News Releases

The Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation wants to make sure income is not a barrier for Allentown School District juniors and seniors who want to pursue a college education.

A $10,000 grant from the PPL Foundation will help the cause by contributing to a program that allows qualifying students to take dual enrollment classes and begin acquiring college credit while still in high school. Students with an interest in science, technology, engineering and math courses will be given priority.

“Having the ability to take college-level courses at a dramatically reduced rate while still in high school can be a game changer,” said Carol Obando-Derstine, regional affairs director for PPL Electric Utilities. “These kids are motivated, but without financial help, they could be left out. Helping them now will better prepare them for college and enable them to break a cycle that could otherwise leave them underemployed or unemployed after graduation from high school.”

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

Of the $450,000 in grants awarded across the PPL Electric Utilities’ service territory, more than $100,000 is being donated to nonprofit organizations in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

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

• Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation received $10,000 to support community revitalization efforts in Southside Bethlehem.

• Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center received a $5,000 grant to launch a Cyber Center at the downtown Allentown community center to provide critical programs for the LGBT community, including youth writing workshops, resume clinics, computer classes and health enrollment events.

• FE Foundation received a $5,000 grant to support a program that provides mentorships, job-shadowing opportunities, career exploration and leadership development.

• Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association received a $5,000 grant to support year-round education programming and scientific research and conservation science training.

• Penn State – Lehigh Valley received a $5,000 grant to support the Teen Entrepreneurship Summer Challenge, a 12-day residential camp that fosters entrepreneurial skills and helps prepare students for college and careers.

• Pinebrook Family Answers received $5,000 to support Making the Grade (MTG), a truancy-intervention program for elementary and middle school children.

• Salvation Army of Allentown received $5,000 to support youth programs.

• YWCA – Allentown received a $5,500 grant to support the Perfect Fit program, which provides women entering the workforce with interview skills training, professional wardrobe assistance and other workforce development skills.

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

• Boys & Girls Club of Allentown ($5,000) — Continued support of Make Your M.A.R.K. program.

• Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America ($5,000) — Scoutreach urban scouting

• Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania ($5,000) — Funded Initiatives Program in the Lehigh Valley

• Casa Guadalupe Center ($5,000) — Pa’ Lante summer learning program

• American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley ($5,000) — disaster relief and home fire campaign

• Schuylkill Chamber Foundation Inc. ($5,000) — support programs

• Valley Youth House Committee Inc. ($5,000) — Preparing homeless youth to enter the workforce

• The Literacy Center, Allentown ($5,000) — adult education

• Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Council, Inc. ($5,000) — employability skills program

• R2C2 Incorporated ($5,000) — Community Bridge Program

Additionally, contributions were made to the Tamaqua Public Library, Via of the Lehigh Valley and 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.

PPL is committed to supporting communities across its 29-county service area and providing tools that help empower economic vitality.

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.