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Allentown, Pa., December 9, 2024—The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) announced the recipients of the Good Neighbor Fund grants. This program, designed to address the growing energy cost burdens faced by households in eastern and central Pennsylvania, awarded a total of $195,000 to fourteen nonprofit organizations. The grants will enable these nonprofit community-based organizations to provide direct financial assistance to families struggling with home energy costs, including electricity, fuel, oil, and even wood pellets.

Grants ranging from $2,500 to $22,500 have been awarded to nonprofits serving 29 counties in eastern and central Pennsylvania. These grants, aimed at organizations with existing utility assistance programs, will provide crucial support to households earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level, with aid capped at $1,000 per household.

The funding is supported by the Good Neighbor Fund, an initiative that received initial funding from the the PPL Foundation to address the growing financial challenges faced by families, particularly with rising home energy costs. The program also includes administrative support to help nonprofits manage expenses, ensuring that resources are distributed efficiently and effectively to those in need.

“Energy costs are a significant challenge for families, and we’re proud to provide this crucial support through these organizations.” said Megan Briggs, Vice President of Community Investments at LVCF, “By empowering nonprofits already on the ground with the resources they need, we’re able to get help to families faster. This program underscores the importance of partnership in addressing community challenges.”

The following nonprofit organizations received 2024-25 grants from the Good Neighbor Fund:

• 4 Girls on A Mission – Electric Utility Assistance
• Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Inc. – CSO Utility Assistance Program
• Family Promise of Berks County, Inc. – Rent and Utility Assistance
• Family Promise of the Poconos, Inc. – Project Lights On
• Lehigh Conference of Churches – Utility Assistance at Lehigh Conference of Churches
• New Bethany – New Bethany’s Housing Advocacy & Assistance
• Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley – Promise Utility Assistance Program
• Raising The House – Family Assistance Program
• Salvation Army of East Stroudsburg -Salvation Army East Stroudsburg Corps Utility Assistance Program serving Monroe County, Pa.
• The Open Link – Upper Perk Valley Utility Assistance
• Third Street Alliance for Women & Children – Third Street Alliance Utility Assistance Program 
• Tri County Community Action – Powering Stability: Expanding Utility Support for Families in Need
• Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, Inc. – Utility Assistance for Domestic Abuse Survivors
• Valley Youth House – Utility Assistance for Formerly Homeless Youth and Families in Rapid Re-Housing Programs

About the Good Neighbor Fund

The Good Neighbor Fund supports nonprofits offering utility assistance programs in PPL Electric’s service area. This collaborative effort aims to alleviate the financial strain of energy costs on families, ensuring more households can meet their basic needs. For more information about the Good Neighbor Fund and the grant recipients, please visit LVCF’s website.

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Allentown, Pa., November 26, 2024 — The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) is accepting applications for the COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts & Culture Recovery Program. This initiative will provide $3,000 grants to working artists and creative professionals in Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton Counties who experienced significant financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the program aims to support the recovery and sustainability of the region’s vibrant arts and culture sector.

Eligible applicants must be active artists or creative professionals who earned at least 51% of their income from their work in 2019 and who plan to continue their careers in the arts. Applicants must reside full-time in one of the four eligible counties and be able to demonstrate a loss of at least $3,000 in income due to the pandemic that has not been reimbursed through other relief programs. Applicants will need to create a Foundant account.

Applications for the program are now open and will be accepted exclusively online through the Foundation’s grants portal, Foundant Grants Portal webpage.  Applicants must register for a Foundant account register by following the instructions for businesses to submit their application. Required documentation includes proof of residency, tax returns from 2019 and one additional year between 2020 and 2023 (including Schedule C if applicable), and evidence of pandemic-related financial losses. While not mandatory, applicants are encouraged to include artistic portfolio samples to help the selection committee understand their work and how the pandemic impacted their careers.

The application period will close on January 27, 2025. Grants will be awarded based on need, as determined by a volunteer review committee, with notifications sent by the end of March 2025. Successful applicants can expect to receive payments by April 2025.

Questions about the program can be directed to Megan Briggs, Vice President of Community Investments, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, 610 351-5353, ext. 21 | megan@lvcfoundation.org

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Allentown, Pa., November 21, 2024— The Upper Bucks Community Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation awarded $38,780 in grants to eleven nonprofit organizations in the region. This fund is primarily supported by two area-of-interest funds: the Richard E. Gasser Fund and the Erwin J. and Gertrude K. Neusch Fund, which provide annual grants to programs serving the Upper Bucks area, including the Palisades, Pennridge, and Quakertown School Districts.

Grants, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, were recommended by the advisory committee for the Upper Bucks Community Fund, a committee of the Foundation focusing on the region. “The Upper Bucks Community Fund Advisory Group carefully reviewed each application in alignment with the fund’s priorities,” said Monique Saunders Moreno, Program Officer for Arts, Culture & Creative Economy at the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. “After thorough discussion, the group collaboratively recommended the final awards, drawing on their collective expertise about the Upper Bucks region to support projects that enhance the quality of life for local residents.”

The following organizations received grants for programs from the fund’s 2024-25 grant cycle. The funded programs are listed as well.

Durham Historical Society
Durham Historical Society Archeological Dig

Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Inc.
Girl Scouts STEM Programming – Upper Bucks

Heritage Conservancy
Tree Plantings Across Upper Bucks County

Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
General Operating Support

National Inventors Hall of Fame
Camp Invention STEM, Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programs in Upper Bucks County

Palisades School District
Palisades Middle School Watershed Integration Program (WIP)         

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
PSF’s Community Touring Productions and FreeWill in Upper Bucks

Quakertown Community Center
Art at the Drop

Quakertown Music Promoters Organization (QMPO)
Quakertown Music Promoters Organization (QMPO) on behalf of Quakertown Percussion

River Valley Waldorf School
Visual and Performing Arts Summer Camp

Upper Bucks County Technical School
EXPLORE: Engaging Learning Opportunities through Real-world Experiences

About the Upper Buck Community Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

The Upper Bucks Community Fund of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, a geographic affiliate of Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, consists primarily of two area-of-interest funds. The Richard E. Gasser Fund and Erwin J. and Gertrude K. Neusch Fund are for organizations and programs primarily serving the Palisades, Pennridge and Quakertown School Districts in the Upper Bucks area. Recently added to Upper Bucks umbrella, The Bucks County Free Library Endowment Fund is an agency fund that benefits the seven-branch county library system with locations in Bensalem, Doylestown, Langhorne, Levittown, Perkasie, Quakertown, and Yardley-Makefield.

Learn more about the Upper Bucks Community Fund on the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation website.

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Allentown, Pa., September 23, 2024— The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF), in partnership with the PPL Foundation, is pleased to announce the launch of the Good Neighbor Fund, a new grant program to provide much-needed financial assistance to help households struggling with energy costs. Grants will be issued to nonprofits that offer utility assistance programs and who serve the 29 counties in eastern and central Pennsylvania that make up PPL Electric’s service area. Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 beginning Monday, September 23, 2024.

The Good Neighbor Fund was created by the PPL Foundation in response to the growing financial hardships many families are facing, particularly in meeting essential home energy costs. This initiative will enable nonprofits with existing utility assistance programs to offer direct financial aid to households dealing with high energy bills, including electric, fuel, oil, and even wood pellet costs.

Lissette Santana, President of the PPL Foundation, emphasized the critical need for this new program: “Energy costs are a significant burden for many families, and we recognize that nonprofit organizations are on the front lines, helping households meet these challenges. The Good Neighbor Fund allows us to expand our reach and support those who need it most, and we’re calling on other utilities across Pennsylvania to join us in this vital initiative.”

Grant awards will include an administrative fee to help nonprofits manage program costs such as staffing and other direct expenses. Nonprofits receiving grants will ensure funds are distributed to households whose income does not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level, with a cap of $1,000 per household. Funds must be used within six months, with final reports submitted by June 2025.

Monique Saunders Moreno, Program Officer for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy at LVCF, who is managing the grant program, added, “This fund will make a significant impact on the lives of individuals and families facing energy hardships. By providing flexible support to nonprofits already doing this important work, we can ensure resources are distributed quickly and efficiently to those who need it most.”

Key Dates for the Good Neighbor Fund Grant Program:

– Application Opens: Monday, September 23, 2024

– Application Closes: Tuesday, October 29^th at 11:59 PM

– Grant Notifications: November 2024

– Final Reports Due: Monday, June 9, 2025

Nonprofit organizations interested in applying can do so through LVCF’s online portal, Foundant.  For more information about the Good Neighbor Fund and how to apply, please visit [Lehigh Valley Community Foundation webpage: Good Neighbor Fund Grants – Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (lehighvalleyfoundation.org).

Questions about the grant program can be directed to Monique Saunders Moreno at mailto:monique@lvcfoundation.org.

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Allentown, Pa., September 20, 2024—The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) has announced the distribution of $115,000 in Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF) grants for 2024-25, aimed at strengthening the region’s dynamic arts and culture sector in Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh and Northampton Counties. This year, 23 nonprofit arts and culture organizations across the region will each receive a $5,000 grant, a result of the collaborative effort between LVCF and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA).

The CSFF grant program was launched last year by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. It is specifically designed to support the evolving needs of arts organizations or programs in Pennsylvania with average annual revenues ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. This program reflects the state’s commitment to fostering the arts and the creative sector.

Monique Sauders Moreno, Program Officer for Arts, Culture & Creative Economy at LVCF, who oversees the grants programs, remarked, “The arts are fundamental to a thriving, vibrant community, contributing to cultural richness, community engagement, and economic vitality. We are deeply grateful to all those who submitted applications for the Creative Sector Flex Fund. The selection process was incredibly competitive due to the high quality of proposals. We are also thankful to our review committee, whose expertise and thoughtful deliberations helped guide this process. While this funding is critical, it highlights the need for even greater support for the arts, culture, and creative economy in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.”

A key feature of the CSFF is the flexibility it provides to recipients. The $5,000 grants can be used in a variety of ways, including administrative support, enhancing programs, or covering project-related expenses, ensuring that the funds can address the unique needs of each organization.

2024-25 Creative Sector Flex Fund Grant Recipients:

– Allentown Band, Inc.

– Appalachian Fiddle and Bluegrass Association

– Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission

– Bloom for Women, Inc.

– Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center

– CEC of Organization for the Rebirth of Ukraine, ODWU

– Chamber Music Lehigh Valley

– East Stroudsburg University Foundation

– Godfrey Daniels

– Interlace Cultural y Desarrollo Integral Mexicano de LV, Inc.

– Karl Stirner Arts Trail Inc.

– Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra

– Lehigh Valley Chorale

– Lehigh Valley Girls Rock

– Mock Turtle Marionette Theater

– Movement Moves Media

– National Scenic Visitors Center

– Pocono Concert Chorale

– Repertory Dance Theatre

– SATORI

– SouthSide Film Institute

– The Camerata Singers

– Young People’s Philharmonic

LVCF, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts through the Partners in the Arts program, plays a crucial role in distributing these grants to support projects involving artists throughout Region 5, which includes Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh, and Northampton counties. This collaboration allows for greater access to arts funding, bringing the benefits of arts programming to a broader audience.

About Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

At the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, we connect donors who care with causes that matter. A leader in charitable giving in the Lehigh Valley for more than 50 years, we receive support from donors, manage funds to grow over time, and make high-impact grants to strengthen local nonprofits.

The Foundation manages more than 300 charitable funds, totaling over $80 million, and we continue to grow—both in size and in the way we fulfill our mission. We are evolving to engage more deeply with partners, serve more effectively as a thought leader on community issues, and explore more innovative ways to make life better across the Lehigh Valley. 

About Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

These grants are made possible by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency, through the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) regional funding partnership. State funding is provided by Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. In Region 5, the PPA program is administered by the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation.

For more information about the Creative Sector Flex Fund and LVCF’s commitment to supporting the arts, please visit https://www.lehighvalleyfoundation.org/creative-sector-flex-fund/

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LVCF Leading the Early Childhood Charge in Allentown’s Recompete Grant Success

The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) played a pivotal role in the City of Allentown’s successful bid to secure a $20 million federal grant aimed at revitalizing some of the city’s most economically distressed neighborhoods. This significant funding, part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Recompete Pilot Program, represents a transformative opportunity for the city to address barriers to employment, including challenges in transportation and access to affordable childcare.

LVCF’s Central Role in Childcare Planning

A key component of Allentown’s Recompete Plan is improving access to quality childcare—a critical factor in enabling residents to enter and stay in the workforce. Through the leadership of Megan Briggs, Vice President of Community Investments, LVCF has been instrumental in this effort. Megan led a coalition of community partners and stakeholders in crafting the childcare section of the Recompete application. Their work focused on enhancing childcare services to support not only families but also those who work in the childcare sector, thereby fostering better job opportunities for Allentown’s residents and contributing to the overall economic growth of the Lehigh Valley.

The importance of this focus cannot be overstated. As Alejandra Y. Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, emphasized during the grant announcement, “We tend to forget how critically important the childcare component is” to employment. The inclusion of a robust childcare improvement plan in the application helped distinguish Allentown’s proposal from a competitive pool of 565 submissions, ultimately securing its place as one of only six communities nationwide to receive Recompete grant funding.

Collaborative Effort for Transformational Change

The Recompete grant is designed to help economically distressed communities by removing barriers to employment and creating pathways to economic opportunity. In Allentown, where the unemployment rate among young residents in poorer neighborhoods is a staggering 12.3%, this funding is poised to make a significant impact. The city’s poverty rate, which stands at 23.3%, is double the national average, with racial and ethnic disparities contributing to unequal access to opportunity. Only 38% of Allentown’s Latino population, for example, has “high access to opportunity,” compared with 78% of the city’s white population.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk highlighted these challenges at the press conference held on August 5, 2024, to announce the $20 million-dollar Recompete grant, stating, “While the Lehigh Valley has seen tremendous economic growth, not all residents of Allentown have felt the benefit of that growth equally. Disparities in job access, skills alignment, and essential services like transportation and childcare have left some behind.” The Recompete grant is seen as a crucial tool for addressing these disparities and ensuring more equitable economic growth in the city. At the “Presser,” Mayor Tuerk was spoke to the more than 100 people assembled for the annoucement. Congresswoman Susan Wild and Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania’s Lt. Governor Austin Davis and Alejandra Y. Castillo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development (pictured on page one) all provided there persectives.
Involvement Beyond the Recompete

LVCF’s involvement extends beyond the Recompete Plan. The Foundation has also been invited to serve as the backbone convenor of the Early Childhood Education Action Committee, a coalition working toward systemic change in the early childhood sector across the Lehigh Valley. As a backbone organization, LVCF is collaborating with nonprofits, policymakers, advocates, and the community to plan actions that will drive significant improvements in early childhood education and care.

Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for Allentown

The $20 million in Recompete funding is just the beginning. As Alejandra Castillo noted, these federal dollars are “seed dollars” intended to attract further investment from the private sector and philanthropic organizations. The successful implementation of Allentown’s Recompete plan is expected to be transformational, with city projections indicating that over 650 people could be employed by 2030, significantly narrowing the local employment gap.

Allentown’s selection for this grant underscores the city’s commitment to creating a more inclusive economy where all residents can thrive. Through its leadership in the Recompete Plan and broader community initiatives, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation is helping to pave the way for a brighter future for Allentown, where economic opportunity is accessible to all.

As the city and its partners move forward, the collaboration between LVCF, local organizations, and government agencies will be key to ensuring that the goals of the Recompete Plan are realized. Together, we are working to change the narrative for Allentown’s most vulnerable communities, demonstrating the power of partnership and shared vision in driving lasting change.

Learn More About the Recompete Grant

Allentown Recompete Grant One-pager Overview PDF

The Morning Call: Allentown gets $20 million federal grant to fight high unemployment

LehighValleyNews.com: Officials hail ‘transformational’ $20M grant to boost employment

Allentown, Pa., August 11, 2024—Jennifer L. Mann rejoined the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s Board of Governors in July 2024. This marks her second tenure with the Foundation’s Board, having previously served from 2013 to 2022. She serves on the Community Foundation’s Community Relations Committee.

Jenn is the founder and president of JL Mann Consulting, LLC, a firm specializing in lobbying and government relations consulting. With a distinguished career as a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and a successful small-business owner, Jenn brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to community service.

Jenn’s public service journey began in her twenties when she was elected to serve her hometown of Allentown and later as a state representative from 1998 to 2012. During her legislative career, Jenn was recognized as a skilled facilitator, consensus-builder, and mentor. In 2008, she made history as the third woman elected to a leadership position in the House Democratic Caucus, serving as Caucus Secretary. Jenn was also a member of the Pennsylvania Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) Leadership Team and chaired the DLC’s State Legislative Advisory Board, earning a spot on the DLC’s “100 to Watch” list.

Before her legislative career, Jenn launched a successful wireless telecommunications business in Allentown and worked in the financial services industry, where she continues to maintain her life, health, and annuity licensing. Her background provides her with a unique perspective on business-friendly economic policies and the challenges and opportunities associated with entrepreneurship and business leadership.

Jenn currently serves on the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors and has been a member of the Board of Directors of QNB Bank since 2015. Additionally, Jenn is deeply involved with several community organizations, including the Board of Associates for Muhlenberg College, the President’s Advisory Council at Cedar Crest College, and the executive board of the Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America. She is also a Cabinet Member of the Tocqueville Society of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Her previous roles include serving on the board of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and as chairwoman of the Finance Committee for the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the private sector and government to foster business growth and job creation. Jenn has also been a government liaison for the Program for Women and Families, a nonprofit supporting domestic violence victims.

A lifelong resident of Allentown, Jennifer earned degrees in government and economics from Lehigh University. Learn more at: https://jlmannconsulting.com/

“We are thrilled to welcome Jenn back to the Board of Governors,” said Erika Riddle Petrozelli, CPA, CAP®, President and CEO of LVCF. “Her extensive experience, dedication to the community, and passion for philanthropy will be invaluable as we continue to address critical issues and enhance the quality of life in the Lehigh Valley.

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Allentown, Pa., August 13, 2024—Lindsay Watson joined the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s Board of Governors in July 2024. Lindsay is Co-Founder of award-winning FIA NOW Employment Solutions, and Founder of Joy Fluent, a virtual assistant and support business. She serves on the Community Foundation’s Community Investments Committee.

Lindsay is an award-winning entrepreneur and a seasoned professional in human resources and business development, and public speaking. She brings over 19 years of expertise in staffing, recruiting, relationship management, and career coaching.  Committed to guiding individuals across all career levels towards their professional aspirations, Lindsay hails from New England and now calls Lehigh Valley, PA home.  From a customer service rep right after college, to having ownership in two companies, Lindsay’s roots in administrative support, connecting others and cultivating diverse relationships still run deep.  If you ask Lindsay about her overall purpose, it would be this: “Connecting people to people, and people to opportunities”.

As Co-Founder of award-winning FIA NOW Employment Solutions, and Founder of Joy Fluent, a virtual assistant and support business, she has been involved in ventures that positively impact individuals and communities, fostering multi-million dollar relationships from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses, spanning Wall Street to Main Street. 
 
As a public speaker, Lindsay has spoken at events including at the Lehigh Valley Annual Women’s Summit, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce DEI Summit, SHRM HR Disruptor Summit, The Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Summit and more.  Lindsay holds and/or has held board positions at the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, American Heart Association, Miller Keystone Blood Center, Habitat for Humanity, and Women United (a division of the United Way), marking her as the first African American woman to serve on the latter three organizations. 
 
Lindsay has received honors as the 2023 Women of Influence and the 2020 Forty Under 40 award both by the Lehigh Valley Business Journal. She holds a bachelor’s in communications from St. John’s University and Certificates in Women’s Entrepreneurship & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from Cornell University, the NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Milestone Accelerator and NCBI (National Coalition Building Institute).

“We are thrilled to welcome Lindsay to our Board of Governors said Erika Riddle Petrozelli, CPA, CAP®, President and CEO of LVCF. “Her entrepreneurial spirit, dedication to community service, and commitment to connecting people with opportunities align perfectly with our mission at LVCF.”

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Allentown, Pa., August1, 2024—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) has announced the 2024-2026 cohort for its CORE Fellowship, a two-year capacity-building process designed to bring Lehigh Valley nonprofit leaders together to center equity in themselves, their relationships, their organizations, and the nonprofit sector. LVCF is proud to partner with 16 fellows from 8 organizations, as well as 5 systems stakeholders in this year’s fellowship.

