At their December 5, 2019 winter meeting, the​ Board of Trustees ​of Fox & Roach/Trident Charities approved ​31 grants​ for 2019 ​totaling $204,050 (a 2.6% increase over 2018). ​The recipient organizations listed below were awarded grants after meeting the Board’s grant guidelines as 501(c)(3) non-profits offering programs consistent with our mission and impacting communities in the markets where Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach/Trident is represented (Greater Delaware Valley: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware).

ADVOCATES FOR THE HOMELESS & THOSE IN NEED (ATHN)

Advocates for Homeless & Those in Need (AHTN) is a Bucks County interfaith nonprofit that serves the homeless and those in need by providing year-long access to emergency shelter, food, and other life-sustaining services, with dignity and compassion.

ATHN’s envisions a community where no one is homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

Since 1970, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. We match each child with a mentor to foster a friendship built on trust, learning and growth. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Vision is that all children achieve success in life. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally-supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

BUILD JAKE’S PLACE

Build Jake’s Place builds playgrounds for everybody, where children in wheelchairs and other assistive devices can play along side others with ease. It’s an integrated play area in which all children, those who are able and those with disabilities, can play interactively. The objective is to design an area that is barrier-free, socially inviting, and contains play environment groupings.

CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY OF THE GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY

The Cancer Support Community’s programs help people affected by cancer – survivors, caregivers, friends and family – regain control of their lives, reduce stress and isolation, and restore a sense of hope for a better quality of life regardless of the stage of the disease or the type of cancer.

Hundreds of people with cancer and their loved ones unite through our support groups, stress-management sessions, educational programs, exercise sessions, nutrition workshops, and social events. People can come at the point of diagnosis, during or at the end of treatment, at recurrence, or several years out of treatment. They all come to learn they are not alone in their fight for recovery, they regain a sense of control over their lives, and ultimately discover that hope is a valuable tool on the road to wellness.

CHESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK

The Chester County Food Bank was formed in 2009 to address the escalating hunger problem in the county. Our primary goal was, and still is, to have a viable, sustainable organization that secures, manages and distributes food to those in need.

Today, we are the central hunger relief organization serving more than 120 partner agencies in Chester County, PA. Through our network of food cupboards, hot meal sites, shelters and other social service organizations, we distribute over 2.7 million pounds to our neighbors with limited or uncertain access to adequate food.

CLARIFI

We create hope by helping people identify and secure the most important assets in their lives. Whether it’s how to make—and stick to—a household budget, understand a mortgage, plan for school tuition or envision a secure retirement, Clarifi can people every step of the way. We’re here for everyone, without regard for economic status. It’s why we call what we do “financial planning for the rest of us.” Why Clarifi? The first thing we do with our clients is clear away the fog of financial uncertainty. Ultimately, our variety of services leads to Lifelong Financial Literacy.

COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

The mission of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley is to improve the quality of life by building a community in which all people have access to economic opportunity, the ability to pursue that opportunity, and a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

We might not be able to eliminate poverty. But we can curb it. We can feed people who are hungry. We can shelter them when they’re homeless. We can get them heating assistance or weatherize their homes when they’re cold. We can help people gain assets by buying a home or starting a business. We can organize them to take their neighborhoods back.

COMMUNITY CENTER AT VISITATION

We are committed to providing a safe place for community outreach, continuous education, and recreation among the diverse cultural communities of Kensington and its surrounding neighborhoods. Serving as a “Beacon of Hope,” the Center embraces and celebrates this community with particular regard for nurturing the potential of its youth, senior, and immigrant populations. We provide the community with opportunities to learn, grow and develop into citizens who are ultimately responsible for changing their environment. Our goal is to introduce new programs and concepts that will be embraced by all the local residents and then shared among their families and friends. CCV is a “safe place” for children and youth to grow into outstanding adults.

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE (CVIM)

Community Volunteers in Medicine provides free coordinated healthcare to low-income individuals and families who have no other place to turn for care in the Chester County region. As a non-profit, supported 100% through philanthropy, we are committed to remaining the safety net provider for medical and dental care in our community.

COVENANT HOUSE NEW JERSEY

Covenant House New Jersey provides comprehensive residential care and related services to help New Jersey’s youth who have suffered from abuse, neglect, abandonment, homelessness, and human trafficking build a life for themselves that is good.

We journey with our young people from the streets, to our Residential Crisis Centers, to our transitional living homes, and on to independent living in the community to help them break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

COVENANT HOUSE PENNSYLVANIA

Covenant House Pennsylvania is much more than a shelter. We provide an array of services for homeless young people, including a first-class clinic, staff to help with going to college and finding a job, and one-to-one support to help young people plan, stay on track, and achieve their goals.

We also provide housing for longer periods to give our young people time to find work, learn important skills, and save money – giving them the best possible chance of achieving independence.

