Give Now
Give Now

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.   

  

“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.   
  1. 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:  

  • 1988: Ferdinand K. Thun and Louis R. Thun  
  • 1989: Gertrude Sternbergh  
  • 1990: H.O. “Mike” Beaver  
  • 1991: Eugene L. Shirk  
  • 1992: Severin Fayerman  
  • 1993: Albert Boscov  
  • 1994: Paul and June Roedel  
  • 1995: Sidney and Barbara Kline  
  • 1996: Samuel A. McCullough  
  • 1997: Dr. Charles A. Carabello  
  • 1998: John F. Horrigan Jr.  
  • 1999: T. Jerome and Carolyn Holleran  
  • 2000: P. Michael Ehlerman
  • 2001: Robert W. Cardy
  • 2003: Thomas P. Handwerk  
  • 2004: Karen A. Rightmire  
  • 2005: David L. Thun  
  • 2007: DeLight E. Breidegam  
  • 2008: Gordon G. Hoodak  
  • 2013: C. Thomas Work  
  • 2014: Irvin and Lois E. Cohen 
  • 2015: The Honorable Arthur E. Grim and Louise C. Grim  
  • 2016: Christ “Chris” G. Kraras  
  • 2017: Carole and Ray Neag  
  • 2018: Carl D. and Kathleen D. Herbein  
  • 2022: Julia Klein and Eric Jenkins

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.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, Berks County Community Foundation now manages nearly 400 funds totaling over $140 million. Since we were founded in 1994, donors have worked with us to establish these funds to support the causes and organizations that are most important to them. Are you interested in giving back to your community? Sparking change in Berks County starts with defining your charitable goals. We can help you achieve those goals, no matter the cause or motivation. Let us help make a difference to what matters most to you. 

One way to spark change is to determine how you want to support the community. What causes interest you most? We have created a short questionnaire to set your journey of generosity in motion. The questionnaire starts by asking, “What do you hope to achieve with your fund?” 

Different funds fulfill different charitable goals. When you create a fund with Berks County Community Foundation, do you want grants from your fund to support: 

Once you’ve narrowed down your goals, it’s time to talk to us. We will work with you to draft a fund agreement which details your wishes and eligibility parameters for future grant recipients from your fund.

In this three-part series, we will explore endowment funds, sparking change, and grantmaking. At Berks County Community Foundation, we do all three. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or community advocate, this series will provide insight into how strategic funding can shape a better future. 

If you have questions, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org or call 610-685-2223. I look forward to hearing more about you and how you would like to spark change in our community.  

There are many ways to support nonprofit organizations. You may make a one-time gift to support an event or program. You may give annually to your favorite organization. Perhaps you volunteer your time and talent to offset costs for a charity that is important to you. You could also establish an endowment fund. An endowment is a fund or group of funds that provides long-term support for a cause or organization. It is established with the intention to live on forever. Establishing an endowment fund with Berks County Community Foundation is a long-term way to support the organizations and causes that matter most to you. The endowed fund is invested, and a portion is given out each year for grantmaking to fulfill the charitable intent set forth by the donor(s). As the invested balance grows, more is available for distribution over time.  

How does it work? 

Why is it important?  

How can I contribute? 

Berks County Community Foundation assesses management fees on the charitable funds it administers. These fees support costs for grant processing, contribution acknowledgment, audits, tax filings, and personnel. These fees are crucial to allowing us to fulfill our mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County.  

Effective stewardship of philanthropic assets is key to our mission. The endowment funds we manage will live forever, and so will Berks County Community Foundation. We will never leave the area or go out of business, so we will always be here making the community a better place to live.  

In this three-part series, we will explore endowment funds, sparking change, and grantmaking. At Berks County Community Foundation, we do all three. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or community advocate, this series will provide insight into how strategic funding can shape a better future. 

To learn more about establishing an endowed fund with Berks County Community Foundation, please download our Giving Guide and feel free to email me at mollyr@bccf.org.  

Over the past 30 years, we have built strong relationships that form our network of donors, fundholders, grantee organizations, supporters, and community leaders. That network is essential to our ability to operate and fulfill our mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. To better serve the community, we want to understand what matters most to our constituents and supporters.   

With that in mind, we created a short survey to gather insights into the interests of our community. We asked: 

A total of 72 community members completed the survey. The results revealed a wide range of interests as well as an appetite to learn more about those topics through various communication channels and events. The most popular topics aligned with areas of focus prioritized by our team of program officers. 

We will use the results of the survey to plan future communications and events, including targeted outreach to our constituents to invite them to participate in discussions, lunch & learn events, and other opportunities to engage with us and learn more about the topics that interest them most.  

