York County Community Foundation Awards Over $515,800 in Grants to Thirty-Five Local Nonprofits

(York, PA, February 12, 2025) – York County Community Foundation (YCCF) is excited to announce its most recent round of grants to local nonprofits serving York County. The Foundation proudly continues its mission of fueling community transformation by awarding over $515,800 in grant awards to thirty-five local nonprofit organizations.

“These grants reflect the diverse interests of our donors and highlight critical issues that impact career development, childhood education, health, housing, and transportation. We are amazed by the innovative solutions offered by nonprofits and their unwavering dedication to this important work. We know this work would be impossible without the generous contributions of our donors who play a vital role in driving this progress, and for that, we are deeply grateful,” shared Natalee Gunderson, President & CEO of YCCF.

Recent Grants From the THRIVE Grant Program Include:

• $69,000 to Community Progress Council, Inc., for its Holistic Coaching program. This program provides people in York County who are experiencing poverty with coaches who offer long-term, trusting relationships that emphasize a strengths-based approach and autonomy in decision-making as a journey to self-sufficiency.
• $50,000 to New Hope Ministries, for its Second Chance Financing program to provide vehicle financing for low-income individuals who have completed financial literacy and employment programs. This initiative will help families overcome transportation barriers, ensuring access to reliable vehicles, and empowering them to achieve long-term stability and economic self-sufficiency.
• $26,500 to Crispus Attucks Association, for its Career Focus Institute’s Cybersecurity program. York City youth will explore high-priority occupations to increase the economic stability of individuals and families in our community.
• $25,000 to Downtown Inc., for the Downtown Resource Center to provide convenient access to public safety resources for residents, visitors, and merchants and help drive continued community and economic development in downtown York.
• $10,000 to PennCares Support Services, for its Building a Brighter Future Through Child Development Initiative. The grant allows for the expansion of its Child Development Program and the implementation of new, recurring, Mommy and Me classes.
• $10,000 to Wee Connect Early Learning Center, Inc. for a Secure Door Access System to enhance the safety of childcare services provided to children of all abilities.
• $10,000 to York County Alliance for Learning, for its High School Career Exploration programs to empower students with the information needed to make well-informed decisions for their future. Experts will enhance a student’s understanding of job roles within each career field, and explore the necessary education, training, and skills needed to work within that field.
• $10,000 to Junior Achievement of South Central PA, to provide financial literacy and work readiness educational opportunities to over 20,000 students in York County Title 1 schools during the 2024-25 school year. Students who participate in Junior Achievement programs begin to think about possible careers and make connections between their classroom learning and the real world.
• $10,000 to Bell Socialization Services for its Rental Assistance for Homeless Families program. The program provides hard-working families nearing the end of their 30-day stay in Bell Family Shelter with a fund to cover a security deposit, and the first and last months’ rent needed to secure a new home.
• $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of York & Adams Counties for its Mentoring program. Youth (Littles) are matched with mentors (Bigs) who create positive childhood experiences that result in educational success and socio-emotional competency.
• $10,000 to HDC MidAtlantic, for its Resident Services program in York County. The grant will improve the lives of residents through on-site resident services and increase housing stability, advance health and wellness, prevent evictions, and increase access to benefits that impact financial capability.
• $10,000 to Children’s Home of York, for its Independent Living program. The grant will provide graduates of this program with support and essentials as they transition out of the program and into adulthood.
• $6,000 to Girls Who Code Inc., for its Girls Who Code Clubs to allow girls in 3rd-12th grade in York County to explore coding in a fun and friendly environment.
• $5,360 to Friends & Neighbors of Pennsylvania Inc., to provide its Stable Housing Collaborative (SHC) with Lived Experience Representatives. This will encourage, facilitate, and compensate those with lived experience to attend and participate in SHC discussions, decision-making, and leadership roles and provide first-hand knowledge of challenges and barriers to help improve services.
• $1,000 to Creative York for its Art in the Parks Program to provide free art classes to York City children in six inner-city parks to help improve their teamwork and decision-making skills and increase their self-esteem.

Grants From the Embracing Aging Grant Program Include:

• $10,000 to United Way of York County to provide homebound and transportation-limited ALICE seniors with its Ride United Program. It will assist 200 homebound seniors with free fresh food from the Salvation Army of York Food Bank through DoorDash.
• $9,720 to Albright Care Services, for its Creative Place Activities and Programming to provide an outlet for people to express themselves through art sessions led by a professional instructor.
• $8,000 to Presbyterian Homes, Inc., for its Cupboards of Care program to help stock the food pantries at eight of their affordable senior housing rental communities located in York County, to help alleviate the financial stress related to food and ensure residents can purchase essentials such as medication.
• $8,000 to Stewartstown Area Senior Citizen Center Inc., for its Active Aging program to provide its members with yoga and art classes that can broaden their skills and abilities, provide opportunities to socialize, and foster a healthy body and mind.

