Huston Trust grant recipients announced

The Coatesville organization distributes funds to charities in Chester County and Savannah, Georgia

COATESVILLE » The Stewart Huston Charitable Trust announced more than a half-million dollars in donations, most to Chester County organizations.

Of the $550,000 in donations the trust announced last week, $450,000 is going to organizations in Chester County, including $150,000 to the Graystone Society, the organization that administers the National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum.

That money is used for administrative purposes, said Scott G. Huston, executive director of the trust who is the grandson of Stewart Huston’s brother.

“That way, when people give to us we can direct that to the programs that people like to see their money go to,” Scott Huston said.

Other county organizations the trust highlighted for its grants this year were the Chester County Historical Society, which received $15,000; Habitat for Humanity, which got $8,000; and the Schuylkill River Heritage Center at Phoenixville, which received $5,000.

The Stewart Huston Charitable Trust, a private foundation, is a perpetual charitable trust created under the will of Stewart Huston.

Huston was a longtime executive of Lukens Steel Co. in Coatesville, a plant now owned by Arcelor-Mittal.

Since its inception in 1990, the trust has distributed over $26.25 million.

Scott Huston said the trust’s ability to give grants was hurt by two things this year: its investment portfolio didn’t perform as well as in past years and it needed to replace both the boiler and air conditioning system in its building.

“It was a tough year but we expect next year giving will be up again,” Scott Huston said.

Stewart Huston had a love for history and sat for a time on the Chester County Historical Society board, Scott Huston said of his relative who died in 1971.

“CCHS is deeply grateful for the generous support of the Stewart Huston Charitable Trust that enables us to move forward with our exciting and innovative new permanent exhibit project,” said Elizabeth Laurent, president of CCHS. “Our new exhibits will present the great stories and themes of Chester County history, from the 17th into the 21st centuries, in ways that inspire, inform and build community, among visitors of all ages.”

Habitat for Humanity Chester County gives families the opportunity for home ownership.

“The Stewart Huston Charitable Trust is a key partner in Habitat’s efforts to empower low-income families through homeownership,” said Jason Pyrah, associate director of Habitat in Chester County. “Since 1997, the trust has provided more than $140,000 for the purchase of building materials and equipment to fulfill our mission in Coatesville. Because of their continued support, 90 families became homeowners and achieved self-reliance, stability, and a sense of pride knowing they are providing a better life for themselves and their families.”

The Schuylkill River Heritage Center at Phoenixville says its mission is “to educate everyone about the industrial legacy of the Schuylkill River and Phoenixville’s place in that story.”

According to Barbara Cohen, the center’s president: “The Schuylkill River Heritage Center is very excited and honored to be receiving this grant from the Stewart Huston Charitable Trust.” The support will help the organization with its capital campaign to bring back the 40-foot by 80-foot Phoenixville Mural, she said.

In addition to Coatesville, Huston had a love for the city of Savannah, Georgia, the birthplace of his mother, Annie Stewart, and home of his wife, Harriet Lawrence (Cann) Huston, who was an artist and a poet. His uncle, Murray M. Stewart, was mayor of Savannah from 1919-1923.

Huston, along with his wife Harriet, is buried in Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

Other organizations in Chester County and Savannah that received funding were:

• Art Partners Studio, $8,000;

• ChesPenn Health Services, $5,000;

• Chester County Christian Chorale, $5,000;

• Chester County Food Bank, $5,000;

• Chester County Futures, $5,000;

• Christ’s Church Episcopal, $20,000;

• Clarke Pennsylvania Inc., $5,000;

• Coatesville Youth Initiative, $5,000;

• Episcopal Church of the Trinity, $15,000;

• Good Works, Inc., $5,000;

• Home of the Sparrow, $5,000;

• Hope Beyond Borders, $10,000;

• International Seaman’s House, $10,000;

• Life Transforming Ministries, $8,000;

• Lighthouse Youth Ministries, $5,000;

• The Living Vine, $13,000;

• The Lukens Band, Inc., $5,000;

• United Ministries of Savannah, $15,000;

• Water Street Ministries, $8,000;

• YMCA of Greater Brandywine, $5,000.

SUBMITTED PHOTO – NATIONAL IRON & STEEL HERITAGE MUSEUM The Lukens Executive Office Building, part of The Graystone Society’s National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum, or NISHM, is shown.