If you would like to participate in the survey, please email mollyr@bccf.org, and I will send you the link. This information will help shine a light on the things that matter to help spark change in your community.   

The Community Foundation expanded its team in recent years to include expert program officers who manage grantmaking in each of our community initiatives. Cindy Milian is the Health and Human Services Program Officer. Cindy oversees grants for individuals, public health initiatives, and human services initiatives. Cindy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and over 25 years of experience in roles related to family support and intervention. Before joining the Community Foundation, she worked at Berks County Children and Youth Services for two decades. As a first-generation American-born Latina with a diverse life experience and a strong background in community involvement, Cindy is well-equipped for her work in health and human services.   

Some of Cindy’s initiative work includes support for rural communities in Berks County. The United Way’s ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) shows that 41% of Berks County households are one paycheck away from a financial crisis. In analyzing the data further, Cindy found that 49% of households in the Hamburg Area School District met the ALICE report’s criteria for living in poverty. This information led her to reach out to community leaders in the Hamburg School District Area to discuss the needs in the community. Many leaders noted the lack of social services in rural communities like Hamburg. These conversations, along with supporting data from the United Way’s ALICE Report, led to Cindy’s new initiative work. This work will focus on helping community leaders work together to develop a strategic plan with action steps to meet the community’s needs. 

To help us build a collective strategy of and by the community, the Foundation will work with Dianne Russell from the Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL). During ICL’s 30-year history, they have assisted organizations with community building and community engagement, specializing in building coalitions, alliances, partnerships, and strengthening communities. Community leaders who would like to participate but have not yet connected with Cindy are encouraged to contact her.

To learn more about Cindy, view the video below.

For more information about Cindy’s grantmaking and initiative work, please reach out to her directly: cindym@bccf.org. 

Who is Berks County Community Foundation? 

Berks County Community Foundation was founded in 1994 to help individuals, families, organizations, and businesses achieve their charitable objectives. Our mission is to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. The Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing funds to meet existing and emerging community needs. The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors and is run by professional staff with expertise in identifying the community’s needs. Today, more than 900 community foundations serve towns, cities, and geographic regions across the United States.  

Berks County Community Foundation currently manages nearly $142 million in charitable assets, which provided more than $6 million in grants and scholarships in our last fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Our program officers specialize in their areas of focus and oversee our grantmaking, ensuring that the grants we award meet the needs of the community while honoring the intentions of the donors who established funds with the Community Foundation.   

What do we do?  

We help Berks Countians structure their charitable giving. The Community Foundation helps individuals, families, and their professional advisors determine the best way to meet their charitable goals. This often includes honoring the memory of a loved one or supporting a cause about which the individual or family cares deeply. In either case, a member of the Community Foundation’s staff works with the people involved to determine the best way to meet their charitable objectives.  

We professionally manage charitable dollars.  

The Community Foundation manages the money in the charitable funds. Funds are created after a simple fund agreement is completed and an initial donation is received. The money is then pooled with the foundation’s other funds and professionally invested to ensure grants or scholarships – and the  individual’s or family’s legacy – continue in perpetuity.  

We distribute grants and scholarships and measure their results.  

Our program officers are experts in their fields. The program team conducts site visits and researches pressing issues not only at the county level, but also regionally, nationally, and internationally to ensure grants and scholarships are improving the quality of life in Berks County.   

Though donor-driven, much of our grantmaking falls within the following areas of expertise:  

Arts, Culture, and Humanities  

Our funds and programs celebrate the humanities and connect residents to the many artistic and  

cultural activities that take place in our community.  

Environment and Energy  

Our funds support projects and programs that recognize the value of climate resiliency, which include  

promoting energy efficiency, caring for farmland and open space, and reducing our impact on the planet.  

Health and Human Services  

We work to ensure our community members have access to the health information and quality of life services they need to function at their best.  

Lifelong Learning  

We are here to help build a community of life-long learners through a variety of professional development programs and scholarships.  

Neighborhoods and Economic Development  

We manage funds to enhance the places people care about in Berks County.  

Types of Charitable Funds  

Berks County Community Foundation helps people determine the type of fund that best suits their charitable goals. Nearly all our funds are customized in some way to help our donors achieve their philanthropic vision.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we distribute millions of dollars in grants and scholarships each year to nonprofits and individuals in our community. If you are interested in learning more about starting a fund with the Community Foundation, please reach out to give@bccf.org. 

January is “National Thank You Month”— a time to embrace the power of gratitude. Originally established to encourage appreciation after the holiday season, it reminds us to reflect on the kindness and support we receive throughout the year. At Berks County Community Foundation, we don’t really need reminders to be grateful for the support we receive from members of the community – we see examples of this support every day, year-round.  

