The Berks COVID-19 Response Fund was established to ensure nonprofits are positioned to help our most vulnerable neighbors and able to continue their work during the current crisis. Contributions made to the Berks COVID-19 Response Fund were distributed to local 501(c)3 nonprofits through an application process, with funding decisions made by local volunteers and professionals with experience evaluating critical needs and making funding decisions. Jump to Grant recipients
At the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year, grants from this fund were also made available to local school districts in support of programming to mitigate learning loss and or to help students with the emotional and social trauma of the pandemic. Jump to Education Grant recipients
We are grateful to the donors listed below for their generous contributions to the Berks COVID-19 Response Fund. We are also grateful to Dena and Vic Hammel, Customers Bank and The Kindness Coalition Foundation, Karen and John Arnold, for each providing a $100,000 match for individual giving, and to The Wyomissing Foundation and The Edwin Barbey Charitable Trust for each providing a gift of $100,000.
The Berks COVID-19 Response Fund has raised $1,094,987
The list of donors and grant recipients will be updated regularly.
Berks COVID-19 Response Fund Grant Recipients
71 grants have been awarded to 48 organizations to date:
- Barrio Alegria - eviction prevention outreach
- Berks Coalition to End Homelessness - two grant awards for shelter, utility and food needs
- Berks Community Television (BCTV) - equipment needs for local news and COVID-19 updates
- Berks Connections/Pre-Trial Services (BCPS) - basic needs
- Berks Counseling Center - PPE and emergency food needs for clients
- Berks Encore - three grants to meet food needs and to plan for enhanced safety measures
- Berks Nature - to support the safety precautions needed to reopen the Nature Preschool
- Blankets of Hope - to purchase face masks for local organizations
- Boyertown Area Multi-Service - two grants for emergency pantry/food distribution and repairs for health and safety
- Breast Cancer Support Services - programming and client assistance
- CASA of Berks County - two grants supporting the surge in child abuse cases and for youth/foster care
- Catholic Charities, Diocese of Allentown - emergency food needs
- Centro Hispano Daniel Torres - technology access for staff and consumers
- Clare of Assisi House - unanticipated operational expenses
- Community Prevention Partnership - support basic needs
- Dayspring Homes - PPE needs for staff
- Elementary Schools in Berks County - grant pool to provide COVID-related assistance to elementary schools (see below for recipients)
- Family Promise - housing needs
- Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church - repairs for health and safety
- Greater Reading Mental Health - to improve capacity to serve clients
- Habitat for Humanity - financial needs
- Hannah's Hope Ministries - three grant awards for emergency shelter and operations assistance and enhancements to the communal living program
- Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank - four grant awards for emergency food needs
- Hope Rescue Mission - three grant awards for emergency shelter and client programming
- John Paul II Center - technology support
- LGBT Center of Greater Reading - two grant awards for program operations
- Literacy Council of Reading-Berks - technology upgrades for blended ESL/GED education
- Mary’s Shelter - infant/families essential needs
- New Journey Community Outreach - three grant awards for safety net services and emergency food distribution
- Oley Valley Community Library - to cover the cost of circulation materials
- Olivet Boys and Girls Club - three grant awards for emergency food distribution, technology, PPE needs and Hubs of Hope
- Opportunity House - emergency shelter
- Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge - technology upgrades to deliver telehealth counseling
- Prospectus Berco - two grant awards for PPE needs, expanded client enrichment and to support direct care staff
- Reading Area Community College - to support virtual learning
- Reading School District - to support the purchase of needed health and safety supplies
- The Rudden Family Foundation - supporting families in transition
- Safe Berks - two grant awards for emergency support for domestic violence victims and safe housing and emergency needs
- Salvation Army Reading Corps - two grants for food and basic needs and strategic planning
