Allentown, Pa., April 25, 2023—Lehigh Valley Community Foundation recently distributed more than $190,000 in general operating grants to area nonprofits serving youth and families with an emphasis on early childcare as part of its foundation-directed community investments grantmaking.
The Community Foundation manages several different area-of-interest funds that are focused on supporting Lehigh Valley youth and families, including the Edward & Inez Donley Fund; Walter & Alma Bastian Fund; Frances L. Barnard Fund for Children; Support from Roger & Kathy Yott; Lucille F. Driver Fund; William C. Rybak Fund for Persons with Disabilities; Robert D. & Gwendolyn-Jane Romeril Campership Fund; and Janice & Paul Gross Fund.
“The Community Foundation’s goal in awarding these grants is to offer flexible funding to organizations that provide comprehensive approaches in engaging youth and their families with a focus on the early childcare sector,” explained Megan Briggs, LVCF’s Director of Community Investments. “Early childhood is one of the most critical periods of a child’s development. Quality childcare is a fundamental requirement of a vibrant, healthy economy. Yet, in the Lehigh Valley, and across the country, there is a crisis occurring in early childhood education. With these grants, we seek to support childcare centers and help the many children that need care in the Lehigh Valley.”
The following grantees have received three multi-year awards:
• Resurrected Community Development Corporation | $25,000
• Third Street Alliance for Women & Children | $25,000
• Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania | $20,000
Also grant one-time awards have been awarded to the following grantees:
• Community Services for Children | $20,000
• Greater Valley YMCA | $20,000
• Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, Inc. | $20,000
• Pratyush Sinha Foundation| $6,000
• NAMI Lehigh Valley| $6,000
• Pinebrook Family Answers | $20,000
• Saucon Valley Community Center | $5,000
• Via of the Lehigh Valley | $20,000
The grants applications were evaluated by the Youth & Families Advisory Grant Committee which included both content and context experts in the field of youth and families. Applications were evaluated based on the organization’s area of focus in meeting a critical gap in the current early childcare crisis, the population they serve, and how they are guided by the community in proving quality early childcare services. Learn more about LVCF’s foundation-directed grantmaking – click here.
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