Bucks Innovation & Improvement (BIIG) (Grant awards up to $15,000) Opens August 1, 2024. LOIs are due no later than October 1, 2024. Submit full applications by October 15, 2024
Capital Improvement (Grant awards up to $10,000) Opens August 1, 2024. LOIs are due no later than October 1, 2024. Submit full applications by October 15, 2024.
Emergency Action (Grant awards up to $10,000) Open throughout the year. Visit web site for available opportunities and how to apply.
Nonprofit Growth: Organizational & Professional Development (Grant award varies depending on program) Open throughout the year. Visit web site for available opportunities and how to apply.
Partnership in Youth Services (Grant awards up to $4,500) Opens December 15, 2024. Submit applications by February 1, 2025.
Target Funding: General Operating Support (Grant awards up to $50,000) Opens December 1, 2024. LOIs are due no later than January 15, 2025. Submit full applications by February 1, 2025.
For more information about FCP’s grant programs and application requirements, visit www.fcpartnership.org/grants.
The 2024 Summer Youth Corps interns and program supervisor. (Back row from l to r): Samantha Rosinski, Supervisor Patrick Reynolds, Ava Musolino, Natalie Biedermann, Alan Bai, Grace King. (Front row from l to r): Darcy Leight, Katherine Hanlon, Kassidy Shaw, Sydney White, Abigail Baram, Katharine Catalano, Nina Harris, Jennifer Ackert.
College Students Spend Their Summer Helping Local Nonprofits
Since 2008, FCP’s Summer Youth Corps (SYC) has offered college students the opportunity to participate in a 10-week, paid internship experience at a nonprofit serving Bucks County children, young adults, and families. This summer, 13 students gained practical experience, made a positive impact in the community, and earned college credit through a partnership with Bucks County Community College.
Program Supervisor Patrick Reynolds supported this year’s program which concluded on August 2. “This experience has opened my eyes to the world of nonprofits and the various things they do throughout the county,” he said. “It has been a joy to witness how this experience has impacted the personal and professional growth of the interns.” Reynolds, a Chalfont resident, currently pursues a master’s degree in counseling psychology at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pa.
Over the past 15 years, 215 college students completed the program, contributing nearly 62,000 service hours to 40 participating nonprofits. Based on the Independent Sector’s estimate of the value of a volunteer hour, the continues
Foundations Community Partnership (FCP) was formed in July 2007, as a result of the sale of Foundations Behavioral Health. FCP is a philanthropic grant-making foundation supporting the behavioral health and human service needs of children, young adults, and families in Bucks County, Pa. through grants to non-profit organizations, awarding scholarships to high school seniors, subsidizing service-learning internships for college students, and underwriting professional development programs.
Board of Directors
Tracy Pasternak Willis, M.A., LPC –Chair
Sean M. Schmid, M.S. – Vice Chair
Falesha R. Grasty, B.S. – Treasurer
Michael W. Mills, Esq. – Secretary
Abigail Halloran, M.A. –Immediate Past Chair
Tobias Bruhn, Ed.D., CFRE
Tanya Casas, Ph.D.
Morgan Q. Clark, M.S.
Kristyn DiDominick, MSW
Sally Fabian-Oresic, M.S.
Judith Stern Goldstein, ASLA, R.L.A.
Rachael Neff, LSW
Patricia Stern Smallacombe, Ph.D.
Christine Hensel Triantos, M.A.
Board Member Emeritus
Ronald T. Bernstein
Thomas M. Hanna, P.E., LEED®, AP
Karen Lasorda
Joseph Stella, M.D.
Honorary Director
William E. Boger, CPA*
Albert M. Honig, D.O.*
Dr. Harry Klein*
Daniel P. Weldon, Ed.D.
*deceased
total value contributed by SYC interns to nonprofits since 2008 equals $1,518,185.50. Students who complete their freshman through junior year at college and who are residents of Bucks County are eligible to participate.
This year’s SYC interns made a positive impact at the following agencies:
Newtown resident Jennifer Ackert assisted the YWCA Bucks County in Trevose. She majors in Human Development at Penn State University.
Furlong resident Alan Bai interned at Churchville Nature Center in Churchville. He attends Penn State University studying Wildlife and Fisheries Science.
Newtown resident Abigail Baram worked at Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia in Warminster. She studies Psychology at Syracuse University.
Richboro resident Natalie Biedermann assisted the YMCA of Bucks and Hunterdon Counties in Doylestown. She studies Secondary Education at Bucks County Community College.
