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How 41 Local Programs Are Creating Change—Boosted by $183,130 in New Funding from Centre Foundation.

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State College, PA — December 5, 2025, Centre Foundation has awarded $183,130 in Field-of-Interest (FOI) grants to 41 local programs/projects, funded by 22 donor-established endowments that support specific causes, populations, and geographic areas throughout Centre County and surrounding regions.

Each September, eligible nonprofits are invited to apply for funding from these endowed funds. Volunteer committees carefully review all applications to ensure that each grant aligns with donor intent and meets critical or emerging community needs.

“Field-of-Interest Funds are a manifestation of our donors generosity,” said David Lieb, President & CEO of Centre Foundation. “This funding reflects donors’ hopes for their community because it transforms those hopes into real support for families, children, animals, and neighbors in need. We are deeply grateful to the donors and nonprofits who make this impact possible throughout the Centre region.”

Below are the 2025 Field-of-Interest Grant Awards, including links to each endowed fund.

2025 FIELD-OF-INTEREST GRANT AWARDS

Andrew and Madaline Rishel Family Fund supports Christian churches in Penns Valley with mission programs, church camps, cemetery preservation, and community outreach projects for the elderly, disabled, and/or low-income individuals.

  • Calvary Penns Valley Church – $936 to fund their THRIVE 2026 faith-based Art Camp.

Barry and Patti Fisher Fund supports programs for children ages 11–17.

  • Foundation for Free Enterprise Education – $1,183 to provide scholarships for their Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week 2026 Speaker Series.

Ben Franklin Fund distributes grants to qualified charities within Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties.

  • Centre County Farmland Trust – $1,000 for the Hill Crystal Farm Easement Placement.
  • Centre LGBT+ – $1,479 for their Youth Gala Celebration.

Carolyn A. Petrus Memorial Seeing Eye Dog Fund provides funding for organizations that raise, train, and match seeing-eye dogs to the people who need them.

  • The Seeing Eye – $19,374 to provide instruction and training for Pennsylvania Seeing Eye dog recipients.

Centre Children’s Fund supports organizations providing programs and services to at-risk children.

  • Centre County Youth Service Bureau – $2,087 for their Feeding Food Insecure and High Needs Centre County Youth Program.

Centre County Medical Society Fund assists nonprofit organizations promoting the health and well-being of Centre County citizens, specifically those encouraging healthy lifestyles in children and/or creating playground equipment or facilities.

  • One Hand Foundation – $1,340 for Read & Refuel: Storytime, Smart Snacks, and Active Fun for K–5 Philipsburg students.

Counseling Service, Inc. Fund continues the original mission of Counseling Service, Inc. by supporting direct behavioral/mental health counseling services for Centre County residents.

  • Centre Volunteers in Medicine – $5,859 for the Integrated Behavioral Health Access Program.
  • Jana Marie Foundation – $6,000 for the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group.

Denny Gioia and Judy Albrecht Endowment Fund supports direct services and programs in housing insecurity, food insecurity, and health.

  • Aids Resource Alliance – $1,900 to support their Housing Stability Program.
  • Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund – $1,900 for their financial assistance program for local cancer patients.

Donna L. Litke Occupational Horse Therapy Endowment supports the maintenance and upkeep of horses used for occupational therapy in Centre County or any of the six contiguous counties (Blair, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Union).

  • Hands On Therapeutic Riding Program – $1,744
  • Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center – $1,744
  • Victory Therapeutic Horsemanship – $1,745

Ed and Charlene Friedman Family Fund supports health and human service programs that reduce poverty through physical & mental health, food, shelter, clothing, and/or education—especially in emergency situations.

  • Housing Transitions – $8,000 to support the Centre House Homeless Shelter.
  • Out of the Cold – $11,587 for their Emergency Shelter Services.
  • Strawberry Fields – $12,000 to fund in-home counseling through their Family Based Mental Health Service Program.
  • Trinity United Methodist Church – $6,429 for their diaper depot, shoe bank, and monthly free community dinners.
  • Variety the Children’s Charity – $5,000 to provide adaptive bikes and strollers to children with disabilities.

 

Fur-Ever Support for Animals Fund provides funding for volunteer organizations offering direct services in animal welfare.

  • Serendipity Horse Rescue Ranch – $1,383 for their barn expansion project.

Howard Areal Lighthouse Fund supports programs and projects in Howard.

  • Howard Area Lions Food Bank – $4,564 to purchase an electronic message board.

Alvin and Vera E. Knepper Hawbaker Memorial Endowment Fund supports organizations providing vital health and education services across Centre County.

  • Centre Helps – $3,648 for prevention programs that support individuals in crisis.
  • Roland Curtin Foundation – $1,000 to fund busing for Centre County students to Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village.

Janet Atwood Fund supports art programs of all types in Centre County.

  • Ridgelines Language Arts – $2,689 to fund an intergenerational arts project connecting local teens with older adults living with memory loss.

Louis E. and Patricia H. Silvi Fund supports early childhood education programs that improve the health, care, and education of young children.

  • Park Forest Preschool – $1,248 to fund a shed for safe storage of playground equipment.

Mattil Family Fund supports animal welfare causes.

  • Pets Come First – $1,085 to fund a trap–neuter–release program for community cat populations.

Patricia Farrell Music Fund supports music programs of all types—particularly those focusing on children—to enhance the availability of music programs across the county.

  • Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts – $2,094 for First Night musical performances
  • Nittany Knights – $2,000 for the all-day Youth Harmony Workshop
  • Nittany Valley Symphony – $1,000 for their Family Concert
  • Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra – $1,000 for their Free Family Concert
  • Rowland Theatre – $1,000 for the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Silent Film Program
  • The Music Academy – $2,200 for Guest Artist Master Classes
  • The Print Factory – $1,000 for musician stipends for their Thursday Night Music Series

Philipsburg Area Fund supports nonprofit organizations and programs in the Philipsburg area.

  • Jana Marie Foundation – $450 for supplies for their weekly summer field day program at Cold Spring Dam.
  • Trinity United Methodist Church – $1,729 to help fund their diaper depot, shoe bank, and monthly free community dinners.

Proud To Be An American Fund supports nonprofit organizations that display, encourage, or promote patriotic observances, especially on the Fourth of July.

  • Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society – $1,753 to fund the installation of a fiberglass replica of the Liberty Bell in the train station at Talleyrand Park.

Ruth E. Rishel Charitable Fund supports nonprofit organizations and projects exclusively in the Penns Valley area.

  • Penns Valley Penguins Swim Team – $2,924 to provide transportation for their summer swim camp.

Wayne Baumgardner Fund supports programs providing food to residents of Pleasant Gap.

  • Faith Centre – $10,010 to purchase food for food-insecure residents.

William W. and Helen S. Litke Memorial Fund for the Aid and Assistance of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired supports programs for Centre County residents with hearing loss.

  • Cen-Clear Child Services – $6,854 for a hearing screener to screen children under the age of 5 for hearing loss.
  • Central PA Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America – $2,500 for captioning services and outreach.
  • Centre Volunteers in Medicine – $36,340 for the Hearing Aid Assistance Program.
  • Discovery Space – $3,352 to improve sound environment and accessibility for those with hearing loss or noise sensitivities.

 

For More Information

To explore Field-of-Interest Funds or learn how to create one, visit:
https://centrefoundation.org/funds

Or contact:
Kerry Tolton, Development & Stewardship Director
kerry@centrefoundation.org | 814.237.6229