Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving donated $73,500.00 to community organizations in the Commonwealth where the money benefits state residents and communities. Our grants benefit First Responders, Women and Children Services, Community Organizations, Veterans Services, Animal Shelters, Health and Human Services, among other worth organizations.
The Central Blair Recreation Commission received a $2,500 donation from Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving on behalf on the Blair County Pickleball Club. The Blair County Pickleball Club started in September 2020 during the pandemic and has 140 members. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in America and club members play three to four times a week. The Blair Recreation Commission is the governing body for all youth and adult recreation in Blair County. The donation will be used to refurbish two tennis courts into six pickleball courts. Pictured is Pat Dandrea, Fundraising Chairman of the Blair County Pickleball Club, left; Lynn Wheland, of Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving; and Neil Rudel and Andy Dearmitt, Blair County Pickleball Club members.
Chad Weyandt, Assistant Chief, accepts a $5,000 donation for the Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Company from Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving. The Blue Knob VFC is a rural fire company in Portage and provides fire, rescue and emergency services to Blair, Bedford and Cambria counties. The donation will be used to purchase a cordless hydraulic rescue tool, a Jaws of Life tool, that will cut at a force of 156,000 lbs. while the current tool cuts at 26,000 lbs.
Camp Victory’s Kate Stepnick, Camp Director, accepted a $5,000 donation from Ed Pinkerton of Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving. The donation will be used to sponsor Camp Victory’s upcoming 5K Fun Run, Walk, Ride, & Roll event. Based in Millville, Camp Victory is a special camp for special kids where ordinary moments for most children become extraordinary moments for the children who visit.
Anita Young, Board Member, accepts a $1,500 donation from Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving on behalf of the Central PA Autism Community. The nonprofit creates five to six monthly sensory events for children with Autism and special needs in six counties: Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, and Huntingdon counties. They also partner with businesses in the region to work towards being more sensory friendly. The donation will be used to sponsor the Third Annual Central PA Autism Community Walk on August 22 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona. Every dollar raised goes back to the community. The nonprofit’s mission is to not only teach and promote awareness, but acceptance. The Central PA Autism Community continues to have programs such as “The Things That Go” a public transportation program, sensory Santa/Easter Bunny times, holiday sensory events, themed parties, with more to come.
Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company’s President, Cory Bierly, right, accepts a $5,000 donation from Ed Pinkerton, left, of Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving. The donation has helped purchase a new 2021 Sutphen Fire Rescue Pumper Truck and will be the 19th piece of equipment the VFC has used in 75 years. Based in Montgomery, the Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Company provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to Lycoming County and Clinton and Brady Townships.
CONTACT Altoona received a $5,000 donation from Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving. The nonprofit is a person-centered telephone helpline with two programs: the Reassurance Program and Inbound Helpline. The Reassurance Program helps individuals who may be suffering from grief or loss, loneliness, intellectual disabilities, or for those who are not ready to be living in an assisted living home. The Inbound Helpline reaches out to those suffering from emotional pain, grief, or need someone to talk too. The donation will be used to help continue these programs and provides serves to Blair County. Pictured accepted the donation is Erin Kay, Administration Assistant at CONTACT Altoona, left, and Lynn Wheland, of Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving.
The East Pennsboro Elite Baseball team received a $3,000 donation from Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving. The youth baseball organization provides affordable, accessible, competitive, high-level baseball experience to youth in the East Pennsboro Area School District and neighboring Central Pennsylvania school districts. In 2019, EP Elite Baseball added a second age division to its organization. Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving’s donation will be used to offer a third age level for the 2021-2022 travel baseball season, including teams 9U, 12U, and 14U.
Over 750 people attended Old Lycoming Township Police Department’s National Night Out event held on Aug. 3, 2021. Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving made a $1,500 donation to the police department to host the annual event which included refreshments, activities, music, games, and goodies for kids. At the event, residents had the chance to build community relationships with the police department, fire department, township supervisors, and learned about other community services available. The goal of the event is to heighten crime and drug-prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a powerful message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. National Night Out is a truly fun and collective night to celebrate our communities and our police department in making neighborhoods safer and more unified. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. The Old Lycoming Township Police Department provides services to Old Lycoming, Lycoming and Hepburn townships in Lycoming County.
Additional donations in June 2021 include:
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72 Blue and Gray Forever
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Acosta Volunteer Fire Department
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Bradford County Regional Arts Council
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Dwell Orphan Care
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EP Elite Baseball
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God's Country - Paradise Park Foundation
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Great Commission Schools
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Lairdsville Community VFC
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McClellandtown Volunteer Fire Company
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Millbrook Playhouse
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Monroeville Volunteer Fire Co
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Roads to Peace
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Sewickley Township 2-Lowber VFC
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Williamsport Crosscutters: Lock Haven Shoe Bank
Pennsylvania Skill Charitable Giving is made up of the hundreds of skill game operators from across the state. It has handed out nearly $2 million since it was created in 2018.
