BETHLEHEM

The Rotary Club of Bethlehem Foundation awarded $5398.00 to various Lehigh Valley organizations at the end of the 2015 calendar year.

The awards were made possible through fundraising efforts supported by club members and retained earnings of the club, with funds being dispersed based on which projects were best able to serve the needs of local community members while also appealing to the Rotary International areas of focus.

Organizations that received grants include: Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem (website and social media development and training); Community Hope/Hope for Veterans (supportive services for area veterans); Embrace Your Dreams (First Tee Lehigh Valley Berks); the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley (Community Empowerment program for adults); Meals on Wheels of Northampton County (heat bags); Mercy School for Special Learning (scholarships); Moravian Development Corp. (Senior Center AV Theatre System); Northeast Ministries (food for the holidays); the Salvation Army, (Bethlehem AfterSchool Homework Club); and the VNA of St. Luke’s (Maternal Child programs).

The foundation, a 501 (c) (3) charitable arm of the Rotary Club of Bethlehem, conducts various fundraising events throughout the year to support local and international initiatives. Areas of focus for Foundation initiatives include eace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, infrastructure, basic education an literacy, and economic and community development.