Over 150 community, nonprofit and government leaders attended the Foundations Community Partnership “Partnership in Youth Services” luncheon ceremony, held on April 12, at the Doylestown Country Club.
In recognition of the private grant-making foundation’s 15th anniversary, the event honored 15 nonprofit community programs in Bucks County that are making a difference in the lives of local children and families with monetary grants of $3,000 each.
The event’s keynote speaker was nationally-known philanthropic leader Sidney Hargro, executive director, The LeadersTrust. Hargro said, “Imaginative leaders in the next normal will make the world a better place by surrounding themselves with supportive people. At the end of the day, the change we dream of in this world can’t happen without deep investment and support for our leaders.”
The nonprofits receiving grants are:
A Moment of Magic, Wilkes Barre, will use the grant for its Pennsylvania Magic Project in which college and university student volunteers visit children in hospitals, social service institutions and more in Bucks County, providing creative and playful opportunities to children.
Autism Cares Foundation, Southampton, used the grant for its ACF Family Fall Fun, which provided a fun and judgement-free day for families at Hellerick’s Family Farm.
Bristol Riverside Theatre, Bristol, is using the grant for its ArtRageous Summer Theatre Arts Program, a unique summer camp that connects at-risk youth with professional theater artists for an exceptional learning experience.
Bucks County Community College Foundation, Newtown, will use the grant for its American English Language and Culture Camp Scholarships that support children attending an English Language Learners summer camp.
Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia, Warminster, will use the grant to support its Teen Summit for those affected by cancer in their lives (themselves, a friend or family member), focusing on broad mental health themes.
Christ’s Home, Warminster, will use the grant for its Girls’ Transitional Living Program, which provides teens with essential life skills, including home and money management, self-care, education, employment and accessing community resources so that they may be self-sufficient once they are released from the foster care system.
Destined for a Dream, Bristol, will use the grant for its Dream Academy, which provides free college/career-prep training programs for students in grades 9-12 centering on building resilience in high-risk youth that encourages them to pursue higher education.
First Tee, Greater Philadelphia, will use the grant for the First Tee Schools Program in Bucks County, which trains physical education teachers to help introduce the game of golf to school-aged youth and help them build healthy habits and life skills.
Immigrant Rights Action, Doylestown, will use the grant to support its Leadership Development & Legal Immigration Services for Immigrant Youth, increasing access to quality immigration legal services for newcomer immigrant youth.
Lenape Valley Foundation, Doylestown, will use the grant for its “Support for Applied Behavioral Analysis Program for Children with Autism.” It will implement a software solution that enables staff to effectively collect data and optimize treatment planning.
Maternity Care Coalition, Philadelphia, will use the grant for its “Teen Parenthood Awareness: Fact or Fiction?” program. The coalition will host a workshop series for middle and high school students in Bucks County to promote positive healthy practices, increase awareness on parenting and pregnancy, and prevent sexually transmitted infections.
Minding Your Mind, Ardmore, will use the grant to provide free mental health education programs to schools in Bucks County.
Sensory Friendly Cities Inc., Perkasie, will use the grant for its Sensory Accessibility in the Bucks County community program, which enables access to various community events and spaces for children and adults with sensory differences and trauma histories.
The Next Step Programs, Jamison, will use the grant for its “Empowering Youth Adults with Disabilities” through community and social learning program, which is a learning program to teach young adults with disabilities new skills, to build a community and to grow as individuals.
YMCA of Bucks County, Morrisville, will use the grant for its Meeting the Needs of Food Insecure Families: Morrisville Youth Education Center, which focuses on increasing food security by expanding offerings to feed more children and families in the Morrisville area.
In addition to the grant awards, the $1,000 Morris M. Davis Award recognizes a student in FCP’s Summer Youth Corps Program who shows immense quality of character, dedication to community service and displays incredible growth and maturity. The award was presented to Jordan Sabel, of Newtown, who is studying at Purdue University and is a Council Rock High School North graduate. He interned at the Conservatory in Doylestown.
The first-ever Ron Bernstein Outstanding Service Scholarship was awarded to Kellyann Reidy, of Doylestown. This $2,500 scholarship was established by FCP’s board in honor of the founding executive director Ron Bernstein upon his retirement in 2020. Reidy graduated from New Hope-Solebury High School and currently studies at Boston University. She interned at The Council of Southeast PA in Doylestown.
“FCP is proud to offer community grants through our Partnership in Youth Services Program and with the assistance of our sponsors,” said board chair Abigail Halloran. “These grants help nonprofits in Bucks County make a positive impact and support them in continuing to offer so many valuable enrichment programs in the community.”
