Centre Foundation Awards Over $164,000 In Grants to Local Nonprofits.
State College, PA, Dec. 9, 2024 – Centre Foundation has awarded a total of $164,164 in grants to 42 local organizations as part of its annual Field-of-Interest grant program. The grants will be distributed from 17 unique endowment funds that donors established to support various causes and geographical areas within Centre County.
Every September, eligible organizations are invited to apply for funding from these endowment funds. The awarded grants support a wide range of programs, focusing on education, health and social services, equitable and inclusive communities, animal welfare, environmental conservation, and the performing arts.
“Our grantmaking is where generosity meets action,” said Molly Kunkel, Centre Foundation’s President and CEO. “It’s not just about funding projects; it’s about connecting people who care with solutions that matter. Our committees bring together diverse perspectives to carefully evaluate what’s needed most in our community, ensuring that every grant reflects a thoughtful, collaborative effort to create lasting change in Centre County.”
One of the grant recipients, The Good Performance Troupe, supported by the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society (CRDSS), will receive approximately $1,000 from the Janet Atwood Field-of-Interest Fund. This grant will support the replacement of outdated audio equipment and the purchase of dedicated instruments for their performances. The troupe provides an inclusive platform for individuals with disabilities to express themselves through dance, percussion, and improvisation. Troupe Director Krista Wilkinson expressed gratitude for the funding, noting that it will enhance accessibility and empower members to expand their creative expression. A family member shared, “The Troupe’s improvisation exercises have broken down preconceptions about what persons with Down syndrome can achieve.”
In addition to the grants that are being provided from established funds, Centre Foundation is excited to announce that the following four new funds will distribute grants this year for the first time:
- Barry and Patti Fisher Fund supports programs for children ages 11-17.
- Denny Gioia and Judy Albrecht Endowment Fund supports direct services and programs in the areas of housing insecurity, food insecurity, and health.
- Howard Area Lighthouse Fund supports programs and projects in Howard, PA.
- Equitable and Inclusive Communities Fund: supports the advancement of equity-centered leadership and capacity building and addresses issues of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in Centre County.
The funds and recipients of each grant are as follows:
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.
- Penns Valley Community Church will receive $846 for You are Seen, You are Loved, a community outreach program.
Barry and Patti Fisher Fund supports programs for children ages 11-17.
- Centre County 4-H Robotics Club will receive $1,104 in funding for expenses associated with participating in regional/global FIRST robotics competitions.
Ben Franklin Fund distributions are used to make grants to Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties, benefiting citizens of the Commonwealth and paid to qualified charities within the region.
- ACRES Project will receive $1,194 for their ACRES Independent Living Program.
- Housing Transitions, Inc. will receive $1,193 to support their Centre House Homeless Shelter.
Carolyn A. Petrus Memorial Seeing Eye Dog Fund provides funding for organizations which raise, train, and match seeing-eye dogs to the people who need them.
- The Seeing Eye will receive $18,730 to provide instruction and training for Pennsylvania Seeing Eye dog recipients.
Centre Children’s Fund supports organizations which provide programs and services to at-risk children.
- Go ReEntry Specialists will receive $2,004 to provide birthday gifts to children who have incarcerated parents.
Centre County Medical Society Fund assists nonprofit organizations that are working to promote the health and well-being of the citizens of Centre County, specifically those that are promoting healthy lifestyles in children and/or creating playground equipment or facilities.
- Girls on the Run Mid State PA will receive $1,295 to support Girls on the Run teams in Centre County.
Counseling Service, Inc. Fund continues the original mission of Counseling Service, Inc. by supporting the provision of direct behavioral/mental health counseling services to Centre County residents.
- Center For Alternatives in Community Justice will receive $11,471 to provide counseling services to Youth Aid Panel participants.
Denny Gioia and Judy Albrecht Endowment Fund supports direct services and programs in the areas of housing insecurity, food insecurity, and health.
- Think We Not Me will receive $3,668 to purchase fencing for garden space that is used for local food banks.
Donna L. Litke Occupational Horse Therapy Endowment supports the maintenance and upkeep of horses used for occupational therapy in Centre County or in any of the six contiguous counties (Blair, Clearfield, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Union).
- Hands On Therapeutic Riding Program will receive $1,717 for the care and upkeep of therapy horses.
- Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center will receive $1,717 for the care and upkeep of therapy horses.
- Victory Therapeutic Horsemanship will receive $1,716 for the care and upkeep of therapy horses.
