The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) is pleased to award forty grants to area nonprofits through five competitive grant opportunities and totaling over $99,500 in grant funds. Reviewed applications were submitted to the February 1, 2017 deadline and all award recipients are registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or have a fiscal sponsor. Organizations interested in applying to these or other TFEC grant opportunities should visit www.tfec.org to learn how to apply and review the grant guidelines.
Camp Hill Community Foundation
The Camp Hill Community Foundation (CHCF), a regional foundation of TFEC, supports projects that have the potential for the greatest impact on the quality of life and positive outcomes for individuals and families living in Camp Hill. Two organizations were awarded a total of $1,605.59 for their programs:
- Setebaid Services Inc was awarded $1,000 for the Setebaid Diabetes Camp Camperships program. Awarded funds enable youths living with Type 1 Diabetes to attend a diabetes-focused summer camp offering diabetes education and supports, fun, and the opportunity to build friendships with other diabetic youths.
- Please Live was awarded $605.59 for fundraising infrastructure upgrades. Please Live focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention aimed towards youth and young adults. Through this grant, Please Live will be able to upgrade needed technologies that will help them grow as an organization.
The Children’s Home Foundation
The mission of The Children’s Home Foundation fund, a fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, is to provide aid to economically disadvantaged children in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties. Six organizations were awarded a total of $25,000 for their programs:
- Capital Region Literacy Council was awarded $2,500 for purchasing and distributing children’s books. The funding will allow for the purchase of approximately 3,000 books to children living in low-income areas of Harrisburg.
- Girls on the Run Capital Area was awarded $6,000 to provide to opportunities and services to underserved girls and establish new programs in schools with a high number of girls living below the poverty line or experiencing other risk factors.
- Harrisburg Area YMCA was awarded $5,000 for youth memberships and free swim lessons for inner city youth. The funding will help the YMCA offer assistance to families in need and help subsidize services and programs like the East Shore Branch YMCA Learn to Swim Program.
- St. Barnabas Children’s Ministry was awarded $5,000 for 2017 Summer Camp Transportation & Field Trip Fees. This will allow the organization to take summer campers to places like Lake Tobias, the Turkey Hill Experience, and Knoebels as well as participate in activities like bowling and skating.
- The Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society was awarded $1,500 for River School Rides Made Free for Disadvantaged Youth. With this funding the organization aims to make all their 75-minute cruises free for students ages 13 and younger.
- The Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital Region was awarded $5,000 for Food, Clothing, and Education for Kids. This funding will allow the continuation of afterschool programs, a food pantry, and other essentials for children in need.
Family and Children’s Services of Lebanon County
The Family and Children’s Services of Lebanon County, a fund of TFEC, supports nonprofit social service agencies that serve families and children in Lebanon County. A total of $18,723.23 was distributed to ten organizations for their programs:
- Big Brothers-Big Sisters of The Capital Region Inc was awarded $873.23 for their Fall Match Event: Teambuilding at Gretna Glen. The award will reduce the financial burden on the Bigs’ and Littles’ families and provide staff support for the Teambuilding Program at Gretna Glen.
- Community Health Council of Lebanon County was awarded $1,500 for its Mentor A Mother, Program Starter Bags program. The Program Starter Bags will provide items that promote organizational skills for participants in the program.
- Lebanon Family Health Services Inc was awarded $2,000 for its WE CAN – Ways To Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition program. The program looks to eliminate childhood obesity by providing education sessions and materials to WIC participants, schools, Head Start, day care providers, parent groups, churches, and organizations throughout Lebanon County.
- Lebanon Valley Council On the Arts was awarded $2,000 for its Resource Studio program. The Resource Studio will be a classroom and art studio in downtown Lebanon City. All county residents will be served by the studio with a particular emphasis on children in the city.
- Lebanon Valley Volunteers In Medicine Clinic was awarded $2,500 for its free walk in, urgent medical care program. The clinic will be a no-appointment necessary clinic and will be open during the hours the original, appointment necessary clinic is not open.
- Retired Senior Volunteer Program Of The Capital Region Inc was awarded $2,000 for its Summer Fruit and Fun Program. Focusing on Lebanon City, volunteers will distribute bags filled with fruit, activities, and recipes to children and families utilizing playgrounds throughout the summer.
- Setebaid Services, Inc was awarded $1,850 for the Setebaid Diabetes Camp Camperships program. Awarded funds enable youths living with Type 1 Diabetes to attend a diabetes-focused summer camp offering diabetes education and supports, fun, and the opportunity to build friendships with other diabetic youths.
- The Sexual Assault Resource & Counseling Center of Lebanon County was awarded $2,000 for its Creating an Appropriate Environment for Trauma Focused Therapy for Children program. The funding will be used to update office space dedicated to counseling, therapy, and advocacy services to victims of childhood sexual assault and their families.
- Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania was awarded $2,000 for its Operation Backpack 2017 program. The program assists students in obtaining required school supplies that they may not have been able to otherwise afford.
- Wellspan Good Samaritan Hospital was awarded $2,000 for its Cribs for Kids and Car Seat Program. The program will create and distribute Safe Sleep Survival Kits for a safe sleep environment and will purchase new infant converter and booster seats for caregivers in need.