Additional Grants from YCCF Include:

• $65,000 from the Doris E. Schwartz Education Fund to YMCA of the Roses, for its Young Thinkers of York program to provide underserved high-school students with access to training, knowledge, and careers in STEM fields.
• $50,000 from the Mabel Slifer Fund for People and Animals to York County SPCA for its Canine Enrichment Saves Lives program to provide an outdoor play area for dogs to play and socialize, to enhance their quality of life and increase their chances of being placed in a loving home.
• $15,000 to Valley Youth House, for its DEI Youth Leadership Initiative. Valley Youth House aims to empower members of the York County Homeless Coalition Youth Advisory Board and youth from the Rapid Rehousing Program through leadership and personal growth activities centered on DEI and homelessness. The initiative focuses on building positive relationships, fostering self-efficacy, and promoting understanding of how DEI intersects with homelessness.
• $15,000 from the Focus On Our Future fund to Community Connections for Children for its Ready Freddy program, a research-based kindergarten readiness program to help families and children prepare for the transition to kindergarten.
• $10,000 from the Mabel Slifer Fund for People and Animals to Catholic Harvest Food Pantry, for YorkGiving to provide 1800 – 2000 York County households with poultry and the sides to be able to prepare Thanksgiving Dinner.
• $10,000 from the Doris E. Schwartz Education Fund to Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania for its Academic Edge Educational Program within The School District of the City of York. The program offers experiential learning aligned with Pennsylvania state academic standards to K-5 students.
• $10,000 from the Edgar I. Garrett Fund to Parkinson’s Cure Research Funding for its Forum for the Cure for Parkinson’s event. The Forum focused on identifying gaps in services for those living with Parkinson’s and provided opportunities to connect and share resources.
• $9,000 from the Codorus Watershed Program Fund to the Watershed Alliance of York, Inc., for its Codorus Focus at Kiwanis Lake and Keystone Kidspace programs. The Watershed Discovery at Kidspace event allows 125 students to learn about macroinvertebrates and freshwater mussels in Codorus Creek. The Youth and Family Fishing and Conservation event provides 100 youth with the opportunity to experience fishing at Kiwanis Lake.
• $7,330 from the Bob Hoffman Sports & Fitness Fund to Logos Works Partners, for its Safer Together Community Athletics program which seeks to improve relationships between law enforcement and the citizens of York County. Police, students, educators, and other residents participate in sports to increase positive interactions and build rapport, resulting in safer neighborhoods and less violence.
• $5,000 from the Bob Hoffman Sports & Fitness Fund to the Lancaster Science Factory, for the replacement of its Big Blue Blocks exhibit, which allows children to learn about engineering and creativity while also engaging in active play.
• $5,000 from the Mabel Slifer Fund for People In Need to the Appell Center for the Performing Arts, for its York County Student Music Festival to showcase the talents of local student musicians who participate in a clinic with a professional musician. The performances will be held at the historic Capitol Theatre on Saturday, February 15, 2025.
• $5,000 from YCCF’s Fund for York County to Downtown Inc., for its 2025 Welcoming Communities Program to support sustainable community events that create a welcoming and connected community for all in York County through diversity, accessibility, and cultural representation.
• $3,000 from the Mabel Slifer Fund for People In Need to Bro2Go Inc., for its Supply Closet at the Reentry Opportunity Center to provide essential supplies immediately upon request to York County Prisoners.
• $2,575 from the Pat and Carol Innerst Fund for Education to the Horn Farm Center, to launch its first Ecological Restoration Certificate Training (ERCT) program to teach participants how to partner with nature and assist in recovering degraded ecosystems to create healthy, resilient habitats for wildlife.
• $2,225 from YCCF’s Fund for York County to Leadership York, for its Leadership Training Program, a nine-month experiential course on York County history and community issues. Participants fine-tune their leadership skills, enhance their knowledge, and receive guidance in choosing and applying for a board, elected, or appointed position.
• $1,600 from the Jeffrey D. Myers LGBTQ+ Fund for York County to PFLAG Westminster – Carroll County, for Book Talks and Distribution of LGBTQIA+ books to media centers and Gay-Straight-Alliances (GSAs) in Carroll County Public Schools.
• $1,500 from the Mabel Slifer Fund for People In Need to Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority, for its Grocery Cart Program. This program aims to improve access to groceries and reduce physical strain or injury to individuals with limited mobility, such as older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities.