News Releases

The tools of the construction trade can also be the tools for success.

To that end, the PPL Foundation has announced a $19,500 grant for YouthBuild AmeriCorps, a program run by United Community Services for Working Families. The money will be used to purchase a shed and tools for a YouthBuild Construction Lab. The new lab will allow young adults in the Berks County area who did not complete high school to acquire additional trade skills.

The YouthBuild AmeriCorps grant was one of more than 70 announced today (6/28) across the PPL service territory to support efforts to improve education, develop the future workforce and revitalize communities.

Of the $450,000 in grants awarded, more than $120,000 is being donated to nonprofit organizations in the south central Pennsylvania region.

“We support United Community Services for Working Families’ vision to build a future for individuals and their families,” said Jess Baker, regional affairs director for PPL Electric Utilities. “We’re very proud to be supporting the YouthBuild program and many others that received a grant in this cycle.”

Other examples of initiatives and projects that received support through the PPL Foundation Sustaining Grant program include:

• Junior Achievement of South Central Pennsylvania received a $25,000 grant to support an electrical competition at the organization’s full-day science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) summits. Summits are held at high schools across the south central region at no cost to the school.

• The Common Wheel in Lancaster received $25,000 to support six different five-week sessions of its “Earn a Bike” hands-on, mechanical courses for children.

• Penn State – Harrisburg received $8,500 for an engineering ambassadors program where college students will work with K-12 students on hands-on STEM projects.

• New Hope Ministries in Dillsburg received $10,000 for training and educational programs designed to help people become job ready for open and in-demand positions in south central Pennsylvania. 

In addition, grants went to the organizations below for the listed mission or program:

Lancaster County

• Factory Ministries, Paradise ($5,000) — Pre-K Counts and Literacy Program for children

• Fulton Theatre Company, Lancaster ($3,000) — Building Bridges program for pre-K students

• Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity ($5,000) — building houses in the city of Lancaster

• Milagro House, Lancaster ($7,000) — education, housing and counseling for women and their children who are experiencing homelessness

• Mom’s House, Lancaster ($5,000) — mentoring, counseling and support for young women working to further their education

Dauphin County

• Roller Education Foundation, Steelton ($6,000) — funding toward a STEM in a Tank aquaponic cart for students

• Capital Economic Development Corp., Harrisburg ($2,500) — operating expenses toward its mission of creating and retaining jobs in the three-county region

Cumberland County

• Leadership, Education and Farming: L.E.A.F. Project, Carlisle ($5,000) —engaging young leaders through meaningful work on farms, working with chefs, and educating and feeding the community

Additionally, contributions were made to Lancaster Public Library, other libraries and literacy-focused organizations in support of Cover to Cover, PPL Foundation’s initiative to improve child literacy through reading and summer learning programs.

A complete list of grant recipients is available online.

The PPL Foundation awards grants in spring and fall. The next grant cycle, for major grants, begins in August. To be considered for a grant, all organizations must apply online.

Please visit www.pplcares.com to learn more.

About the PPL Foundation: Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation supports organizations that are doing innovative and groundbreaking work to create vital, sustainable communities and empowering each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in north and central Pennsylvania.