News Releases

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (Jan. 26, 2017) – The PPL Foundation opened its 2017 Sustaining Grant program this month and is currently accepting applications from organizations focused on education, workforce development and community revitalization.

Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $450,000 in grants to 95 nonprofit organizations in communities throughout PPL Electric Utilities’ 29-county service territory.

“We’re proud to partner with these admirable nonprofit organizations that are working to better the lives of the people who call our region home,” said Lissette Santana, manager of corporate relations for PPL. “We look forward to continuing this work. We’re committed to supporting communities across our 29-county service area and providing tools that help empower economic vitality.”

Our support for education has a particular focus on early childhood education, literacy, summer learning, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.

Some of the initiatives and projects that received support through the PPL Foundation Sustaining Grant program in 2016 include: 

- Bloomsburg University Foundation for the STEM Magnet Program. This collaborative program (developed in partnership between Bloomsburg University, regional school districts and local industries) works to foster interest in STEM amongst academically talented students — to better prepare them to be successful in college and also meet the need of local employers for STEM graduates.
- Casa Guadalupe in Allentown for the Pa’Lante Education program. Studies done by the Summer Learning Association show that there is a huge learning loss during the summer months when students aren’t afforded the opportunity to learn and practice essential skills. This six-week summer program helps to prevent the summer learning slide for more than 60 elementary and middle school students in one of the city’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley in support of the organization’s Integrated Student Support program, which assists more than 1,600 students in the Lehigh Valley navigate the public and private services available to help them graduate from high school. The program’s evidence-based approach has proven to increase graduation rates and decrease dropout rates. 
- Foundation of the Lancaster Chamber to support a co-locating initiative developed by a group of area nonprofits to foster more collaboration and cut costs by sharing resources. The project will also include a BizCenter, which will hold workforce training for all interested residents as well as free meeting space and other business resources for the community.
- Harrisburg Parks Foundation for the revitalization of a community park in the Camp Curtain neighborhood of Harrisburg. The playground is heavily utilized and is in walking distance for many neighborhood families.The grant provided funding to replace the main pavilion, helping the picnic area to stay open and safe.  
- Leadership Lackawanna in Scranton to help support the organization’s community leadership and professional development program. Leadership Lackawanna provides leadership training to emerging citizens and advanced professionals, enabling them to better serve in their organizations and communities.
- LEAF Project in Carlisle for a program that cultivates young leaders, ages 14 to 22, in South Central Pennsylvania by placing them in positions of real responsibility on farms. The students are hired as interns in the spring, summer and fall and are paid a modest stipend to work with chefs to help educate and feed the community. 
- Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport for the Community Arts Center’s Education Series program, which welcomes up to 10,000 area students annually for theater productions that help enhance the classroom experience by providing another dimension of learning for the students. 
- Skills in Scranton for a critical workforce development program in Lackawanna County that connects high school students and administrators with the region’s employers.    

The PPL Foundation awards grants in spring and fall. The grant cycle open now — Sustaining Grants can be used for general operating expenses. The Major Grants in the fall should be used to support major initiatives such as program expansions, capital campaigns and other major projects.  

Interested organizations can apply for sustaining grants from $1,000 to $25,000. The application deadline is March 31, 2017.  

Complete instructions and a full FAQ are available on the application website.

To be considered for a grant, all organizations must apply online at www.pplcares.com.

About the PPL Foundation

Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation will support organizations that are doing innovative and groundbreaking work to create vital, sustainable communities and empowering each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. Since its inception in 2015, the PPL Foundation has contributed more than $4 million to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in north and central Pennsylvania.