Centre Foundation recently selected 40 local organizations to receive grants totaling $147,048 from its annual Field-of-Interest grant program.
Each September, organizations are encouraged to apply for funding from these 17 unique endowment funds, which were established by donors to support various causes or geographical areas in Centre County. The grants will fund a variety of programs that focus on education, health and social services, animal welfare, youth development and the performing arts.
Joining the program for the first time this year is the Janet Atwood Fund, which was established through the estate of its namesake to provide support for arts programs of all kinds.
Bellefonte Art Museum and Ridgelines Language Arts were the fund’s first recipients. The museum will receive $688 to support its 2024 gallery exhibitions and programming, while Ridgelines will receive $687 to support Blood Lines, a language arts program that explores diverse reproductive experiences and histories.
“Funding from the Janet Atwood Fund will help the Museum offset expenses accrued during our 2024 Exhibition Schedule,” Lori Fisher, Bellefonte Art Museum director, said in a statement. “These expenses include gallery preparation and installation, advertising, and opening reception costs. Bellefonte Art Museum prides itself on developing professional gallery exhibitions, educational programs, and interactive activities. The 2024 Exhibition Schedule focuses on enriching lives through art, history, education, and culture.”
Here are each of this year’s grants and recipients.
The Andrew and Madaline Rishel Family Fund supports Christian churches in Penns Valley:
- Penns Valley Community Church will receive $770 for “You Are Seen, You Are Loved,” a community outreach program.
The Ben Franklin Fund supports community projects in Centre, Clearfield, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties that benefit citizens of the Commonwealth :
- Penn State Remote Area Medical will receive $1,000 for the Remote Area Medical Lewistown Clinic.
- Port Matilda Emergency Medical Services will receive $852 to purchase outdoor security cameras.
- The Community Guidance Center will receive $500 for The Sanctuary Closet at Clearfield Community Guidance Center.
The Carolyn A. Petrus Memorial Seeing Eye Dog Fund supports organizations that raise, train, and match seeing-eye dogs to those who need them:
- The Seeing Eye will receive $18,444 to provide instruction and training for Pennsylvania Seeing Eye dog recipients.
The Centre Children’s Fund supports organizations that provide programs and services to at-risk children:
- Girls on the Run Mid State PA will receive $759 to support Girls on the Run teams in Centre County.
- Park Forest Preschool will receive $1,200 to provide educational field trips.
The Centre County Medical Society Fund assists nonprofits that are working to promote the health and well-being of Centre County citizens, specifically those that are encouraging active lifestyles for children and/or creating playground equipment or facilities:
- Easterseals Western and Central Pennsylvania will receive $840 to purchase an accessible playground swing.
- Girls on the Run Mid State PA will receive $434 to support Girls on the Run teams in Centre County.
The Counseling Service, Inc. Fund supports the provision of direct behavioral and mental health counseling services:
- Centre Volunteers in Medicine will receive $5,652 to provide counseling services to Spanish-speaking patients.
- SCASD Education Foundation will receive $5,651 to provide counseling services to English-language learners.
The Donna L. Litke Occupational Horse Therapy Endowment Fund supports the maintenance and upkeep of horses used for occupational therapy in Centre County or in any of the six contiguous counties:
- Hands On Therapeutic Riding Program will receive $2,517 for the care and upkeep of therapy horses.
- Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center will receive $2,517 for the care and upkeep of therapy horses.
The Ed and Charlene Friedman Family Fund supports health and human programs that reduce poverty, particularly in emergency situations:
- American Red Cross will receive $4,268 for disaster services and recovery assistance.
- Bob Perks Cancer Assistance Fund will receive $2,500 to provide financial support for Centre County cancer patients.
- Centre County Youth Service Bureau will receive $6,000 for the Independent Living program for runaway and homeless youth and youth aging out of foster care.
- Centre Helps will receive $6,000 for the Basic Needs Case Management program, which provides support to individuals who are in crisis.
- Housing Transitions will receive $6,000 for the Centre House Homeless Shelter program.
- Mid-State Literacy Council will receive $2,500 to expand literacy instruction for job readiness.
- Out of the Cold will receive $6,000 to provide supportive services to shelter residents.
- Penns Valley Youth Center will receive $1,800 to purchase equipment for the Penns Valley Food Centre pantry.
- State College Community Land Trust will receive $2,500 for the State College Community Land Trust Emergency Home Repair Fund.
- State College Food Bank will receive $6,000 to provide emergency food and improve food security for individuals in Centre County.
The J. Alvin and Vera E. Knepper Hawbaker Memorial Endowment supports organizations that provide vital health and education services across Centre County:
- Bellefonte Soccer Association will receive $572 to purchase soccer balls.
- Centre LGBTQA Support Network will receive $1,900 to purchase materials for Project Pride, a community LGBT+ library.
- Jana Marie Foundation will receive $1,900 to support Resilience Stories, a traveling exhibit that aims to end feelings of isolation surrounding mental health challenges.
The Janet Atwood Fund supports art programs of all types in Centre County:
- Bellefonte Art Museum will receive $688 to support its 2024 gallery exhibitions and programming.
- Ridgelines Language Arts will receive $687 to support Blood Lines, a language arts program that explores diverse reproductive experiences and histories.
The Louis E. and Patricia H. Silvi Fund supports early childhood education programs that improve the health, care and education of young children:
- Penns Valley Youth Center will receive $1,190 for its K-5 After School program.
The Mattil Family Fund supports animal welfare causes:
- Centre Wildlife Care will receive $500 for its summer internship program.
- Pets Come First will receive $540 for its Community Cat Trap, Neuter and Release program.
The Patricia Farrell Music Fund supports music programs of all types, especially those focusing on children:
- 3 Dots Downtown (fiscal sponsor for Open Music) will receive $2,000 for Game Pieces, a concert and youth workshop program.
- Acoustic Brew Concert Series will receive $1,900 to present free children’s folk concerts.
- Nittany Knights will receive $1,500 to prepare a local student a cappella group to perform at its annual concert.
- Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra will receive $2,196 for its annual Free Family Concert.
- The Flutopia Initiative will receive $2,196 to provide free Tunes and Tales chamber music concerts at Schlow Centre Region Library.
The Philipsburg Area Fund supports Philipsburg-area nonprofit organizations and programs:
- Centre County Library and Historical Museum will receive $2,047 to support electrical upgrades at Holt Memorial Library.
The Proud to Be An American Fund supports nonprofits that display, encourage or promote patriotic observances:
- A Soldier’s Hands will receive $500 to support A Walk to Remember Our Fallen.
- Constitution Day Centre Inc. will receive $1,162 to support the Constitution Day Celebration.
The Ruth E. Rishel Charitable Fund supports nonprofits and projects exclusively in the Penns Valley area:
- Aaronsburg Civic Club will receive $1,213 to repair equipment for the Dutch Fall Festival.
- Discovery Space of Central Pennsylvania will receive $1,495 to support the Penns Valley STEMPOWERED program.
The William W. and Helen S. Litke Memorial Fund supports programs for Centre County residents with hearing loss:
- 3 Dots Downtown (fiscal sponsor for The Print Factory) will receive $1,779 to purchase assistive listening devices for public programming.
- Centre Volunteers in Medicine will receive $15,467 for its Hearing Aid Assistance program.
- WPSU Penn State will receive $20,912 to provide closed captioning for Weather World.
For more information about all of Centre Foundation’s grant opportunities, visit centre-foundation.org.
