Environmental efforts get grants
$15,000 total to Berks Nature, Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center
A trio of programs aimed at improving the environment have received grants from the Berks County Community Foundation’s Youth and Philanthropy Fund.
The programs receiving funding are:
• Berks Nature was given $5,900 to encourage the community to plant 100 mature trees to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
• The Delaware Riverkeeper Network was awarded $5,000 to collect waterquality data for streams in Berks, secure stronger protections for streams and improve management for local streams.
• Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center was given $4,100 to renovate a barn to provide a year-round indoor facility for environmental programs.
Environmental issues were chosen as a focus this year by the foundation’s Youth Advisory Board.
“I can’t say enough about the dedication and perseverance of the Youth Advisory Board students this year,” said Rachel Kuhn, a cofounder of VOiCEup Berks and director of the Youth Advisory Board. “In the midst of a global pandemic, these students faced challenges that were never seen before in local youth volunteerism and philanthropy. But they persisted, chose an area of concern on which to focus, evaluated applications from a variety of nonprofits and ultimately awarded grants to these three programs.”
Since its creation in 1998 the Youth Advisory Board has issued 110 grants totaling $343,258.
The board is designed to give youth in Berks a chance to have hands-on experiences with philanthropy. Each year the board is responsible for issuing $15,000 in grants to projects and programs that serve teens.