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, particularly in emergency situations.
- Bridge of Hope Centre County will receive $6,000 for expansion of their housing assistance program for families.
- Centre Helps will receive $6,910 for the Basic Needs Case Management program which provides support to individuals who are in crisis.
- Howard Area Lions Club Food Bank will receive $20,543 to purchase food storage equipment.
- Mid-State Literacy Council will receive $6,910 to provide digital literacy education training to access employment, healthcare, and community resources.
- Park Forest Preschool will receive $2,000 for the Preschool Pantry.
Equitable and Inclusive Communities Fund supports the advancement of equity-centered leadership and capacity building, and addresses issues of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in Centre County.
- Park Forest Preschool will receive $100 to print brochures in Korean and Russian for non-English families.
- Centre County Youth Service Bureau will receive $350 to support their Bigs & Littles site-based mentoring program with Centre LGBT+.
- State College Racial Advisory Commission will receive $650 to fund a performing arts series in MLK Plaza.
- Under Angel Wings Family Center will receive $1,150 for the Empowerment through Life Skills Program which focuses on financial literacy, healthy living, and personal development for underserved families in Centre County
Howard Areal Lighthouse Fund supports programs and projects in Howard, PA.
- Howard Area Lions Club Food Bank will receive $4,457 to purchase food storage equipment.
- Alvin and Vera E. Knepper Hawbaker Memorial Endowment Fund supports organizations which provide vital health and education services across Centre County.
- Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania will receive $1,543 to pave a playground with rubber flooring.
- Port Matilda EMS will receive $2,928 to purchase three-season safety jackets for first responders.
Janet Atwood Fund supports art programs of all types in Centre County.
- Centre Region Down Syndrome Society will receive $997 to replace audio equipment for the For Good Performance Troupe.
- The Print Factory will receive $1,000 for the purchase of art equipment.
Louis E. and Patricia H. Silvi Fund supports early childhood education programs that improve the health, care, and education of young children.
- Centre County United Way will receive $1,208 to purchase books for the Centre County Imagination Library Program.
Mattil Family Fund supports animal welfare causes.
- Centre County PAWS will receive $553 for the community pet pantry.
- Hope’s Dream Rescue and Sanctuary will receive $500 to purchase humane traps for their TNR program.
Patricia Farrell Music Fund supports music programs of all types, but particularly those focusing on children, to enhance the availability of music programs across the county.
- Jana Marie Foundation will receive $3,500 for A Teen’s Night in Music, an event that brings together teen musicians and singers for a night of performances.
- Nittany Knights will receive $3,000 to fund an all-day Youth Harmony Festival
- Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra will receive $1,249 for their annual Free Family Concert.
- Rowland Theatre will receive $952 to fund the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Silent Film Program.
- VanDance will receive $1,249 to support The Arts of Dance and Music: A Story Told Through Space and Time Program.
Philipsburg Area Fund supports Philipsburg-area nonprofit organizations and programs.
- Rowland Theatre will receive $1,048 to fund the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra Silent Film Program.
- Tides, Inc. will receive $1,048 to support Tides School Programming in POASD.
Proud To Be An American Fund supports nonprofit organizations that display, encourage, or promote patriotic observances, especially on the 4th of July.
- Constitution Day Centre will receive $1,191 for their 2025 Constitution Day Celebration.
- A Soldier’s Hand will receive $500 to fund their annual event, A Walk to Remember Our Fallen.
Ruth E. Rishel Charitable Fund: supports nonprofit organizations and projects exclusively in the Penns Valley area.
- Partnership for Penns Valley Library Services will receive $1,741 to purchase hotspots for individuals to borrow.
- Tides, Inc. will receive $1,048 to support Tides School Programming in PVSD.
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.
- Centre Volunteers in Medicine will receive $15,000 to fund the Hearing Aid Assistance Program.
- Discovery Space will receive $15,000 to improve the sound environment and increase accessibility for individuals with hearing difficulties.
- Foxdale Village will receive $8,284 to update their auditorium and meeting room equipment to better serve hearing-impaired individuals.
- State College Area School District Education Foundation will receive $4,900 to purchase books written by deaf/hard of hearing authors and/or featuring deaf/hard of hearing characters as part of their Escape Room Adventure program for students with hearing loss.
For more information on how to open a fund at Centre Foundation and explore grant opportunities, visit centrefoundation.org or contact Kerry Tolton at kerry@centrefoundation.org or 814.237.6229.
