Jim Worthington, owner of the Newtown Athletic Club, announced that the NAC Have a Heart Foundation is donating $1,000 each week for 52 weeks in 2022 to a different charity or nonprofit from Bucks County and the surrounding area.
The goal, said Worthington, is to not only financially help those in need, but also highlight them so other individuals and businesses in the community are motivated to join in as well.
The inspiration came to Worthington after attending the annual showing of the Christmas classic film It’s a Wonderful Life at the Newtown Theatre. He was moved by the heartwarming experience of seeing this film in such an important historic location.
“There was such a feeling of warmth, camaraderie and goodwill in the theater that evening,” he said. “It may have been a combination of holiday spirit and the spirit of the history behind the theater that made everyone feel connected in a very special way.”
Newtown Theatre executive director Andy Smith was thrilled to hear that Worthington would be making a donation, which kicked off the year-long initiative. The donation will help with renovations at Newtown Theatre, which just underwent the first phase of renovations. It replaced the hardwood flooring, all of the seats on the first floor with new vintage seats, and installed a handicapped entrance and bathroom on the first floor. The theater has retained its historic charm and authenticity and plans to do so throughout the second phase of renovations on the balcony and downstairs bathrooms. Donations can be made at TheNewtownTheatre.com.
The second $1,000 donation went to the Bristol Borough Community Action Group Food Bank, located in Bristol. For over 50 years, the BBCAG has been a dependable resource for those in need. The mission is to help anyone with life’s most basic necessities – daily meals. This organization is run by Jeff and Helen Fischer, having been established in 1971 by Jeff’s family. He is the volunteer executive director and Helen is an ordained minister. Together, they run the entire operation, which serves over 8,000 families in Bucks County annually. The Fischers have observed food insecurity get much worse during the pandemic. While they receive support from the Bucks County Opportunity Council and Philabundance, donations of funds are always needed as the food is distributed very quickly. Donations can be made at givebucks.org.
The NAC Have a Heart Foundation’s goal is to donate $52,000 in 52 weeks in 2022. To learn more about the initiative or to apply to be a recipient of one of the $1,000 donations, visit NACHaveaHeart.org/apply
