(YORK, PA, September 9) – Members of the community helped York County Community Foundation (YCCF) advance its vision to create a vibrant York County by awarding 12 nonprofits grants totaling $64,019.
The community grant making program of YCCF invites residents from across York County to bring a wider perspective to the review process. Volunteer grant readers evaluated grants of $6,000 or less from the Fund for York County and the Hahn Home Fund for Embracing Aging.
This year’s volunteer grant readers reviewed 17 applications and awarded $46,019 from the Fund for York County and $18,000 from Embracing Aging.
“We are very thankful for our community grant readers and their willingness to share their expertise with us,” said Roth J. Preap, Grants Program Associate at YCCF. “This year, we had 20 grant readers from eight different York County zip codes, and each one brought their individual experiences, knowledge, and perspective to the table. Thank you to all of our readers for helping to make York County a more vibrant place for all!”
Community grant readers are members of the community who are at least 18 years old, reside in York County, and are not employed by a nonprofit agency serving York County. They participated in grant evaluation training held by the community foundation and used an online system to read and score the grants before deciding which nonprofits received funding.
The Fund for York County grants support one of the following categories:
• Education for disadvantaged youth
• Workforce development
• Downtown revitalization in York County cities and boroughs
• Neighborhood revitalization in York City
Embracing Aging grants support programs that serve York County residents age 50 and older that focus on reducing social isolation.
Fund for York County grant recipients include:
• PennCares Support Services for the Take a Moment to Breathe: Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Classes program which teaches children breathing techniques, strategies and yoga poses to combat stress and anxiety and to promote a positive self-image.
• York County Literacy Council for their Workplace Literacy program which focuses on economic development, economic stability, and prosperity by focusing on literacy skills as a human-resource strategy.
• Hoffman Homes Inc.’s Digital Radio Project to upgrade campus hand-held radios from an analog system to a new digital repeater system.
• Best Buddies in Pennsylvania for their York County Social Inclusion & Leadership Development program to provide opportunities for friendship, inclusion, and leadership development for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• School District of the City of York for The Future Bearcats Scholars League program to provide students the opportunity to take college level mathematic courses that satisfy high school and college mathematics requirements.
• Children’s Home of York for the Help the Independent Living Program at George Street Feel Like Home program to provide funds for repairs and improvements to make the spaces safer and more comfortable.
• United Way of York County for their C is for Community and A United Way Alphabet programs to distribute children’s books to encourage reading, family engagement, and community involvement.
• Leg Up Farm for the Pre-K School Readiness Program for Children with Special Needs to create a Pre-K school readiness program, which is greatly needed due to reduced social/educational opportunities due to COVID-19.
• York Suburban Education Foundation (YSEF) for their Impact Foundation to provide York Suburban School District students with the fundamental resources they need to learn and succeed at school and in the community.
Embracing Aging grant recipients include:
• Albright Care Services to add a Pollinator Garden at Happy Trails Nature Park for an optimal nature experience and to enable visitors to socially distance while enjoying companionship.
• York County History Center to install an accessibility lift in the Colonial Court House to provide easy access to seniors and individuals with physical disabilities and limitations.
• Theatre Arts For Everyone (TAFE) for their TheatreConnects program to provide live theatre for seniors by seniors. TAFE’s touring company produces shows specifically for adult audiences that travel to where seniors gather.
Anyone interested in becoming a community grant reader for 2022 can learn more at: www.yccf.org/grant-reader-application
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York County Community Foundation creates a vibrant York County by engaging donors, providing community leadership, and investing in high-impact initiatives while building endowment for future generations. York County Community Foundation holds more than 600 endowed funds and assists donors and nonprofits in reaching their charitable goals. The Community Foundation granted $6.9 million in 2020 throughout York County and beyond, and stewards approximately $178 million in assets.