Cradles to Crayons

Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need to thrive – at home, at school and at play. They supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need.

DELAWARE HOSPICE

Delaware Hospice empowers individuals and their caregivers with education to provide comfort and personal care.

Together, we will develop a care plan that includes everything from symptom management, which ensures patient’s comfort, to emotional and spiritual support. Our goal is to provide a holistic approach that considers the combined medical, personal, emotional and spiritual needs of the individual, who, along with loved ones, are living with a life-limiting illness.

GESU SCHOOL

Gesu School strives, without selective admissions, to provide a quality, innovative education for its neighbor children in North Philadelphia to empower them to break the cycle of poverty and violence.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF CHESTER COUNTY

Our vision is simple: “A world where everyone has a decent place to live.” Habitat’s program serves those who would not be able to afford a mortgage by conventional means. Each home is sold to a low-income family using a no-interest 30-year mortgage for the full purchase price of the home. Habitat homeowners are carefully selected based upon three criteria: the need for decent, affordable housing; the ability to repay the mortgage loan; and the willingness to partner with Habitat by participating in our sweat equity program. We require 200 to 400 hours of sweat equity from our applicant families as part of their eligibility for Habitat homeownership. Since 1989, volunteers have built or renovated 147 homes for low-income families in need of decent, affordable housing. More than 90% of all non-designated cash donations are used for home construction. Mortgage payments made to Habitat go back towards the construction or rehabilitation of homes for other low-income families in need.

IVY HILL THERAPEUTIC EQUESTRIAN CENTER

Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center creates therapeutic programs for individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioral and psychological needs utilizing the equine experience.

Therapeutic riding, also known as Equine-Assisted Therapy, Equine-Facilitated Therapy, or Riding for the Disabled, is the use of the horse and equine-based activities to reach the specific objectives of our special needs population.

The horse becomes partner and therapeutic tool in achieving a variety of goals that are cognitive, physical, social, educational and behavioral.

Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund

The Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund helps families caring for children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and injuries. They provide financial assistance for needs not covered by insurance, respite programs, and non-cash items to families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware and advocate for and provide education and information to families nationwide.

MANNA

MANNA uses nutrition to improve health for people with serious illnesses who need nourishment to heal. By providing medically tailored meals and nutrition education, we empower people to improve their health and quality of life. MANNA is a leader in evidence-based nutrition services, bringing together dietitians, chefs, drivers, and thousands of volunteers to cook and deliver nutritious, medically appropriate meals and provide nutrition counseling to neighbors who are battling life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, renal disease, and HIV/AIDS. From hands-on cooking classes and nutrition counseling to the delivery of 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, MANNA provides nourishment, hope, and healing to the Greater Philadelphia area, Southern New Jersey, and beyond.

MELMARK

Melmark is a comprehensive multi-service agency, providing residential, educational and therapeutic services for children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, brain injuries and other neurological and genetic diagnoses. Our varied programs promote independence, increased self-awareness and confidence while offering participant opportunities to make friends and develop personal interests.

MINDING YOUR MIND

Minding Your Mind’s (MYM) primary objective is to provide mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers and school administrators. Our goal is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues. Treatment is available, yet only 3 out of 10 individuals needing help actually seek help. Minding Your Mind Programs move away from crisis based response to prevention through education.

MITZVAH CIRCLE FOUNDATION

Mitzvah Circle Foundation meets the critical, material needs of individuals and families struggling with crisis, poverty, homelessness, and serious illness in the greater Philadelphia area and beyond. We quickly deliver a diverse array of essential items personalized to meet specific basic needs. After learning what people need most, Mitzvah Circle Foundation delivers and ships care packages containing clothing, shoes, diapers, books, household goods, toiletries, and more. We provide ongoing assistance, bridging the gap from despair to hope.

NATIONAL LIBERTY MUSEUM

The National Liberty Museum is committed to giving students, teachers and families access to our inspirational heroes exhibits, reflective artwork, and engaging programs that bring people together and provoke thought and dialogue about liberty.
The young people we serve with our character and civic education programs learn critical 21st century skills – leadership, empathy, social skills, and critical thinking – that underpin academic success, responsible citizenship, and, ultimately, the health of liberty.

PHILADELPHIA YOUTH NETWORK

Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a solutions-builder forging together significant players to alleviate a root cause of poverty by preparing 12-24-year-olds to become productive working adults. Our work is grounded in the understanding that young people need access to both education and employment, proven factors in being prepared for a career. With a track record of increasing impact, PYN funds and brokers action with the right partners to collectively address barriers. PYN constructs systems to create change, while innovating to meet evolving needs. Together with our partners, PYN dramatically changes the trajectory of individuals’ lives by giving voice to underserved youth, and ultimately creating a pipeline for an educated, engaged workforce.