Quakertown resident Katharine Catalano worked at the Travis Manion Foundation in Doylestown. She studies Finance at the University of Maryland.
Southampton resident Katherine Hanlon interned at Libertae in Bensalem. She graduated from Bucks County Community College and transferred to Saint Joseph’s University studying Psychology.
Furlong resident Nina Harris assisted the Bucks County Housing Group in Warminster. She majors in Quantitative Economics at Tufts University.
Sellersville resident Grace King worked at Snipes Farm & Education Center in Morrisville. She attends the University of Pittsburgh studying Environmental Science.
Ivyland resident Darcy Leight interned at Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County in Warminster. She majors in Philosophy at Washington & Lee University.
Doylestown resident Ava Musolino worked at Ivy Hill Equestrian Therapeutic Riding Center in Perkasie. She studies Aerospace Engineering at Virginia Tech.
Doylestown resident Samantha Rosinski assisted the Bucks County Opportunity Council in Doylestown. She majors in Film and TV Production at Chapman University.
Newtown resident Kassidy Shaw interned at the Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) in Jamison. She attends Arcadia University double-majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology.
Doylestown resident Sydney White assisted The Council of Southeast PA in Doylestown. She majors in Psychology at Lehigh University.
For more information about SYC and to view photos and videos of past program participants and activities, visit www.fcpartnership.org/summer-youth-corps
Local Nonprofits Receive Nearly $170,000 in Grants to Support Vital Programs and Services
FCP’s Board of Directors awarded $169,200 in grants to 24 non-profit organizations, including 15 Bucks Innovation and Improvement Grants (BIIG), seven Capital Improvement Grants, and two Nonprofit Growth Grants (NGG). “Since 2007, we awarded nearly $8 million to nonprofits serving Bucks County, and the Board is thrilled to continue the tradition of support and partnering with all of the grant recipients in support of their mission,” said Board Chair Tracy Pasternak Willis
BIIGs totaling $106,500 were awarded to the following nonprofits:
ORGANIZATION
Bucks County Audubon Society
Bucks County Intermediate Unit
Bucks County Opportunity Council
GRANT WILL BE USED TO
provide horticulture therapy to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom are on the autism spectrum.
establish an after-school robotics club, providing a world-class robotics competition experience for 10 teams of 4 children in grades 4-12 at no cost to families.
supplement the food budget for 150 families this summer for grocery purchases to provide healthy and nutritious meals.
Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia increase activities in its family program for the benefit of people who are facing a cancer diagnosis within their family.
Destined for a Dream
Education Law Center
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Hands Holding Hearts
Heritage Conservancy
Pride of Quakertown
Rolling Harvest Food Rescue
The Baby Bureau
The Salvation Army Children’s Services
Woods Services
Youth Orchestra of Bucks County
combat many students' learning setbacks over the summer and help meet grade-level expectations as well as gain practical skills to enhance their learning journey.
support families experiencing individual and systemic educational barriers at the intersection of race, gender, and disability.
ensure each girl leverages their Gold Award, the highest and most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, for maximum benefit with public citations and scholarships.
subsidize counseling for those individuals and families that cannot afford to pay privately for grief support.
engage the community in the planning and input phase in the revitalization of Humphrey’s Park.
support extracurricular enrichment programs for eligible students in the Quakertown School District.
offer high-impact nutrition programming and produce distribution for children and their families at the YWCA Family Centers and Bucks County Intermediate Unit Head Start locations.
alleviate the costs associated with raising a baby in the first year of life for underserved, atrisk, and low-income families.
expand its HALO® Project into Bucks County out of a need expressed by foster and adoptive families whose children struggle with attachment and extreme dysregulation resulting from childhood trauma.
pilot a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports program, providing continuity in students’ learning and therapy from the classroom to their home environment, in partnership with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health.
provide music education and performance opportunities not provided in the schools for children from low-income areas.
Capital Improvement Grants totaling $53,350 were awarded to the following nonprofits: ORGANIZATION GRANT WILL BE USED TO
Christ’s Home
Doylestown Hospital
Family Service Association of Bucks County
Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center
Libertae
Peaceful Living
Snipes Farm & Education Center
undertake renovations and expansions to ensure that its Teen Mom Program serves the needs of its clients.
purchase a patient crisis bed for its Emergency Department, maximizing safety in a clinical behavioral setting.
replace all light switches from standard to motion sensory ones at its Langhorne office.
purchase and install a generator to help keep its herd healthy and programs running without interruption or negative health consequences.
help replace all wooden bedroom furniture, washers, and dryers.
establish a sensory room to enhance the well-being and quality of life for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
install a low ropes outdoor nature course for children with low skills, behavioral challenges, and special needs.
