Members of the community helped York County Community Foundation (YCCF) advance its vision to create a vibrant York County by awarding 12 nonprofits grants totaling $64,019. The community grant making program of YCCF invites residents from across York County to bring a wider perspective to the review process.

Volunteer grant readers evaluated grants of $6,000 or less from the Fund for York County and the Hahn Home Fund for Embracing Aging. This year's volunteer grant readers reviewed 17 applications and awarded $46,019 from the Fund for York County and $18,000 from Embracing Aging.

Community grant readers are members of the community who are at least age 18, reside in York County, and are not employed by a nonprofit agency serving York County. They participate in grant evaluation training held by the YCCF and use an online system to read and score the grants before deciding which nonprofits received funding.

The Fund for York County grants support one of several categories, including education for disadvantaged youths, workforce development, downtown revitalization in York County cities and boroughs, and neighborhood revitalization in York city. Embracing Aging grants support programs that focus on reducing social isolation of York County residents age 50 and older.

Fund for York County grant recipients include PennCares Support Services for the Take a Moment to Breathe: Kids Yoga & Mindfulness Classes program, which teaches children breathing techniques, strategies, and yoga poses to combat stress and anxiety and to promote a positive self-image; York County Literacy Council for its Workplace Literacy program, which focuses on economic development, economic stability, and prosperity by focusing on literacy skills as a human-resource strategy; Hoffman Homes Inc.'s Digital Radio Project to upgrade campus hand-held radios from an analog system to a new digital repeater system; Best Buddies in Pennsylvania for its York County Social Inclusion & Leadership Development program to provide opportunities for friendship, inclusion, and leadership development for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and School District of the City of York for the Future Bearcats Scholars League program to provide students the opportunity to take college level mathematics courses that satisfy high school and college mathematics requirements.

Also, Children's Home of York for the Help the Independent Living Program at George Street Feel Like Home program to provide funds for repairs and improvements to make the spaces safer and more comfortable; United Way of York County for its C is for Community and A United Way Alphabet programs to distribute children's books to encourage reading, family engagement, and community involvement; Leg Up Farm for the Pre-K School Readiness Program for Children With Special Needs to create a Pre-K school readiness program; and York Suburban Education Foundation (YSEF) for its Impact Foundation to provide York Suburban School District students with the fundamental resources they need to learn and succeed at school and in the community.

Embracing Aging grant recipients include Albright Care Services to add a pollinator garden at Happy Trails Nature Park for an optimal nature experience and to enable visitors to socially distance while enjoying companionship; York County History Center to install an accessibility lift in the Colonial Court House to provide easy access for seniors and individuals with physical disabilities and limitations; and Theatre Arts For Everyone (TAFE) for its TheatreConnects program to provide live theater for seniors by seniors, including shows produced by TAFE's touring company specifically for adult audiences in places where seniors gather.

Anyone interested in becoming a community grant reader for 2022 can learn more at http://www.yccf.org/grant-reader-application.