The Carbon County Community Foundation presented more than $65,000 in grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations, community groups, educators, and students in the region at an awards ceremony on June 15.

Representatives from the foundation and nearly 40 different community groups gathered in Lehighton Borough Park for the celebration. The grants presented bring Community Foundation’s total giving to more than $830,000, since the organization was established in 2015.

“This is an incredible achievement for Carbon County that I am so proud of,” said Sharon Alexander, CCCF president. “None of this would have been possible if not for the generous donors in our community who care about the region and entrust the Foundation with their contributions.”

A majority of the grants were distributed from the Foundation’s Fund for Carbon County, a permanent endowment established to award grants that address the critical needs of today and for generations to come. Grants from the Fund for Carbon County supported a variety of organizations and projects, including food pantries and shelters; cancer support programming throughout the county; improvements within Dimmick Memorial Library’s Penn Kidder location; and new safety and medical equipment for the Citizens Fire Company in Weatherly.

Additional grants were awarded from the Penny Allison Early Childhood Fund, which provides microgrants to educators and organizations offering early childhood education services; the Scouting Support Fund, which provides campership and program support for area Boy and Girl Scout troops; the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Fund; and several Donor-Advised Funds.

Eleven graduating high school seniors from the area were also recognized for their accomplishments and were awarded scholarships from the following: Anastasia Susko Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Orioles Scouting Scholarship Fund, the Tyler Strong Memorial Scholarship Fund, Glenn Eisenhower Memorial Scholarship Fund, Eugene “Peck” Armbruster Memorial Scholarship Fund, D&P Hawk Scholarship Fund, Susan J. Tisiker Memorial Scholarship Fund, and Hunter’s Heroes Memorial Scholarship Fund.

The Carbon County Community Foundation is a 501c3 organization that serves as an umbrella for several distinct charitable funds, all with the mission of improving the quality of life for Carbon County residents.

Community members and groups with an interest in supporting the Carbon County region can establish funds under the Foundations umbrella to support the charitable causes of most importance to them. Community members can also choose to contribute to any of the funds that already exist at the foundation.