More than $156,000 in grant funding has been awarded by Foundations Community Partnership’s (FCP) Board of Directors to benefit 19 Bucks County non-profit organizations and the families they support. The grant program is an integral part of Foundations’ mission to improve the lives of underserved youth and their families in Bucks County. The grants included 13 in Bucks Innovation and Improvement Grants (BIIG) and 6 Capital Improvement Grants.

BIIG grants support organizations that are developing innovative ideas to improve the quality of life for children, youth, and families in Bucks County. Capital Improvement Grants support non-profit organizations’ capital campaigns, including structural improvements to a facility (bricks & mortar, such as new buildings or addition to existing buildings), or extensive renovation or addition of durable equipment to an existing structure.

“Foundations has been very supportive of us from the beginning and they’ve helped us dress over 500 Bucks County babies,” says Fran Wasserman, Executive Director, The Baby Bureau. “In addition, Foundations has helped us make connections in the community to work more collaboratively with other organizations so we may have a greater impact and bigger outreach in meeting the needs of underserved babies and their families.”

“The Board and Staff of NOVA greatly appreciate the investment of Foundations Community Partnership that will finance the redesign of our organizational website. This grant is the cornerstone that will allow NOVA to build the foundation to increase our digital footprint ensuring that we can continue to be the vital resource within Bucks County and beyond,” says Penelope R. Ettinger, MS, Executive Director, NOVA.

“Our grant program allows us to support the needs of many worthwhile Bucks County non-profits that are serving young people and their families and working to improve the quality of life in the community,” says Karen Lasorda, President, FCP Board of Directors.

Bucks Innovation and Improvement Grants (BIIG) were awarded to the following 13 organizations and programs:

The Bucks County Audubon Society (New Hope) will use the grant for their Nature’s Healing Powers: Healing Garden Program Development, which teaches stress reduction techniques to special needs youth and young children.

The Bucks County Children’s Museum (New Hope) will use the grant to increase their educational programming capacity for STEM-based learning by offering additional educational instruction hours. The museum’s programs work with all children, including those with special needs.

The Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (Trevose and Levittown) will use the grant to support their Funded Initiative Program, which provides funding for 400 girls with special needs and those who require financial support to participate in the Girls Scouts program.

Bucks County Community College (Newtown) will use the grant to support their ACHIEVE! Program, which enhances the transition of college students with special needs to succeed in the college environment.

Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (Newtown) will use the grant to support their Integrated Physical and Behavioral Health Initiative at BCHIP Adult clinic, which screens for depression and offers mental health services to low income families at the free clinic.

The Conservatory of Music’s Kindred Arts program (Doylestown) will use the grant to support programming for at-risk/low income youth in Bucks County, including those at risk for behavioral problems.

The Baby Bureau (Warminster) will use the grant for operational support for baby bundles, which provide necessities to low income families of newborn children.

YWCA Bucks County (Trevose) will use the grant for their “Empowering Girls from Adversaries to Allies” program, which offers strategies for girls to relate to one another and better understand stereotypical messages that often lead to behaviors such as betrayal, exclusion, rumor mongering, teasing and harassment.

Lily’s Hope Foundation (Coopersburg) will use the grant as part of their outreach to provide needed items for families with newborns in neonatal intensive care..

Maternity Care Coalition (Doylestown) will use the grant for their Family Support Group Program, which provides educational support to new parents, especially vulnerable and first-time parents.

Pearl S. Buck International (Perkasie) will use the grant to empower youth through programs that explore and appreciate other cultures, including diversity training for Bucks County and Philadelphia high schools.

Rolling Harvest Food Rescue (Lumberville) will collaborate with the YWCA to provide food to families in low-income areas of Bucks County through their “Farm to Families” summer nutrition program.

Advocates for Homeless and Those in Need (Fairless Hills) will use the funding to support families in need of emergency shelter.

Six organizations received Capital Grants:

Access Services (Ft. Washington) will use the grant to purchase computer tablets for improved case management and client interaction for Bucks County clients within their Technology for Transition to Independence Program.

Bowman’s Hill Wildlife Preserve (New Hope) will use the grant to extend a handicap accessible path, increasing access to the preserve for visitors with disabilities.

Bucks County Housing Group (Warminster) will use the grant to upgrade equipment and safeguard IT technology.

Ivy Hill Foundation (Perkasie) will use the grant to install a Sure Hands Body Support Lift, which will enable riders with mobility impairments to safely mount and dismount horses to participate in equine therapy.

The Network of Victim’s Assistance (Jamison) will use the grant to make website improvements which will improve client access to services.

Peace Valley Holistic Center (Chalfont) will use the grant to expand their Mentor-Work program, which provides work opportunities in a newly launched café in Middletown Township. The program will serve special needs youths in Bucks County, focusing on youth/young adults between the ages of 16-26.

Foundations Community Partnership has awarded over $4.2 million in grants and scholarships in Bucks County since 2007. Foundations Community Partnership is a philanthropic grant-making foundation supporting the behavioral health and human service needs of children and young adults in Bucks County.