Clinton County Community Foundation Approves $260,000 in Grants

LOCK HAVEN – The eleven board members of Clinton County Community Foundation, Inc. (CCCF) met on Wednesday for their regular business meeting as well as to discuss the 71 grant requests received from 59 organizations requesting over $530,000 in the 2020 competitive grant application cycle. Of these applicants, the board determined that 57 grants will be awarded to 47 organizations for an array of projects ranging from accessibility improvements in parks to air-pack replacements for fire service.

Totaling over $260,000, the grants will be issued to organizations soon after their acceptance letter is returned to CCCF, as the foundation has moved away from reimbursement after projects have been completed, which was a pleasant and welcome surprise to many organizations last year. Grant recipients will receive details via mail before February 15.

In addition to the award winners from the competitive grant application process, Clinton County Community Foundation has over $9,500 is earmarked for student scholarships, and more than $11,500 in designated funds will be distributed to twelve community organizations from the Michael Brookens, Todd Mellott, and Michael Gardner Memorial Fund, the Ellis Hoberman Fund, the Samuel & Ellen P. Williams Fund, the Stephen S. Poorman Small Business Development Fund, and the Lee R. & Madeline D. Phillips Fund. In total, the Clinton County Community Foundation anticipates awarding over $285,000 in 2020 to a variety of causes and organizations that do good for Clinton County.

The Executive Director of CCCF, Dr. Phileshia Dombroski, noted “The decision-making process for all of these great projects took some time, as we had a record number of applicants this year, and the board had much to discuss.” With regard to her role, she shared how excited she was to help facilitate the process of giving back to the community as well as honoring each donor’s wishes. But Dombroski emphasized that decision-making for the competitive grants was entirely up to the eleven volunteers that sit on the Board of Directors, noting that they “not only take on the arduous task of thoroughly reviewing each of the applications before the meeting, but also get a lot of questions from community members about this application or that application after the grants are publicized, which is a tough position to be in.”

Regarding her work with grant applicants, Dombroski noted that she was “quite happy to have met with a number of a number of community leaders, as well as nonprofit volunteers and staff over the past few months” to provide guidance in framing their project or completing their grant applications. “Everyone had such passion and enthusiasm for their work, and yes, we do wish that every project could get funded.” While Dombroski expects only a few phone calls and letters expressing disappointment from those not funded, she said she takes each to heart.

Inquiries about the competitive grant-making process or information on how to donate or create a named fund at Clinton County Community Foundation can be made by contacting the Executive Director, Dr. Phileshia Dombroski, at cccf@clintoncountyfoundation.org or 570-748-2481.

Organization Name Project Name Awarded

A Woman’s Concern Preparing Lock Haven site of Pregnancy Resource Center $5,000.00
American Red Cross North Central PA Chapter Home Fire Financial Assistance $3,000.00
Annie Halenbake Ross Library (Friendship Library) McNaughton Books for Patrons $1,893.00
Annie Halenbake Ross Library (Renovo Library) Carpet Replacement & Epoxy Flooring $14,000.00
Annie Halenbake Ross Library (Ross Library) Public-use Photo Copier Replacement $3,001.00
Annie Halenbake Ross Library (Traveling Library) Large Print Materials $2,193.00
Artpost Awareness, Inc. Vehicle Insurance for “The Artmobile” for one year $787.00
Avis Fire Company #1 New power tools for ventilation & storm clean up $908.00
Bucktail Medical Center Rooftop Heating Unit Repair $12,120.00
Camp Cadet Clinton County Police Camp Cadet $5,000.00
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank MilitaryShare in Clinton County $2,000.00
Citizen’s Hose Co. of South Renovo #28 Air pack replacement $5,000.00
City of Lock Haven City Beach Recreation Program $2,500.00
City of Lock Haven 2020 City of Lock Haven Summer Concert Series $5,000.00
Clinton County Arts Council Lock Haven JAMS Festival $5,000.00
Clinton County CleanScapes, Inc. 2020 Community clean-up event programming, and a butterfly garden $4,500.00
Clinton County Conservation District Conservation Summer Camp $1,500.00
Clinton County Economic Partnership Foundation Leadership Clinton County $5,000.00
Clinton County Fair Association Inc. Phone/Networking Internet Project $7,000.00
Clinton County Fire Police Repair of new/used fire police unit $3,000.00
Clinton County Healthy Communities Dental Clinic New Equipment $7,867.00
Clinton County Historical Society Phase IV – Water Tower Kiosk Renovation Project $8,850.00
Clinton County S.P.C.A. Spay/Neuter Programs with emphasis on TNR $7,500.00
Clinton County Women’s Center, Inc. Technology Consolidation / Heating Repair & Reconnection $5,000.00
Clinton Little League Game ball purchases, field rakes, and catcher equipment $2,000.00
Dogwood Circle Garden Club City Gardens at the Civil War Monument and Triangle Park $1,100.00
Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. Audio Equipment $1,000.00
Downtown Lock Haven, Inc. Computer and Software Upgrades $2,500.00
Flemington Borough Grove Park Safety & Accessibility Improvements $2,554.00
Foundation for Free Enterprise Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week 2020 $3,750.00
Goodwill Hose Company #3 Air-Paks Replacement $8,700.00
Goodwill Ambulance Association Upgrade modem for cardiac monitoring $723.00
Greater Renovo Area Heritage Park Summer in the Parks $2,500.00
Horses of Hope Independence Saddle $3,200.00
Horses of Hope Instructor Certification / CE Training $2,400.00
In Your Shoes Funding sports and activities for low-income children $5,000.00
Infant Development Program, Inc. Replacement of mini-van $15,000.00
Kent’s Fest via LHU Foundation 19th Annual Kent’s Fest $5,000.00
Keystone Central School District KCSD Summer Recreation Program $6,000.00
Lock Haven Area Shoe Bank Providing new shoes, socks, boots & new/used books to kids $10,000.00
Lock Haven Area Jaycees Marketing & Outreach Project $2,550.00
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater PA & WV Wishmaker grants $8,800.00
Mill Hall Borough Park Playground Project $4,500.00
Mill Hall Borough Community Pool Chemical Reimbursement $9,000.00
Mill Hall Borough Community Pool Restoration/Repair $3,000.00
Millbrook Playhouse Senior and Veteran Patrons Program $6,000.00
Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company Operation Communication $3,600.00
Piper Aviation Museum Hangar Door Actuator Replacement $4,200.00
Porter Township Community building renovation/improvements $3,000.00
Renovo Borough Park Equipment $3,040.00
Sugar Valley Lions Club Sugar Valley Food Bank $5,000.00
The Salvation Army of Lock Haven Lock Haven’s “Kids’ Café” $5,000.00
Volunteer Fire Company of Mill Hall Exhaust Fan & Handlights $2,300.00
West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission IMPACT – Positive Message Assemblies $5,250.00
Western Clinton County Recreation Authority PA State Flaming Foliage Festival Weekend $5,000.00
Western Clinton County Recreation Authority Capital Improvements & Equipment $3,650.00
Western Clinton County Recreation Authority Renovo Area Community Choir $640.00