In calendar year 2024, we received over 1,500 donations from 760 donors. In addition, seven new funds were established in 2024, each with specific charitable goals defined by the fund’s founders. Those donations and funds will contribute to the Foundation’s ability to distribute grants and scholarships for many years to come. 

To give an idea of the impact made by the donations we receive and the funds we manage, Berks County Community Foundation awarded $6,465,590 in grants to 563 organizations and individuals in calendar year 2024.  

Grants awarded are made possible by generous donors who give back to the community they love. Community members are invited to join the 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.  
  1. 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 

READING (January 14, 2025) — Berks County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the conclusion of its 4th quarter grant cycle for calendar year 2024, 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.  

“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.  

The Early Years

John Scholl.

John Scholl was born on August 24, 1947, at St. Joe’s Hospital on 13th Street in Reading, the youngest of two boys. His brother, William, who passed away in December of 2023, was four years his senior. John’s father, William, graduated from Temple University and worked as a pharmacist for his entire career. John’s mother, Emily, was a homemaker and part-time bookkeeper for Bertolette Candies, owned by Walter Lechleitner. They moved around a bit – to Pottstown for a few years before settling in Shillington – and John graduated from Governor Mifflin in 1965.

High School – A Talented Athlete Emerges
Sports have been a huge part of John’s life since elementary school, and he excelled on youth teams. He played baseball until a teacher cut him from the team for being the class clown. John switched gears and tried out for the track team. “I did the broad jump, pole vault and high jump. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was number 2 in high jump, so I had a nice track career.

College years
As a freshman at Albright College, John started playing basketball and became a star player. “Basketball was my main sport – I was on the track team the first two years and played baseball the last two years, but I played basketball all four years.” Basketball was a part of John’s life until he was in his 60s, playing in pick-up games and adult leagues throughout his adult life.

A Budding Businessman
“Ever since I was in high school, I always wanted to be in business for myself. I didn’t care if it was a gas station or a candy store – I just wanted to work for myself:’ That ambition drove the decisions that led to a successful career in the home-building industry. “For two summers during college, I worked for John A. Beard in his office – they knew me from playing basketball. My mother did that company’s books. There were a lot of Albright grads working there at the time. After I got my accounting degree from Albright in 1969, John offered me a full-time job.”

While working full-time for John A Beard, one of the partners, Dick Weidman, took a liking to John and taught him a lot about the business. John was honest from the start about his desire to move out on his own soon, and Dick gave him some great advice. “Dick said, ‘I just want to tell you one thing. There are no bad businesses, only bad businessmen.’ That stuck with me. He said you could have a clothing store that goes out of business, and the next guy buys it and makes it the best clothing store in the area. My success was up to me.”

While working 60 or 70 hours per week at the accounting firm and doing bookkeeping on the side for various clients, John took a job as an accountant and salesperson for Berks Construction Company which had a home-building business called Ridge Homes. John quickly learned the ins and outs of the business, and when the owners decided to sell, John decided to buy the business and work closely with a co-worker, Stanley Ball. The two eventually went into custom home building, a career that spanned decades.

Building Business
Property by property, bit by bit, John built his business while establishing his track record in the community. Early investments were made thanks to help from chance encounters with people who knew John from his time playing basketball at Albright. One night over drinks at Clover Park AA Men’s Club, John ran into an Albright alumnus who knew of John because of his success on the court and offered to help John with the financing to close his first big real estate deal – buying some lots in a new development. “We got to talking. I had this deal half-closed, but I needed money. He financed me and got me started. It was successful for both of us – we both made money:’ That success meant that John could now secure bank loans, and his business grew.

Working long hours, and playing sports at night and on the weekends, John started to get burned out. John got out of the custom home-building business when he was about 40 years old. “I had a lot of properties and enough money for me.”

John Scholl started to think about philanthropy. He established The Scholl Foundation with the help of Tom Williams, a local CPA. John eventually found the government regulations and fees for a private foundation expensive and complicated. Soon after Berks County Community Foundation was established, John worked with Franki Aitken, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to set up a donor advised fund at the Community Foundation.

“I came in and talked to Franki and said that I’d like to set something up.” He appreciates how easy the process has been for him. “You take care of everything, and all I to do is give the money and say where I want it to go. Every year I always give the maximum that I can give according to the federal government. Then, I call Frankl and say, ‘Send this amount of money to Albright or Reading Hospital’ or to whatever I am interested in doing, and it is so easy.”

