News Releases

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (Dec. 7, 2022) – The PPL Foundation recently awarded $500,000 in funding to support 17 nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives and well-being of individuals throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania.  

The foundation’s latest investments support programs such as an academy to nurture young entrepreneurs; programs and services that remove barriers to safe and stable housing; a community-wide coalition preparing students for employment after high school; and an urban garden initiative that is transforming abandoned city lots into thriving community gardens.

“There are tremendous organizations and people working to strengthen our communities and expand opportunities for those who might not otherwise have them,” said Ryan Hill, president of the PPL Foundation. “The PPL Foundation is pleased to provide support that helps them make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.”

The grants announced today are helping organizations fulfill their missions across the company’s 29-county service territory in central and eastern Pennsylvania.

The 2022 PPL Foundation Major Grant recipients are:

• African American Museum of Bucks County in Langhorne received a grant of $25,000 to support the development of video programming and educational events featuring the untold stories and hidden figures of Bucks County.  
• American Rescue Workers in Williamsport received a grant of $50,000 to support the installation of a kitchen in the men’s shelter to provide a space that helps life-skill development.
• Black Heritage Association of the Lehigh Valley received a grant of $25,000 for a digital inclusion initiative that will provide broadband access to families in Allentown and Lehigh County to help bridge the digital divide.
• Children's Museum in Bloomsburg received $27,500 for a STEM ambassador program and conference focused on increasing girls’ interest and participation in science, technology, engineering and math.
• For the Cause in Berwick received $25,000 for the development of a youth entrepreneur academy that aims to provide career exploration and hands-on learning experiences outside of the classroom.
• Friends of the Columbia County Traveling Library in Columbia County received $25,000 to support the creation of a literacy cooperative, which would include public librarians, school librarians, elementary reading teachers, middle and high school English language arts teachers, and preschool teachers in a coordinated effort to encourage literacy and to provide books and e-resources to the children of Columbia County.
• Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity received $25,000 to support the Open Doors initiative that aims to expand access to affordable housing and engage more of the community to participate in the housing solution through volunteer efforts.
• Lancaster County Career and Technology Foundation received $27,500 to support the expansion of a successful summer camp focused on careers and technical education.
• New Bethany in Bethlehem received $20,000 to provide housing advocacy and service navigation assistance to help low-income households obtain and maintain safe and stable housing.
• O.S. Johnson Technical Institute in Scranton received $65,000 for the creation of a STEM learning lab to serve students in four school districts in Northeast Pennsylvania.
• Pocono Mountains United Way in Stroudsburg received $25,000 for Generation NEXT, a program that ensures first-generation and underserved students receive the support they need to access higher education.
• The Century Promise in Allentown received $25,000 for a public-private engagement program that brings together business and college communities in developing collaborative solutions to prepare Allentown graduates to be college, career and community ready.
• The Cooperage Project in Honesdale received $25,000 to support engaging afterschool programming serving students in three school districts in Wayne County.
• The Kindness Project in Emmaus received $25,000 to support foster families and the children in their care across eastern Pennsylvania by supplying clothing, shoes, furniture and other essential items free of charge.
• The Lancaster Science Center received $30,000 for the development of a new interactive exhibit that teaches students about sustainable energy resources.
• The Urban Regenerative Farm in Harrisburg received $35,000 for a program that transforms abandoned city lots into income-generating, community-run vegetable gardens.
• Valley Youth House in Bethlehem received $20,000 to support the renovation of a youth shelter, ensuring that the children being served have a safe space that meets their emergency needs.

About the PPL Foundation

Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that are engaged in innovative and groundbreaking work to create vibrant, sustainable communities; advance diversity, equity and inclusion; and support children’s success from cradle to career in both Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. To learn more, visit pplcares.com.