Centre Foundation recently selected 29 local organizations to receive grants from this year’s field-of-interest funds, totaling more than $57,000.

Each September, organizations are invited to apply for funding from these 14 funds, which were established by donors to support various causes and/or geographical areas in Centre County.

“This year, a record-number of organizations applied for grants from these field-of-interest funds,” explained Molly Kunkel, Executive Director. “We are thrilled to fund a variety of 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, youth development, and the performing arts.

The Carolyn A. Petrus Memorial Seeing Eye Dog Fund, which provides funding for organizations that raise, train, and match seeing-eye dogs to people who need them, will grant $15,334 to The Seeing Eye. This grant will provide instruction for Central Pennsylvania residents who are matched with seeing-eye dogs.

The Counseling Service, Inc. Fund, which supports the provision of direct behavioral and mental health counseling services to Centre County residents, will divide $9,519 between two organizations:

  • Penns Valley Youth Center will receive $8,019 to provide on-site mental health counseling for students in grades 6-12.
  • AIDS Resource Alliance will receive $1,500 to provide mental health services to Centre County residents living with HIV.

The William W. and Helen S. Litke Memorial Fund, which supports programs for Centre County residents with hearing loss, will divide $9,123 among three organizations:

  • Hearing Loss Association of America, Centre County Chapter will receive $5,032 to provide captioning services and supplies for meetings and Hearing Day programs for school-age children.
  • SCASD Education Foundation will receive $2,186 to provide Interact Real Time Captioning for hearing-impaired students.
  • Strawberry Fields will receive $1,905 to purchase equipment and supplies to increase communication of hearing-impaired individuals.

The Patricia Farrell Music Fund supports music programs of all types, especially those focusing on children. This fund was established by Patricia Farrell, who was a former board chair of Centre Foundation, an active community volunteer, Penn State professor, and musician. This year, $7,709 will be divided among six organizations:

  • Essence 2 will receive $2,000 to support their Black History Month Concert.
  • Penn’s Woods Music Festival will receive $1,554.50 to support the Penns Woods Music for Kids Student Chamber Invitational, which provides a mentored music experience.
  • Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra will receive $1,554.50 to provide educational mini-concerts for children in grades K-3 as part of the Music Mentorship Program.
  • Central Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association will receive $1,000 to support the Triolo Music Competition for talented middle and high school musicians in Centre County.
  • Nittany Valley Symphony will receive $1,000 to provide family concert tickets to elementary students in Bellefonte and Bald Eagle school districts.
  • State College Choral Society will receive $600 to develop listeners’ study guides for middle and high school students attending a live music performance.

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 $3,669 between two organizations:

  • Mid-State Literacy Council will receive $3,000 to develop men’s health instructional lessons for low-literate residents in Centre County.
  • Centre County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Prison Society will receive $669 to provide training for incarcerated adults to improve parenting skills and family relations.

The Ruth E. Rishel Charitable Fund focuses on Rishel’s home community of Penns Valley. This year, $2,104 will be divided between two organizations:

  • Penns Valley EMS will receive $1,100 to increase safety and visibility of EMS responders through the purchase of reflective vests, back-up cameras, and flashlights.
  • Central Pennsylvania Community Action will receive $1,004 to provide everyday hygiene products to individuals using the CPCA Aaronsburg Food Pantry.

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 year, $1,959 will be divided among three organizations:

  • Huntingdon County Arts Council will receive $750 to provide an educational folk music program in all four Huntingdon County school districts.
  • Mountaintop Swimming Pool will receive $709 to provide transportation for children and to pay lifeguards. Additional funding will be provided by the Centre County Medical Society Fund for a total of $1,282.
  • State Theatre will receive $500 to support the Read It Watch It free movie series for children.

The Centre Children’s Fund, which supports organizations that provide services to at-risk children, will divide $1,646 between two organizations:

  • Ridgelines Language Arts will receive $1,048 for their “Poetry for the Future” poetry workshop for LGBTQA youth.
  • Park Forest Preschool will receive $598 to provide two educational community fieldtrips.

The Philipsburg Area Fund will grant $1,500 to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County to revitalize Centre Street in Philipsburg through home-improvement projects in conjunction with Rock the Block.

The Proud to Be An American Fund, which supports nonprofits that display, encourage, or promote patriotic observances, especially on the 4th of July, will divide $1,379 between two organizations:

  • Central Pennsylvania July 4th will receive $689.50 to support Central PA 4th
  • Constitution Day Centre Hall will receive $689.50 to support their Constitution Day celebration event.

The Centre County Medical Society Fund, which assists nonprofits that are working to promote the health and well-being of Centre County citizens, specifically those that are fighting obesity in children and/or creating playground equipment or facilities, will divide $1,073 between two organizations:

  • Mountaintop Swimming Pool will receive $573 for its aforementioned program.
  • Centre Volunteers in Medicine will receive $500 to provide dental care for low-income children.

The Louis E. and Patricia H. Silvi Fund, which supports early childhood education programs that improve the health, care, and education of young children, will grant $1,017 to Easter Seals Western and Central Pennsylvania to purchase accessible outdoor equipment for students with disabilities.

The Mattil Family Fund, which supports animal welfare causes, will divide $913 between two organizations:

  • Centre County PAWS will receive $456.50 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 $456.50 to cover the cost of cat spray/neuter surgeries in support of local Trap, Neuter, Release programs.

The Andrew and Madaline Rishel Family Fund, which supports Christian churches in Penns Valley, will grant $454 to Calvary Penns Valley to offer Financial Peace University scholarships to four Penns Valley 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).

Centre Foundation’s mission is to inspire and facilitate a culture of giving to create a vibrant community.