The Next Generation
Steven Scholl, John’s nephew, has fond memories of his uncle from his childhood. “I remember at a young age always being drawn to him and looking forward to seeing him. He’d ask me trivia questions about sports or the rules of baseball or football or basketball. He’s always been a teacher to me.” Later, Steven would learn from John by watching him at the homebuilders’ show that used to be held at the Berkshire Mall. “I would watch how he interacted with people. I remember always being amazed at how many people he knew. When I was 16, 17, and 18 years old, I lived with him so I could attend Governor Mifflin High School to play sports, since my parents lived in the Schuylkill Valley School District. I didn’t realize until later what a huge sacrifice that was for him. Here was a guy in his 40s, free to come and go and do whatever he pleased, but he decided to take me in and have a big role in raising me:’ Little did Steven know that this time would help him in business, later in his life.

John Scholl and Steven Scholl.

In 2013, John had open heart surgery and needed help with his business. Steven offered to help and has been involved ever since, taking over the daily property management operations and growing the business. uHe’s very talented – he can build a house from the ground up. He’s good at financing and paperwork and all that kind of stuff, which is difficult. I still do the bookkeeping, but one day he’ll have to take care of that. He’s the perfect match for me.

Looking back, those early experiences are priceless for Steven. “I have had so many times when I called on some of these people I was introduced to by John, and they went out of their way to help me. It was then I realized how much respect they gave him. While he was tough, he treated people fairly. This may be the number one lesson he taught me. ‘Take care of people and they’ll take care of you; he said. This stuck with me, and I’ve tried to live my life that way… always try to do the right thing.”

John later experienced two cardiac arrests – one in 2018 and another in 2023. He is still involved in the business, although his time in real estate is winding down. He relies on Steve to handle most of the business. Steve is grateful for John’s trust and the opportunities he has given him. “I tell everybody, without him, I would be nowhere. Not just the financial part, but the mentoring part, too. If there is one big takeaway from this, it is that he has been my mentor probably a Jot more than he’ll ever know. There is no possible way I could repay him for everything he has done for me. I’d have to live 100 lifetimes. I never want to disappoint him, and I go to great lengths to ensure that doesn’t happen. I often tell people that my father raised me to be tough, to have grit, and to never give up, and John taught me how to use that toughness and grit in the world. Losing him one day will create an enormous void in my life, and I dread when that happens. In the meantime, all I can do is to continue living my life by the example he set and taught me.

John is proud of his funds at the Community Foundation and wishes he could do more. “My funds are eventually going to help a Jot of people – that’s why I like to give back.” Steven will step in as the advisor to the donor advised fund upon John’s passing, per John’s wishes. When asked how he feels about that, Steven reflected, “We share the same values, the same ideas on how things should be. To me, it’s just a matter of continuing his legacy. I’m just steering the wheel, that’s it.”

For more information about establishing funds at the Community Foundation, please contact Molly McCullough Robbins, mollyr@bccf.org, Vice President for Philanthropic Services.

To download our full 2024 Annual Report, please click here.

A beer distributor might not be the first business you would expect to make regular contributions to Berks County Community Foundation. Tom Derr’s family has owned West Lawn Beverage since 1951, and Tom is still working at age 93. Many years ago, he started organizing a golf tournament and gave the proceeds to various local charities. In 2020, Tom began directing those proceeds to the Cystic Fibrosis Fund of Berks County Community Foundation in honor of a long-time customer’s child, who suffered because of the disease. Distributions from this fund support cystic fibrosis research or the treatment and care of individuals and/or families impacted by cystic fibrosis. 

On Sunday, September 29th, 124 golfers gathered at Manor Golf Course to participate in this year’s tournament. Tom called the Community Foundation in October to let us know that he had the check from this year’s proceeds, and he was proud to report that it was the biggest check to date – $4,667. Tom presented the check to Cindy Milian, Health & Human Services Program Officer, and posed for a photo. Cindy oversees grants for individuals, public health initiatives and human services initiatives.  

“This collaboration between a community member and a donor’s fund is a great example of what the foundation is all about, working together to improve the lives of our neighbors in Berks County,” Cindy said. “It all started with a family’s wish to honor a loved one who suffered from cystic fibrosis, leading to community members wanting to help and continuing to make a difference, years later.” Applications are now being accepted for both the treatment and care of individuals and families impacted by cystic fibrosis and research. To learn more about the fund, click here.  

Individuals or families, small businesses or large corporations – anyone can give to Berks County Community Foundation, either to an established fund as in Tom’s case, or by creating a fund of your own to meet your charitable goals. For more information on how to give, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org or 610-685-2223.