her area of focus, starts by identifying the most pressing needs within the community and managing their related portfolio of funds. This involves engaging with local stakeholders and analyzing data to understand where support is most needed.  

2. Establishing Grant Programs: Based on identified needs, our team established five areas of focus: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment & Energy, Health & Human Services, and Neighborhood Vitality. 

3. Endowments: To support our grantmaking activities, the Community Foundation relies on donations from the public. Most of the funds that we manage are endowed funds, which are invested to generate income for long-term grantmaking. This ensures a sustainable source of funding for future grants. 

4. Grant Application and Review: Nonprofit organizations seeking funding submit grant applications detailing their projects and how they align with the foundation’s priorities. Applications are reviewed by a committee and/or foundation staff to assess their potential impact and feasibility. Committee members are selected because they have a connection to the fund or expertise in the area it supports. 

5. Awarding Grants: Once the review process is complete, the foundation awards grants to selected nonprofits. These grants can be unrestricted, allowing organizations to use the funds as needed, or restricted to specific projects or programs. 

6. Monitoring and Evaluation: After grants are awarded, our program officers monitor the progress of funded projects. This involves regular reporting from grantees and site visits to ensure that the funds are being used effectively and that the projects are achieving their intended outcomes. 
7. Community Engagement and Feedback: Continuous engagement with the community is crucial. Foundation staff often holds meetings, site visits, and forums to gather feedback and ensure that our grantmaking strategies remain aligned with community needs and our mission.

Our grantmaking is made possible by the funds that have been established over our 31-year history. Each fund was established based on the interests and passions of the donor(s), and it is our honor and obligation to abide by the parameters set forth by our fund holders. 

There are different types of funds that donors can establish with the Community Foundation:

1. Undesignated: Want to meet the most pressing needs in Berks County? Grants from undesignated funds are determined by our board of directors to address ever-changing community needs. This type of fund supports initiative work such as our support of Spotlight PA, student retention work, rural initiatives, and new arts funding. We strategize to use unrestricted funding to create systemic change and address big issues. 

2. Designated: Support a specific organization year after year, even after you are gone. Organizations benefit from consistent support, and you can be confident the money in your fund is professionally managed. 

3. Field of Interest: Whatever your cause, our team of program experts will do the legwork to ensure grants from your fund make a difference for your cause now and for years to come. 

4. Donor Advised: Make decisions about where grants from your fund go each year while you are alive, with the option to name a successor advisor after you are gone. 

5. Scholarships: Help students pay for their education through a scholarship fund. Or use a designated fund or more flexible field-of-interest fund to support a specific school or area of education. 

6. Giving Circle: The Power of the Purse (POP) committee is a women’s giving circle. The dedicated group of women meets several times a year to learn about barriers women and girls face in Berks County. They visit local organizations, listen to expert speakers, and make thoughtful decisions about how best to help, using their pooled resources. 

The vision for the Program Team is to:  

• Move the needle in priority areas where donors and/or the community have asked us to shine a light.  

• Develop deep expertise in these priority areas and make strategic investments of time, effort, and money to improve the quality of life in Berks County in those areas.  

• Be impeccable in the stewarding of grants to ensure donor intent is met and data and feedback are collected and put to good use. 

I lead the team of expert program officers, ensuring their grantmaking work and management align with donor intent. Together, we seek local and national partnerships and opportunities to amplify the impact of our programs.  

The mission of Berks County Community Foundation is to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. We play a pivotal role by providing financial support to various nonprofit organizations and individuals in need through our grantmaking. If you have questions, please email me at monicar@bccf.org. To learn more about myself and the team at Berks County Community Foundation, visit the Our Team page.

READING, PA (April 9, 2025) – Berks County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the conclusion of its 1st quarter grant cycle for calendar year 2025, which has successfully distributed vital funding to local nonprofits and initiatives dedicated to improving our community.   

 In this quarter, the Foundation awarded grants to a diverse range of projects focusing in areas of environment and energy, education, health and human services, arts and culture, and neighborhoods and economic development; supporting the impactful work of local organizations that improve the lives of Berks County residents.    

These numbers are a testament to the Foundation’s commitment to its mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County.   

• Q1 total grants awarded: 190   

• Q1 total dollar amount awarded: $1,152,270 

• Q1 number of organizations impacted: 142 

  

“Grants awarded are made possible by generous donors who give back to the community they love,” stated Molly McCullough Robbins, Vice President for Philanthropic Services.   

  

Moving forward, community members are invited to join the Community Foundation in sparking change. Here are two ways to get involved:   

  

1. Give to an Existing Fund: Your contributions can help sustain the important work of established funds addressing specific needs within Berks County.   

2. Create Your Own Fund: Whether you want to honor a loved one or support a particular cause or organization, the Foundation can help you to create a fund that reflects your passions and philanthropic goals.   

  

For more information on how to give or create a fund, please visit www.bccf.org, email Molly McCullough Robbins at mollyr@bccf.org, or call (610) 685-2223.   

  

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Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation serving as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing charitable funds to improve the quality of life in Berks County, PA. More information is available at www.bccf.org. 

On March 29, 2025, approximately 145 guests gathered at the Berkshire Country Club to honor Ramona Turner Turpin with the 2025 Thun Award. The Thun Award was created in 1988 to honor Louis R. Thun and Ferdinand K. Thun, local industrialists and philanthropists, in recognition of their long-standing record of civic and community service. The award is presented to Berks County residents whose commitment of time, leadership, and philanthropy exhibits the enduring sense of community reflected by the high ideals of the Thun family.  

Fulton Bank and Berks County Community Foundation proudly presented the 2025 Thun Award to Ramona Turner Turpin for her extraordinary community contributions, engagement, and philanthropy in Berks County. Ramona is an Instructor at the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks. Early in her career, Ramona was employed by Berks County Intermediate Unit – first as a teacher, then as an early childhood education coordinator. She served as the Dean of Leadership and Director of Funds Development for the I-LEAD Charter School in Reading. Ramona’s banking career began as the Community Reinvestment Act Director for Bank of Pennsylvania before she was named Community Relations manager for Sovereign Bank in 1999, a position she held for almost ten years. In addition, she held the role of Small Business Specialist for three years.  

Ramona has served on numerous boards, including Berks County Community Foundation, Reading Musical Foundation, Olivet Boys and Girls Club, BCTV and United Way of Berks County. She has volunteered her time with Berks Intercultural Alliance. Ramona is a long-time member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church where she has shared her time and talents as a teacher, choir member, and Christian education director; she presently sits on the steward board. Ramona has received numerous awards, including the Athena Award, the Outstanding Woman award from Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Amiga Award from the Latina Gathering, and the NAACP Image Award. 

Previous Recipients of the Thun Award:  

Thun Award recipients are community advocates who are leaders in commerce and industry. This year’s award recipient embodies the passion for and investment in this community, qualities that are found in all the recipients of the Thun Award. 

Berks County Community Foundation established the Thun Award Fund from which honorees recommend grants to organizations of their choice. Ramona selected The Sisterhood of Reading to receive this year’s grant. The Sisterhood of Reading strives to foster a kindred and caring spirit among African American women. Their goal is to mentor young women for the betterment of our community. 

Click here to view event photos from the Celebration of Giving and Thun Award presentation. To view the video which highlights Ramona’s contributions to the community, visit our YouTube page here. For more information about the Thun Award, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org.