A Nonprofit Growth Grant was also awarded to the James A. Michener Art Museum to train staff, docents, and volunteers to support its Art for All Program which engages adults with moderate stage dementia, as well as the Montgomery Theater to support its strategic planning process, focusing on developing program diversity and expanding accessibility offerings.
Collaborative IMPACT Fund of Bucks County Awards First Grant
Local grant makers BLBB Charitable, Bucks County Foundation (BCF), and FCP recently announced the award of a $75,000 grant to Souderton-based Along the Way in support of its Bucks Pathway Project, a comprehensive anti-poverty, workforce development, childcare, and family support program for single mother households.
The grant is the result of a new initiative, the Collaborative IMPACT Fund of Bucks County (IMPACT Bucks), launched by this coalition of funders to support nonprofits that are committed to creating safe, healthy, and thriving communities by improving economic self-sufficiency and opportunity for socially and/or economically disadvantaged people.
While Bucks County is the third wealthiest county in Pennsylvania, almost 6% of its total residents live at an income level below the Federal Poverty Level. Along The Way started by providing free in-home childcare in 2016, serving only low-income single mother families as an anti-poverty initiative. The intent was to break the cycle of poverty by providing the necessary support during nights and weekends when single moms could most readily find employment or take classes to continue their own education. Its childcare solution fills a critical gap in the childcare system that
limits under-resourced single mothers from getting out of poverty -no childcare during nontraditional hours when they most often need to work. This grant will help grow the nonprofit’s presence in Bucks County through a pilot program enabling them to accept more client referrals and increase its employer network.
“As an organization committed to accelerating equity through traumainformed innovations in social care and childcare, we have found a way to break down the silos that keep under-resourced people stuck,” said Along the Way CEO Kristina Valdez. “We are incredibly grateful to have been chosen for the IMPACT Bucks Grant and the long-lasting effect it will have on our community.”
In a joint statement by BLBB Charitable, BCF, and FCP, the respective boards thanked all the nonprofits for submitting their innovative ideas and approaches to serve their respective communities. This collective philanthropy strives to bring about positive change with lasting impact for our most vulnerable neighbors. Going forward, the IMPACT Bucks Fund seeks likeminded private and public partners to increase the available funding each year to meet the community’s growing needs.
10,911 Bucks County Residents Through Their Programs & Services
Libertae
Christ’s Home Pride of Quakertown
Heritage Conservancy The Baby Bureau
Bucks County Intermediate Unit
Family Service Association of Bucks County
Rolling Harvest Food Rescue Doylestown Health
Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia
Youth Orchestra of Bucks County
Outstanding Bucks County Students
Recognized Through Partnership in Education Scholarship Program
In collaboration with each of the County’s 19 public high schools, FCP recently announced the 2024 Partnership in Education Scholarship recipients. School administrators and guidance counselors from every Bucks County public and technical high school nominated students who best demonstrated a commitment to community service, academic performance, and quality of character. Further, the following organizations and individual proudly co-sponsored select scholarships signaling their commitment to the community and FCP’s mission: Capital Health, Doylestown Health, FirstBank, Connie Furman, Grand View Health, Penn Community Bank, and Traffic Planning and Design, Inc.
“The commitment to community service and academic excellence of our local high school students is evident within our scholarship program,” said Tracy Pasternak Willis, FCP’s Board Chair. “Recognizing these outstanding student leaders serves as encouragement to all to work toward positive change in our communities.”
FCP awarded $1,000 to each of these Bucks County high school student leaders:
• Bensalem resident Gavin Phelan at Bensalem High School attending Holy Family University
Sponsored by Traffic Planning and Design, Inc.