“CORE Fellowship addresses the core aspects of ourselves, our organizations, and our systems,” noted Megan Briggs, LVCF Vice President of Community Investments. “As a funder in the Lehigh Valley, we acknowledge that nonprofits are striving to integrate equity into their operations. Leveraging our position and experience, we aim to support these efforts by providing the necessary infrastructure and resources to both individuals and organizations to achieve equity.”

“We understand that individuals and organizations are at various stages in their equity work, and the CORE Fellowship is tailored to support participants wherever they are in their equity journey,” explained Robyn Weaver, Program Officer of Capacity Building at LVCF, who coordinates the fellowship.

For the third year, the Community Foundation is partnering with consultants Phyllis Alexander, Guillermo Lopez, Jr., and Carter Gilbert to deliver the model. These consultants contribute to the fellowship design and decision-making as well as being in the facilitation role for the Fellowship. LVCF continues its partnership with Partnering for Change as the organizational development consultants for the Fellowship.  They will conduct an in-depth equity and organizational discovery process with time to carry out an equity-centered capacity-building project.

“The CORE Fellowship provides an array of benefits for participants, including leadership development, an in-depth equity and organizational development assessment, and guidance from a technical assistance consultant for developing equity-centered capacity building,” explained Robyn Weaver. Fellows also receive the time needed to execute an equity-centered capacity building project, along with coaching and access to a network of nonprofit leaders. Additionally, the CORE Fellowship offers a $25,000 grant to each participating organization, distributed as a $10,000 general operating award in the first year, $15,000 to support an equity-centered capacity building project in the second year, and coaching support in the third year, contingent upon meeting CORE requirements.

Below is the list of Organizations and Fellows that were selected for the 2024-2026 CORE Fellowship:

CORE Fellows 2024-2026

ArtsQuest

• Alli Poczak, Programming Specialist
• Joanne Garcia, Manager of Education & PCA Programs

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Basement Poetry

• Chloe Cole-Wilson, Artistic Director
• Deirdre Van Walters, President

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Bloom for Women

• Carol M. Andersen, Chief Executive Officer
• Ashley Caravello, Director of Finance and Administration

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Community Music School

• Laura Burcaw, Operations Manager
• Jeffrey J. Reed, Executive Director

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Fine Feather Foundation

• Maricel Colvin, Program Director
• Andrene Nowell, Executive Director

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Movement Moves Media

• Timothy Foster, Board Director
• Michael Frassetto, Executive Director

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The Thrive Hub

• Rosalind Lucien, Founder/Executive Director
• Laureen Pellegrino, Advisory Board Member

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Valley Youth House

• Shawn Mack, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Maureen Bell, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Coordinator

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Systems Stakeholders

Systems stakeholders are invited into the CORE Fellowship because we recognize that creating equitable systems and communities requires the intentional collaboration of members from every sector. Systems stakeholders, while not funded through CORE, have the opportunity to fully engage and immerse themselves in the deep work of the Fellowship. They also receive individualized coaching that enhances their ability to show up as an inclusive leader, continuing their own growth and learning alongside nonprofit fellows. 

Holly Fitzpatrick
Grants Manager
Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

Adria Laboy
Bilingual Community Engagement Specialist
Highmark Wholecare 

Sybil F. Stershic
President
Quality Service Marketing

Heather Turcozi
Associate Vice President Data & Evaluation
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Lindsay Watson
Co-Founder
FIA NOW Employment Solutions

Learn more about the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s CORE Fellowship | click here

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Allentown, Pa., July 15, 2024—Lehigh Valley Business has named Monique Saunders Moreno, Program Officer for Arts, Culture & Creative Economy at the Community Foundation, as one of the “Forty Under 40” honorees for 2024.

Monique joined the Community Foundation in October 2020 and was recently appointed as Program Officer, Arts, Culture & Creative Economy. She serves as the liaison to the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) Partners in the Arts program, overseeing grant distribution from the Creative Sector Flex Fund and the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program in support of projects in Carbon, Monroe, Lehigh, and Northampton counties. Previously, Monique was the Assistant Director of Community Investments, where she assisted crafting grantmaking strategies, implementing grant cycles, and providing community leadership around several issues.