- Salvation Army Service Extension Unit - food and financial assistance
- Tower Health at Home - two grants for safety supplies for visiting nurses
- Treatment Access and Services Center (TASC) - virtual access to supportive services
- Tulpehocken Area School District - PPE and other safety needs
- United Community Services - two grants for virtual GED and workforce education and strategic planning during recovery
- Western Berks Free Medical Clinic - supplies, medication and other neeeds
- YMCA - four grant awards for emergency childcare, transitional housing and virtual learning
Berks COVID-19 Education Response Fund Grant Recipients
26 elementary schools from 12 local school districts have received grants to support programming to mitigate learning loss and/or help students cope with the emotional and social trauma:
- 10th & Green Elementary
- 12th & Marion Elementary
- 13th & Green Elementary
- 16th & Haak Elementary
- Amanda E. Stout Elementary
- Andrew Maier Elementary
- Bethel/Penn-Bernville Elementary
- Brecknock Elementary
- Boyertown Elementary
- Brandywine Heights Elementary
- Colebrookdale Elementary
- Conrad Weiser East Elementary
- Conrad Weiser West Elementary
- Cumru Elementary
- Earl Elementary
- Glenside Elementary
- Greenwich-Lenhartsville Elementary School
- Kutztown Elementary
- Lauer’s Park Elementary
- Muhlenberg Elementary Center
- Oley Valley Elementary
- Schuylkill Valley Elementary
- Tyson Schoener Elementary
- Washington Elementary
- Willow Creek Elementary
- Wyomissing Hills Elementary
Berks COVID-19 Response Fund Donors
- Betsy Adams
- Jennifer Adames
- Bruce Albert
- Michael Albitz
- Alcon Foundation
- Dorothy M. Ames
- Dennis and Mary Angelisanti
- Dr. Elaine M. Balkiewicz
- Harriet M. Baskin
- Tracey Baughey
- Kelly Beaver
- Ward Becker
- Jacqueline Beem
- David Bender
- Tim Benner
- Berks Youth Chorus
- Berkshire Charitable Foundation
- Sydney Berroteran
- Bruce Bodien
- Glen and Carol Bowman
- Josh Brown
- Lucy Cairns
- Capital Blue Cross
- Dave and Elizabeth Capitano
- Felicidad C. Cardinal
- Dan and Melanie Casciano
- Dr. and Mrs. John D. Casey, Jr.
- Ashley Chambers
- Liz and Charles Charles
- David Chelstowski
- Christ Episcopal Church
- Luther Christman
- David Clary
- Nicholas Claytor
- Daniel and Susan Clouser
- Mary Coleman
- Shalani Colon
- Anthony and Carol Cox
- Beth Daughtry
- Leslie and Bill Davidson
- Eileen DeWald
- Robert and Jayne Dieruff
- Michael Dinan
- Robert and Karen Donovan
- Trisha and Ron Donovan
- Lynn Driben
- Marion Drozd
- Michael and Diane Duff
- Julie Duggan
- Melissa Dunn
- Lynn and Will Eagleson
- Charles Ebbert
- Janice Eickhoff
- Brian and Suzanne Engelhardt
- Jeff and Katie England
- Marilyn Engleman
- Stephen and Anne Ertel
- Kendra Espinosa
- Exelon
- Nelson and Ruth Ann Eyer
- Linda Fabian
- Beula B. Fehr
- Alan and Sue Fineman
- Angie and Al Finney
- Kathleen Fiorentino
- Steve and Gina Fisher
- Kristina Flanagan
- Tom and Helen Flynn
- Sid and Cathy Forrest
- William and Andi Franklin
- Friends of Dena and Vic
- Aaron Fries
- Pauline Fusner
- Judith Gabriel
- Jack and Janet Gallagher
- Sara Galosi
- Ms. Diane L. Gaul
- Kristin and Wayne Gehris
- F. S. Giacobbe
- Dave and Becky Giatras
- Heather Glass
- Penny Golden
- David and Debbie Goldberg
- Dan and Dale Goodyear
- Lucille Gough
- Carol Grandstaff
- Jeffrey Gregro
- Judge Arthur E. and Louise C. Grim
- Amanda Groff
- Stephine Grubb
- Jim Gruber
- Frank Gustus
- Barbara and Brad Hall
- Robert Hall
- Dena and Vic Hammel
- Susan Hartman
- Vincent and Donna Hartnett
- Marc Heil
- Scott and Angel Helm
- Nancy Hemberger
- AnNette Hines
- Bernie and Pat Hofmann
- Lori Hoffman
- Luke Hoffman
- Jerry and Carolyn Holleran
- Bob and Dawn Hoppes
- Karen Howk
- Kelsey Hunsicker
- Dan and Ellen Huyett
- in thanks for the Lars Potteiger concert
- Elaine Jackson
- Peter Jacobson
- Dr. Melissa Jamula
- Anita Jester
- Rebecca Johnson
- Joanne M. Judge and Rick Oppenheimer
- Leon and Randi Katz
- John Kemmerling
- Douglas Kennedy
- Peggy and Lee Kershner
- Soun Kimm
- Barbara J. Kline
- Donna Kline
- Carolyn S. Konas
- Lisa Konopelski
- Barry Kyper
- Judith Kraines and Dr. Neil Hoffman
- Shauna Kring
- Mr. and Mrs. Michael Krut
- Kris Leaman
- Carol Leh
- Marvin Leid
- Molly Lenko
- Michael Lichty
- Kevin Lugo
- Jeffrey Lupowitz
- Cynthia Lynn
- M&T Bank
- John M. MacDonnell
- Melissa Manara
- James Manning
- Nick and Risa Marmontello
- Karen Marsdale
- Julianne Maslar
- Beth and Bill Mastromarino
- Megan Mattern
- Judith Matuszak
- In memory of Richard McCarthy
- Ed and Suzy McKeaney
- Karen McKeever
- Tamara McLean
- Judith and William McMahon, Jr.
