WILKES-BARRE — The PPL Foundation recently awarded $1 million in grant funding to support 53 nonprofit organizations working to build stronger communities in eastern and central Pennsylvania.
The foundation’s latest investments — Empowering Communities Grants — support programs focused on environmental stewardship, education and economic and workforce development initiatives.
“Whether it’s supporting the development of small businesses, preserving and protecting our local environment or helping residents explore viable career opportunities, there are many nonprofit organizations working to better the lives of people who call our region home,” said Lissette Santana, president of the PPL Foundation. “The PPL Foundation is proud to support the efforts of the organizations that help make our communities safe, strong and sustainable.”
The grants will support programs across PPL Electric Utilties’29-county service territory in central and eastern Pennsylvania.
Empowering Communities Grants were awarded in Luzerne County to:
• Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership, Wilkes-Barre.
• Riverfront Parks Committee, Wilkes-Barre.
• The Institute, Wilkes-Barre.
• North Branch Land Trust, Dallas.
• Friends of Camp Louise Shickshinny, Shavertown.
• Penn’s Northeast, Pittston.
• Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership, Hazleton.
• Hazleton Integration Project, Hazleton.
The foundation’s next round of grants — Energizing Education — will support equitable and engaging high-quality educational opportunities for students. These grants fund programs focused on STEM education, literacy, summer learning, and college and career readiness.
Applications for Energizing Education grants are being accepted from Aug. 1 to Sept. 15. For information, visit www.pplcares.com.
In all, the PPL Foundation expects to award nearly $2 million in grants this year to support the foundation’s focus areas: education; diversity, equity and inclusion; and sustainable communities.