Centre Foundation recently selected 25 local organizations to receive grants from this year’s field-of-interest funds, totaling more than $54,000.
Each September, organizations are invited to apply for funding from these 14 funds, which were established by original donors to support various causes and/or geographical areas in Centre County.
“We are really excited about the broad impact we can make with these grants,” explained Executive Director, Molly Kunkel. “Although it was a challenge to select recipients from the 79 total applicants, we are pleased to fund projects that will serve residents from all over the county.”
The grants will fund programs that focus on education, health and social services, animal welfare, at-risk youth, environmental awareness, and the performing arts.
The Carolyn A. Petrus Memorial Seeing Eye Dog Fund, which provides funding to organizations that raise, train, and match seeing-eye dogs to people who need them, will grant $13,902 to The Seeing Eye. This grant will provide instruction for Centre County residents partnered with seeing-eye dogs in upcoming classes.
The Counseling Service Fund, which supports organizations that provide direct behavioral and mental health counseling services in Centre County, will divide its $9,356 grant among two organizations:
· Centre County Women’s Resource Center will receive $7,356 to increase availability of therapy services for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
· CORE Guidance will receive $2,000 to subsidize mental health services for individuals and families struggling to cover out-of-pocket expenses due to high insurance deductibles.
The William W. and Helen S. Litke Memorial Fund, which provides aid and assistance for the deaf and hearing impaired, will grant $8,219 to Centre Volunteers in Medicine to provide financial assistance and case management for low-income individuals to participate in hearing aid programs.
The Patricia Farrell Music Fund supports all types of music programs – especially those focused on children – and is named after a former chair of Centre Foundation, an active community volunteer, a Penn State professor, and a musician. This year, the $7,213 grant will be divided among five organizations:
· Penn’s Woods Music Festival will receive $2,000 for a new children’s program, Penn’s Woods Music 4 Kids, which will cultivate a love of music in children ages 3-18 in Centre County.
· Pennsylvania Centre Chamber Orchestra Society will receive $2,000 to provide opportunities for young musicians to learn from and perform with world-class musicians at no cost.
· State College Area School District Education Foundation will receive $2,000 to replace worn-out musical instruments used by elementary school children.
· State College Choral Society will receive $713 to inspire children and young adults to pursue music through choral singing by performing a free holiday concert.
· Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association will receive $500 to support the Triolo Music Competition for talented middle and high school musicians in Centre County.
The J. Alvin and Vera E. Knepper Hawbaker Memorial Endowment Fund, which supports organizations that provide vital health and education services across Centre County, will divide its $3,628 grant among three organizations:
· Centre County Youth Service Bureau will receive $2,000 to provide healthy food and snacks to at-risk youth who attend their after-school youth centers in Bellefonte and Snow Shoe.
· Aaronsburg Civic Club will receive $1,000 to expand their programming, which will include after-school art and cooking classes for children.
· ACRES Project will receive $628 for purchase of Chromebooks to be used for tech-based programs that promote independent living and pre-employment skills for individuals with autism.
The Ruth E. Rishel Charitable Fund focuses on Rishel’s home community of Penns Valley. This $2,022 grant will be divided among two organizations:
· Schlow Centre Region Library will receive $1,011 for their Climate Change Listening Tour sessions in Penns Valley, which will facilitate discussion and inspire local action on climate change.
· Centre Hall Library Association will receive $1,011 to expand collections and purchase assistive technology aids for use by patrons with low or impaired vision.
The Ben Franklin Fund supports community projects in Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties, carrying out Franklin’s commitment to giving back to Pennsylvania communities. This fund’s $1,907 grant will be divided among three organizations.
· Centre Region Parks and Recreation will receive $1,022 to support their Youth Scholarship Program, which provides camp scholarships and reduced-cost pool passes for at-risk children.
· Cen-Clear Child Services will receive $500 to purchase diapers for their Young Parent Group project, which serves young or teen parents in Centre and Clearfield Counties.
· YMCA of Centre County will receive $385 for their Connecting the Pieces program, which provides networking, support, and recreation for families of children with special needs.
The Centre Children’s Fund, which supports organizations that provide services to at-risk children, will grant $1,615 to the YMCA of Centre County for their aforementioned Connecting the Pieces program.
The Philipsburg Area Fund will divide its $1,545 grant among two organizations:
· Mountain Top Fire Company will receive $795 to increase the safety and capability of emergency utility vehicles through the purchase of LED lights and various tools.
· Skills of Central Pennsylvania will receive $750 to educate Philipsburg community members on signs and symptoms of behavioral health issues.
The Proud to Be An American Fund, which supports non-profit organizations that display, encourage, or promote patriotic observances—especially on the 4th of July, will grant $1,340 to Central PA July 4th to support Central PA 4th Fest.
The Centre County Medical Society Fund, which promotes healthy lifestyles for children, will divide its $1,058 grant among two organizations:
· Park Forest Preschool will receive $740 to purchase new outdoor play surface material in order to maintain state standards of safety for young children.
· Easter Seals Western and Central Pennsylvania will receive $318 to expand their Therapeutic Recreation programs to include a new after-school program, which will serve children with special needs.
The Louis E. and Patricia H. Silvi Fund, which supports at-risk children, especially in the areas of early childhood education programs that improve the health, care, and education of young children, will grant $1,002 to Easter Seals Western and Central Pennsylvania for their aforementioned Therapeutic Recreation program.
The Mattil Family Fund will divide its $904 grant among two organizations:
· Centre County PAWS will receive $452 to fund their Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides low-cost spay/neuter vouchers to those in need in Centre County.
· Pets Come First will receive $452 to support their cat spay/neuter program, which helps to eliminate the number of neglected and abused animals in our community.
The Andrew and Madaline Rishel Family Fund, which supports Christian churches in Penns Valley, will grant $440.21 to Calvary Penns Valley to offer Financial Peace University scholarships to four families.
For more information about all of Centre Foundation’s granting opportunities, please visit our website, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or contact our Grants & Community Impact Coordinator, Rachael Hartman (rachael@centre-foundation.org | 814-237-6229).
To learn more about setting up your own fund to support a passion near to your heart, please contact our Executive Director, Molly Kunkel (molly@centre-foundation.org | 814-237-6229).