RESCUE MISSION OF TRENTON

The Rescue Mission of Trenton serves the truly needy men and women who have no place to turn for shelter, food, and clothing. The Mission provides a safe, clean, warm, refuge for the homeless, the hungry, the transient and the addicted.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PHILADELPHIA

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House supports families of seriously ill children by creating a community of comfort and hope. Their programs include two Ronald McDonald Houses, two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a Hospitality Kiosk at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, and a Ronald McDonald Camp.

SHARE FOOD PROGRAM

Share first opened in 1986, part of a national network of Shares dedicated to expanding community access to wholesome, affordable food. Since that time, Share has evolved into a vibrant, high-impact organization, recognized for our strong leadership role in reducing regional hunger and expanding access to nutritious, affordable food.

In the early days, Philadelphia Share was primarily a community food coop, offering below-retail packages of food in exchange for two hours of volunteerism and a modest payment. As food poverty affected more families in our region, Share stepped forward. Share became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1991, with the mission to “serve a regional network of community organizations engaged in food distribution, education and advocacy.” That year, Share became the lead agency in Philadelphia County for the State Food Purchase Program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Last year, Share brought 27 million pounds of emergency food relief to low-income Philadelphia residents facing hunger. Each day, Share manages complex food distribution operations, to bring a steady, reliable stream of food relief to more than 505 volunteer-led food cupboards. The need has escalated, as illustrated by the graph below. Without Share, local food cupboards cannot meet the growing need.

SILVER SPRINGS MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL

Silver Springs – Martin Luther School provides a range of specialized services and support for children who struggle with emotional and behavioral challenges. Through special education, foster family care, and residential and community-based mental health services, we offer opportunities for children and families to learn, to heal, and to reach for brighter tomorrows.

SquashSmarts

SquashSmarts is dedicated to improving the lives of underserved youth from Philadelphia public schools by providing intensive, long-term academic tutoring and squash instruction, while imparting high standards of personal integrity, health and fitness, and service to the community.

St. Patrick’s Center

St. Patrick’s Center provides emergency food, meals, respite for the homeless, clothing, transportation, and recreational activities for people in need on Wilmington’s east side. Our services are provided in a welcoming, dignified, respectful, and caring environment. We recognize that people require more than just basic needs – a person’s desire to be respected and accepted is not diminished because they are poor and that desire does not fade as they become elderly.

THE MONKEY & THE ELEPHANT

The Monkey & The Elephant is Philadelphia’s first and only non-profit coffee shop employing former foster youth. By choosing to purchase coffee and baked goods from our shop you are also supporting the former foster youth in our program. Youth that go through the foster care system are at greater risk of experiencing incarceration, homelessness and reliance on public assistance or welfare.

THE GARAGE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH CENTER

The Garage Community and Youth Center serves approximately 500 students annually. Of the students who utilize The Garage, approximately 69% are Latino and from economically depressed households with parents who work long hours and face numerous language and cultural challenges; these students lacked the home academic support needed to overcome these challenges because the majority of their parents do not speak English and have not completed their own secondary education. Another 7% of students are African American, the majority of whom come from single parent and economically disadvantaged households – many in which neither the mother nor the father is the primary caretaker. The remaining 24% are Caucasian or mixed race primarily coming from low-income, divorced parents, and/or disadvantaged households. We also serve a number of high-risk youth, including those at risk of dropping out of school and who have been in trouble with law enforcement. The students who come to The Garage face substantial struggles and are looking for support to navigate through complex issues such as domestic violence, dysfunctional homes, addiction, desire to drop out of school, cutting, teen pregnancy, peer pressure related to drugs/alcohol/sex, language barriers, and peer/familial discouragement regarding academic achievement.

THE UNFORGOTTEN HAVEN

Our mission is to help anyone who has been forgotten. This includes the homeless, anyone who has fallen on hard times victims of house fires, cancer patients, terminally ill, domestic violence victims, veterans, pets left in shelters or in foster care…. Everything is given for free including our Love. Nothing is sold. We offer a place for volunteers to come and help us to help others. Children are always welcome to join us.

URBANPROMISE MINISTRIES, INC.

Since 1988 our mission at UrbanPromise has been to equip Camden’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, and spiritual growth. We strive to fulfill this mission through after-school programs, summer camps, two schools, experiential learning, job training, and a host of other programs that challenge youth to develop and realize their potential.

West End Neighborhood House

West End Neighborhood House has been improving the lives of an ethnically, economically and culturally diverse community since 1883. In 2016, the agency served over 10,000 individuals. West End provides assistance through outcomes-driven programming, using innovative solutions to resolve complex social challenges throughout Delaware. West End is a registered 501c3 organization, whose mission is to help individuals achieve self-sufficiency, reach and maintain their maximum potential, and live responsibly and harmoniously in a healthy community and complex world.