Greater Pike awards nearly $100,000 to 31 area nonprofits

A diverse array of programs including portable lighting that will improve nighttime rescues; therapeutic equipment for children and adults with developmental disabilities; local theatre productions that illustrate our area’s history, and improvements to parks and playing fields are among the 31 initiatives that will receive funding from Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Richard L. Snyder Fund.

These ambitious projects by area nonprofit organizations will address health and wellness initiatives; enhance and beautify public spaces and support local arts and cultural events and programs.

Greater Pike Chair Gail Shuttleworth expressed gratitude for the generosity and foresight of Dick Snyder, who set up the Richard L. Snyder Fund before his death.

“With this funding, Greater Pike can positively impact the community and reach all corners of our region,” Shuttleworth said in the press release detailing the awards. “We will all see and experience the benefits of the projects, programs, and initiatives that will be undertaken by these nonprofits.”

Greater Pike Executive Director Jess Zufall noted that 2023 saw an increase in health and wellness initiatives.

The Health portfolio

“We saw growth in funding requests within our Health portfolio, which continues to demonstrate the good work our nonprofit partners are doing to help marginalized populations,” she said. “It also highlights the continued need for funding to address social determinants of health of Pike County residents.”

Programs addressing such health issues such as epilepsy, autism, developmental disabilities, therapeutic programs, homelessness and more will receive more than $35,000 in grants.

Jeannemarie Passaro, director of Pike Autism Support Services of NEPA, described the new program - Tabletop Role Playing through Gaming – that will be supported by the grant.

“This well-researched program, which involved extensive training for our facilitators, is offered in other counties and now this grant has made it possible to offer it here in Pike,” she said. The program “opens doors on how to better navigate the social world for those who struggle with those skills.”

Public space

Public space improvements that the community can look forward to as a result of the grants include sports fields and park beautification and decorative trash can containers.

“The Delaware Valley Youth Sports League and Milford Borough are thrilled to be able to use this grant funding to make the much-needed changes that will improve the structural integrity, safety, and appearance of the Catharine Street ballfield and its surrounding area,” said Maria Farrell, vice president of Milford Borough Council and chair of the Milford Borough Parks and Recreation Committee.

The league serves more than 350 players per year and draws large crowds to the Catharine Street Field, which has been a hub of baseball activity in town since 1915.

However, Farrell said, the dugouts, surrounding fence, and overall curb appeal have diminished over time.

Cultural programs

Additionally, 18 cultural programs will receive grants to support musical performances, living history programs, wildlife and environmental programs, literary and film events, dance programs and more.

Essential information

For more information on specific grants, visit www.greaterpike.org.

Online donations to the Richard L. Snyder Fund can be made at https://greaterpike.org/fund_list/ Scroll down to the fund name for the link

Greater Pike helps individuals, families, and local businesses to provide a permanent and personal way to give back to the community. For more information contact Jess Zufall, Executive Director, at (973) 580-3091, jesszufall@greaterpike.org, or follow us at www.greaterpike.org, Facebook.com/GreaterPike and Instagram.com/GreaterPikeCF.