• Bristol resident Haley Velasquez at Bristol Borough High School attending Kutztown University
Sponsored by FirstBank
• Yardley resident Keira Holden at Bucks County Technical High School attending Rowan University
Sponsored by Penn Community Bank
• Warminster resident Calli Pasternack at Central Bucks High School East attending Elon University
Sponsored by Doylestown Health
• Jamison resident Brynn Albert at Central Bucks High School South attending Arcadia University
Sponsored by Doylestown Health
• Doylestown resident Liam Boyle at Central Bucks High School West attending Penn State University Sponsored by Doylestown Health
• Newtown resident James Chapek at Council Rock High School North attending Penn State University
• Holland resident Winston Wang at Council Rock High School South attending University of Pennsylvania
• Bristol resident Kathleen Olsen at Harry S. Truman High School attending Vanderbilt University
• Warminster resident Ready Labbe at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology attending St. Joseph’s University Sponsored by Penn Community Bank
• Morrisville resident Kathryn Getty at Morrisville Sr. High School attending La Salle University
• Levittown resident Sarah Kramer at Neshaminy High School attending Brown University
Sponsored by Neshaminy HS alumna Connie Furman
• New Hope resident Zoe Kelter at New Hope-Solebury High School attending Delaware Valley University
» Click to view larger image
• Coopersburg resident Brynn Chilton at Palisades High School attending Penn State University
• Perkasie resident Matthew Atchley at Pennridge High School attending Shenandoah University
Sponsored by Grand View Health
• Newtown resident Isabel Stackawitz at Pennsbury High School attending University of Virginia
• Perkasie resident Emily Parker at Quakertown Community High School attending University of Southern California
Sponsored by Grand View Health
• Sellersville resident Alicia Santoro at Upper Bucks County Technical School attending Cedar Crest College
Sponsored by Penn Community Bank
• Warminster resident Alyssa Kunz at William Tennent High School attending University of Delaware
In addition to the Partnership in Education Scholarship recipients, Capital Health joined FCP to award a $1,000 scholarship the following students pursuing an undergraduate degree in nursing:
Newtown resident Chaewon Lim at Council Rock High School North attending Boston College
Holland resident Rachel
Khelmer at Council Rock High School South attending University of Pittsburgh
Morrisville resident Brittany Roman Delagado at Morrisville Sr. High School attending Bucks County Community College
Levittown resident Lotus McGuigan at Pennsbury High School attending University of Pittsburgh
For more information about the Partnership in Education Scholarship program, visit www.fcpartnership.org/scholarships
SYC Program Supervisor Reflects Upon 2024 Cohort
My name is Patrick Reynolds, this year’s Graduate Supervisor for the Summer Youth Corps program. I am a second-year counseling psychology graduate student at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pa. I received my associate’s degree at Coastal Carolina Community College in North Carolina, and my bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University Abington. Before starting my academic pursuit, I served in the United States Marine Corps for five years, where I especially enjoyed working with young adults to help achieve their goals and develop their strengths. I am grateful to have been in this position to help support and motivate the 13 participating interns in their summer of service-learning.
My role consisted of conducting individual supervision for each intern at their nonprofits every week to ensure they are working towards their goals, listening to their thoughts and experiences, and providing support at times of difficulty. Further, I functioned as the liaison between the interns and their agency supervisor.
During the weekly group supervision session, the interns reflected on their week at their agencies, discussing their experiences and feelings. It is an open discussion format where the interns can speak and either sympathize with or relate to each other’s experiences and hardships. This is when they establish a closer bond and share ways to problem-solve situations. Additionally, on the same day as group supervision, I supported Professor Deborah Sedik, an Associate Professor at Bucks County Community College, with the program’s academic component. Interns are expected to read various articles that discuss topics such as professional development, ethics, leadership styles, and personality assessments. Then, interns discussed what they read and related it to their day-today lives and experiences at their agencies.
During this 10-week program, several participating agencies also hosted the interns on a field trip at their locations. The interns learned about each nonprofit and engaged in pre-planned activities to better understand the mission.
My time as the graduate supervisor has opened my eyes to the world of nonprofits and the various things they do throughout the county. I am astonished by how many lives they impact. This program is a fantastic experience for undergraduate college students to learn about how to be professionals and how nonprofits help their communities—seeing the impact these agencies have on the interns and watching them grow as professionals is nothing short of inspiring and fills you with pride. SYC was a success this summer because of these incredible interns and their host agencies. It was an honor to be part of their journey, and I wish everyone moving forward nothing but success.
SYC intern Ava Musolino takes Program Supervisor Pat Reynolds (right) for a tour of Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center.
Hensel Triantos Joins Board of Directors
FCP’s Board of Directors appointed Christine Hensel Triantos as a new member as of July 1. Her term runs through 2026. Hensel Triantos serves as the Director of Marketing and Communications at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, Pa. She earned a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her role at FCP, Hensel Triantos serves on Visit Bucks County’s Board of Directors, chairing its Governance Committee, as well as on the Michener Art Museum’s Corporate Business Partners Advisory Board. “We are excited to welcome Christine,” said FCP’s Board Chair Tracy Pasternak Willis “Her expertise and knowledge in the tourism and retail industry as well as service to the community will further strengthen our board and be a great benefit to the nonprofits we serve.”
