Fresh off celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Carbon County Community Foundation gathered once again to recognize the impact of local philanthropy at its annual Grants & Scholarships Awards Celebration on Wednesday, June 17th at the Orioles Community Center in Lehighton.
More than $80,000 in grants and scholarships was awarded through charitable funds established by generous individuals, families, businesses, and organizations committed to strengthening Carbon County. The evening brought together donors, fundholders, nonprofit leaders, educators, students, families, and community partners to celebrate the generosity that makes these opportunities possible.
“Our Grants & Scholarships Awards Celebration is one of our favorite nights of the year because it brings together the donors who make these awards possible with the students and organizations whose work is strengthening our community,” said Sharon Alexander, President & CEO of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “Every grant and scholarship represents an investment in the future of Carbon County.”
Grants were awarded through several charitable funds administered by the Foundation, including the Fund for Carbon County, Penny Allison Early Childhood Fund, Scouting Support Fund, Carbon County Creative Arts Fund, and various donor-advised funds established by individuals and families who care about the region.
Several local elected officials were represented at the awards celebration, including the offices of Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, Senator David Argall, Representative Doyle Heffley, and the Carbon County Commissioners. Scholarship and grant recipients were also presented with certificates of recognition from their offices.
Guests enjoyed Neapolitan-style pizza and other goodies from Pizza Plant food truck, and Photography by Lynn provided professional photography, capturing each awardee during the celebration.
Since 2015, the Foundation has grown to steward more than 65 charitable funds with assets of nearly $3 million, and has awarded more than $2.2 million in grants and scholarships to support the people, programs, and organizations that make our community stronger.
Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients, and thank you to our generous donors and fundholders for investing in the future of Carbon County.
Community members interested in learning more about existing funds or starting their own are encouraged to visit www.cccfoundpa.org/existing-funds/ or contact us.
For a full list of scholarship and grant recipients, download our Awards Celebration program.
2026 Spring Recipients
Fund for Carbon County
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
| Cancer Support Community Greater Lehigh Valley | Carbon County Cancer Monthly Support Group | $1,000 |
| Carbon County Treatment & Recovery Foundation | Carbon County Recovery Connect | $1,000 |
| Care Net of Carbon County | BrightCourse Program | $1,000 |
| Citizen’s Fire Company #1, Weatherly | Communications Equipment Upgrades | $5,000 |
| Collaborative Autism Movement | Sensory Aid Bags for First Responders | $2,000 |
| Family Promise Carbon County | Bedroom Renovation Project | $2,500 |
| Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono | Carbon County Girls on the Run | $1,000 |
| Hardship Heroes | Holiday Heroes Experience | $1,500 |
| Lehigh Gap Nature Center | Lehigh Gap Wildlife Refuge Stewardship Program | $1,000 |
| Lehighton Fire Department | Brush Skid Unit | $1,500 |
| Palmerton Area Historical Society | Past, Present, & Future Palmerton Memorial | $1,000 |
| Palmerton Memorial Park Association | AED Safety Initiative | $2,200 |
| Penn Kidder Ministerium After School Program – Kidz Zone | Tuition Subsidy Program | $1,000 |
| Willow Foundation | Alderwood Center Startup Equipment | $1,300 |
Penny Allison Early Childhood Fund
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
| Jack & Jill Preschool | Upgrading Sensory & STEM Opportunities | $1,000 |
| Shawn Bierman, LB Morris (Jim Thorpe) | Home Learning Bags | $1,000 |
| Ashley Hopkins, LB Morris (Jim Thorpe) | Sensory Night at LB Morris | $1,000 |
| Jenna Reis, LB Morris (Jim Thorpe) | Early Literacy & Enrichment for First Garders | $1,000 |
| Kara Krajnak, Panther Valley Elementary | Books Into Students Hands | $1,000 |
| Penn Kidder Ministerium After School Program – Kidz Zone | Tuition Subsidy Program | $1,000 |
| Rotary Club of Jim Thorpe | Summer Recreation Program | $1,000 |
| Christine Peiser, Weatherly PreK Counts | Building Family Libraries | $1,000 |
Scouting Support Fund
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
| Troop 183, Lehighton | Weekend Camp in Maryland | $250 |
| Cub Pack 209, Towamensing | Starter Sets for Cub Scouts | $250 |
| Troop 25, Weatherly/White Haven | Trailer Maintenance & Equipment Upgrades | $250 |
| Girl Scout Troop 30423, Jim Thorpe | New Troop Supplies | $400 |
| Girl Scout Troop 30903, Jim Thorpe | America 250 Camp | $250 |
| Girl Scout Troop 33254, Beaver Meadows | Camp Daddy Allen | $400 |
| Troop 3620, Lehighton | Camp at Mauch Chunk Lake | $500 |
| Troop 555, Jim Thorpe | Camp Minsi | $250 |
| Troop 63, Drums | 9-Day, 90-Mile Canoe Trip | $500 |
| Pack 63, Drums | Camp Minsi | $250 |
Carbon County Creative Arts Fund
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
| ARTisaSHIP | Art Program for Veterans | $2,500 |
Joseph & Debra Kay Bennett Charitable Fund
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
| Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers | Summer Kindergarten Readiness Program | $1,000 |
| St. Vincent de Paul Society | Lehighton Cold Weather Station | $1,000 |
Rhett & Pat Hernandez Palmerton Community Fund
| Organization | Purpose | Amount |
| Good Shepherd Rehabilitation | Adaptive Bicycle for Pediatric Physical Therapy Program | $2,000 |
| Raising the House | Family Assistance Program | $1,000 |
Scholarships
| Scholarship | Recipient(s) | Amount |
| Anastasia Susko Memorial Scholarship | Alivia Palo, Jim Thorpe | $1,500 |
| Coach Carroll Memorial Scholarship | Michael Antignani, Jim Thorpe Pierce Gothard, Jim Thorpe Danny Wehr, Panther Valley Morgan Orsulak, Panther Valley |
$500 |
| D&P Hawk Scholarship | Bekim Cokrlija, Lehighton Angelyna Fisher, Lehighton |
$5,000 |
| Eugene ‘Peck’ Armbruster Memorial Scholarship | Morgan Myers, Lehighton | $500 |
| Friends of CCTI Scholarship | Bryce Eyrich, CCTI Calli Peiffer, CCTI Kairi Stashefski, CCTI |
$500 |
| Glenn Eisenhower Memorial Scholarship | Margaret Turrano, Marian Catholic | $500 |
| Hunter’s Heroes Memorial Scholarship | Liam Off, Jim Thorpe | $500 |
| John Drury Future Historians Scholarship | Sophia Rogan, Jim Thorpe | $2,500 |
| Kenneth ‘Cutter’ Weaver Memorial Scholarship | Brody Breiner, Panther Valley Danny Wehr, Panther Valley |
$500 |
| Keys to Your Future Award | Mikayla Maxwell, Palmerton | $500 |
| Manuel & Nancy L. DaCosta Education Scholarship | Angelyna Fisher, Lehighton | $1,000 |
| Orioles Scouting Scholarship | Landon Abelovsky, Lehighton | $500 |
| Phil Rodgers Memorial Scholarship | Keira Reese, Jim Thorpe | $500 |
| Ron Hydro Outstanding Athlete Award | Caiden Hodor, Jim Thorpe | $500 |
| Susan J. Tisiker Memorial Scholarship | Brayden Newhard, Palmerton Leah Rumfield, Palmertong |
$8,000 |
| Tyler Strong Memorial Scholarship | Michael Antignani, Jim Thorpe | $500 |