- Andrew Melzer
- Patsy and John Meyers
- Chris and Linda Michael
- Pamela Middleton
- Amy Miller
- Marlin and Ginger Miller
- Charles and Patricia Minehart
- Joanne Moll
- Jay Montgomery
- Harry and Jean Morrow
- Clare Moser
- Lou and Terry Mscichowski
- Mutual of America
- Robert Myer
- Katharine Navarre
- Joni and David Naugle
- Phuoc Nguyen
- Northpointe Bank
- Philip Obazee
- William and Madalin O'Brien
- Orange County United Way
- Jethryn and John Ott
- PPL Foundation
- Linda Pannabecker
- Karen Parish
- Joseph Pasquale
- Patricia Zyma Family Fund
- David Patti
- Alan and Laurie Peer
- Jack and Diane Pennington
- Eric Peroni
- Craig and Sue Perrotty
- Michael and Mary Pierantozzi
- David Pindrock
- Doris Pisotti
- Sarah Poplinski
- George and Sandy Post
- Glenn and Jeanette Potteiger
- Sidney Purnell
- R.M. Palmer Company
- Susan Randazzo
- Irvin Rathman
- Tyler Reed
- Sue and Tom Reese
- Gary Reggiani
- Yvette and Scott Rehr
- Chelsey Reichelt
- Bob and Donna Rhoads
- Linda Rice
- Helen Risssmiller
- Dona Ritchey
- Felix and Jennifer Rivera
- Michele Ruano-Weber
- Jennifer Rudd-Glenn
- Quinn Sandner
- Brad and Katie Schaefer
- James Scheirer
- Michael Schiffman
- Susan Schlanger
- Mark and Karen Schlott
- Judith Schwank
- Judy and Jim Schwank
- Lawrence Schumacher
- Wendy Schutt
- Dale Laura H. Schwoyer
- Brad and Carroll Scribner
- SEIU Local 668 Chapter 9
- John Sensenig
- Kaye Sensenig
- Evyn Seyler
- Ruth M. Shaffer
- Alap Shah
- Sharon Shank
- Patricia Shields
- In memory of Eugene Shober
- Margaret Shomgard
- Richard and Mindy Small
- Bruce and Susan Smith
- Elaine Snyder
- Susan Snyder
- Chris and Jim Spanier
- Patricia Spatz
- Bob and Kim Spengler
- Brandon Stack
- Ken Stavarski
- Richard Steffy
- Liz and Brent Sterner
- Lois Stober
- Judith and Geoffrey Stoudt
- Scott and Akiko Strum
- Kathleen and Larry Sundberg
- Anthony Supko
- Jessica Sutherland
- Cheryl and Ensi Sylvernale
- Keith Symons
- Ira Tauber
- Colleen Taylor
- John and Karen Thies
- Jeff and Cindy Thomas
- Joseph and Mary Tibbetts
- Tichansky Family
- Michael Toll
- Robert Tomascik
- Michelle and Tony Tomczak
- Kathy Topper
- Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Trexler III
- Marie Troutman
- TRUIST
- Christopher Turtell
- Tweed-Weber-Danks
- United Way Worldwide
- Jamie Vail
- Kiana Vega
- Patrick and Meredith Velekei
- George Viener
- A Virtual Vacation - Covid Relief Concert by Lars Potteiger
- Visions Federal Credit Union
- Scott and Donna Wainwright
- Maribeth Walker
- Drs. Bryan and Karen Wang
- Tao Wang
- Dr. Anna D. Weitz
- Wells Fargo
- Mr. and Mrs. Kevin R. Wenrich
- Stephanie J. and Robert F. Wheeler
- Michael Davidson and Tammy White
- Joe Whitehead
- Katherine Williams
- Michael Winters
- Emanuel Wittels
- Joanne Wojszwillo
- Steven Wright
- Tina Wright
- Steve and Chris Wullert
- Ron Wunsch
- Ann Young
- Jeremy Zaborowski
- Raymond and Lynn Zale
- Joe and Lidia Zidik
- Lisa Zimmerman
- + 41Anonymous donors
June 2021