“Over the past four years, Monique has greatly contributed to the Community Investment team’s work, enhancing the overall culture of the Foundation,” said Megan Briggs, LVCF’s Vice President for Community Investments. “She has led grant cycles, developed key relationships, streamlined processes, and managed complex logistics for our CORE Fellowship and our partnership with the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.”

Before joining the Foundation, Monique held various leadership roles at Stitch Fix and BCBG Max Azria, focusing on operations, client experience, and project management. She also interned at the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh and worked with the Pittsburgh Human Rights Network. Monique is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Originally from New Jersey, Monique relocated to the Lehigh Valley as a child. She graduated from William Allen High School in Allentown, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Cheyney University, and a master’s degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

“The 2024 Forty Under 40 honorees are high-achieving young professionals who give back to the community in exceptional ways. They have demonstrated significant career success but also know that making a difference in the lives of others is essential,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Lehigh Valley Business. “They are the next generation of leaders in the Lehigh Valley, and Lehigh Valley Business is pleased to recognize their accomplishments.”

Forty Under 40 recognizes professionals 40 years of age and younger who have been successful in the Greater Lehigh Valley area. Honorees, selected by the editors of Lehigh Valley Business, were chosen based on professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change. This year’s Forty Under 40 will be honored September 12, 2024, at an awards celebration at the DeSales University Center, 2755 Station Avenue in Center Valley.

About Lehigh Valley Business

Lehigh Valley Business is a multimedia news source with 38 years of journalistic excellence that breaks news daily on its website, LVB.com. It also publishes a print and online edition. In addition, Lehigh Valley Business publishes special focus sections and products throughout the year including Reader Rankings and Fastest Growing Companies in addition to the yearly Book of Lists. It also hosts eight annual events, including Women of Influence, Health Care Heroes and Forty Under 40, to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. Learn more at: https://www.lvb.com/.

2024 Forty Under 40 Honorees

Jonathan Becker, RPA Engineering
Anthony P. Beltrami, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C.
Rev. Kimberly Berenotto, Longswamp United Church of ChristSandra Bieber, Discover Lehigh Valley
Tricia Bowman, JULABO USA
Hilary Brown, C.F. Martin & Co.
Erica Butler, Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center
Brittney Ciardi, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
Brad Cosgrove, Tower Health
Joseph Daddona, Shift4
Phil Ellingsworth Jr., Main Line Health
Angelo Fattore, MBA, MSDA, Moravian University
Zachary Fowler, Gross McGinley, LLP
Asaf R. Galeano Paniagua, The Nine Four Group
Alyssa M. Hicks, KingSpry Attorneys & Counselors
Jimi Honochick, YMI Insurance
Samantha Huhn, Military Resource Group (MRG)
Teisha Jones, The Lehigh Valley Humane Society and Vet ClinicStephanie Kane, CPA, RKL LLP
Michael Keller, Barry Isett & Associates, Inc.
Jason Kiesel, Lehigh Valley IronPigsMelissa F. King, Northampton Post Acute
Frank Lawler, Quadrant Capital
Cody Lichtenwalner, Fellowship Community
Dustin A Lukitsch, The Birches of Lehigh Valley
Shaun Marakovits, United Way of The Greater Lehigh Valley
Stephanie Muzzey, BLOK Design Group
Craig W. Peoples, Morgan Stanley
Mathew Pezon, Pezon Properties
Jessica Reimert, Community Action Lehigh Valley
Monique Saunders Moreno, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation
Theodore J. Schick, Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo
Tyler Seiferheld, CPA, Lang Faylor Chomo & Company PC
Amanda Shanaberger, Baker Tilly
Youseff Tannous, KeyBank
Tyler Troutman, SAGE Design-Build, Inc.
Michelle Veresink Richmond, ArtsQuest
Mike Warch, Valley National Financial Advisors
Whitney M. Wasem, Lehigh Valley Health Network-Lehigh Valley Physician’s Group
Jeremy Zambelli, Samsung Biologics America

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