Members of Team Pigs Might Fly, one of 14 teams to compete in Harrisburg Hoopla this past June, recently presented a check for $728.95 to the Joshua Group for general operating expenses.
“This donation will help fund our Summer Learning Program,” said Joshua Group Educational Support Coordinator Deb Miller. “It’s a seven-week long program to help stem summer learning losses for kids living on Allison Hill,” added Joshua Group Founder and Director Kirk Hallett. The program is offered free of charge for more than 100 low-income students and engages these K-8 students in a broad range of activities including academic enrichment lessons, basic reading and math skills remediation, art and nature experiences, educational field trips, and recreational activities in a safe and nurturing environment. The program collaborates with many other community-based organizations, including the Central PA Food Bank, which provides a nutritious free breakfast and lunch each day.
Combining fun with philanthropy, the inaugural Harrisburg Hoopla raised more than $7,000 for local nonprofit organizations earlier this month. The event gave participants a chance to relive memorable middle school days and compete in fun events such as potato sack race, three legged race, tug-o-war, and more. Each of the 14 teams that competed represented a local charity of their choice. The top three teams will be donating part of the event proceeds to their selected charity. Harrisburg Hoopla is an event of the Emerging Philanthropists Program (EPP), a partnership between The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) and Harrisburg Young Professionals (HYP).
Pictured individuals: Left to right – Joshua Group Founder and Director Kirk Hallett, Pigs Might Fly Team Members William Newton and Christian Guy, TFEC VP of Development and Community Investment Jennifer Doyle, and students from Joshua Group’s Summer Learning Program
About the Emerging Philanthropist Program (EPP)
The “Harrisburg Hoopla” field day is an event founded by EPP. This program teaches young professionals the process and importance of grant making in the nonprofit community, while providing resources and educational opportunities for Harrisburg’s developing leaders who wish to be actively engaged in giving back to their community. The experience culminates with class members applying their newly learned community and grantmaking skills by awarding a grant to a nonprofit organization. Participants choose the funding area based on their community needs assessment. After a competitive grantmaking process, a one-time $5,000 grant is awarded to a local nonprofit organization. To date, the Emerging Philanthropist Program has granted $15,000 to local nonprofit organizations. The Emerging Philanthropist Fund is an endowment fund used to ensure the $5,000 awards become sustainable for future participants. Given the need in our communities, our long-term goal is to grow the award amounts and enable future participants to award grants to multiple organizations. Click here for more information on the Emerging Philanthropist Program. Click here to Like Harrisburg Hoopla on Facebook.