The Kids Trust Fund
The Kids Trust, a fund of TFEC, was created in 2005 by and in memory of Gary L. Houck, Jr. Gary’s wish before his death was to create a fund that would provide support and services to young children who are living with physical or emotional abuse or neglect. The annual competitive grantmaking program is for nonprofit organizations providing programs and services for children of abuse and their families in the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York. The Kids Trust awarded a total of $33,138.29 to ten organizations for their programs:
- Children Aid Society was awarded $5,000 for The Lehman Center Crisis Nursery. The nursery provides short-term care for children at times when their families cannot provide a stable environment.
- Diakon Child Family & Community Ministries was awarded $2,273 for their Resource Family Education Initiative program. The program focuses on foster children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect and their families and will provide support groups and speakers to discuss a wide array of relevant topics.
- Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland & Perry Counties was awarded $3,500 for its Children & Youth Program. The funding will be used for counseling services for children who are victims of domestic violence or trauma. The counselor will work directly with the child and with other agencies to be sure he or she is linked with all necessary resources.
- Harrisburg Area YMCA was awarded $2,500 for its Northern Dauphin County YMCA Mentoring program. Mentors will serve children who have experienced abuse or neglect and will provide nutrition education, teach alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention, and provide assistance for victims of bullying.
- Hoffman Homes for Youth was awarded $2,499.29 for its Music Therapy Program. The program will be in addition to the many other services the organization offers and will benefit children who have suffered from abuse and neglect.
- Leg Up Farm Inc was awarded $3,866 for an Animal-Assisted Therapy Group. The equine therapy will serve girls between the ages of 7-18 who have been victims of sexual abuse or domestic violence.
- Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance was awarded $2,000 for its Dad & Me program. It seeks to strengthen the relationship between ex-offenders and their children through bi-monthly activities in the Harrisburg area.
- Pinnacle Health Hospitals was awarded $2,500 for Victims of Neglect and Chronic Neglect. It will serve children who are victims of sexual or physical abuse or neglect and provide them with mental health and early intervention services.
- Sexual Assault Resource & Counseling Center of Lebanon & Schuylkill Counties was awarded $4,000 for its Building Healthy Relationships Summer Program. The program will focus on children aged 5-7 and will work to build the children’s resiliency skills and help them develop skills to resist bullying.
- The Salvation Army was awarded $5,000 for its Bridging The Gap: Abuse Prevention through Empowering Students with Character Education and Life Skills program. The program is a six-week summer session that touches a wide range of subjects from suicide and self-harm prevention to the development of important social skills.
Perry County Community Foundation
The Perry County Community Foundation (PCCF), a regional foundation of TFEC, invests in innovative, collaborative approaches and solutions to community problems, with the goal of funding programs and services with the potential for the greatest impact on the quality of life and positive outcomes for individuals and families living in Perry County. PCCF awarded a total of $21,084 to twelve organizations for their programs:
- The Healthy Steps Diaper Bank was awarded $2,000 for its Silent Crisis program. The program will allow disadvantaged families to receive free diapers from the Healthy Steps Diaper Bank.
- The Historical Society of Perry County was awarded $1,700 for its Perry County Bicentennial Lasting Legacy Program. The program will highlight the county’s history of agriculture, transportation and industry through a heritage trail with 80 historical markers.
- The Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania was awarded $750 for its Patient Emergency Assistance Fund. The program will provide emergency cash assistance to Kidney dialysis patients in need.
- Marysville Park, Pool & Recreation Foundation was awarded $3,500 to update and upgrade the Marysville Foundation Pool Complex to better serve the area residents.
- The Perry County Council of the Arts was awarded $1,292 for its Perry Percussion Pilot Project. The project will allow children and adults alike to stage a performance for their community.
- The Perry County Literacy Council was awarded $1,250 for its RISE Up eLearning Program. This program will give its students necessary training so they can find and retain employment.
- Please Live was awarded $2,315 for its STOMP: Student/Teen Outreach for Mental (Illness) Prevention program. The STOMP program will provide mental illness and suicide prevention awareness and education to teens and educators.
- Rebuilding Together Greater Harrisburg Inc was awarded $2,000 for its Home Repair Program. This will allow for three homes in Perry County to have much needed repairs completed.
- Retired Senior Volunteer Program of the Capital Region was awarded $1,500 for their Operation Volunteer Support program. With this funding, the organization will be empowered to grow its volunteer services in Perry County.
- Setebaid Services Inc was awarded $1,600 for the Setebaid Diabetes Camp Camperships program. Awarded funds enable youths living with Type 1 Diabetes to attend a diabetes-focused summer camp offering diabetes education and supports, fun, and the opportunity to build friendships with other diabetic youths.
- The Arc of Cumberland and Perry Counties was awarded $2,177 for their Expanding Technology Usage for People with Intellectual Disabilities program. The organization plans to purchase two Microsoft Surface Pro Tablets with this grant award to help individuals with intellectual disabilities increase their technology skills.
- Volunteers Of America Inc was awarded $1,000 for their Operation Backpack 2017 program. The program assists students in obtaining required school supplies that they may not have been able to afford otherwise.
