The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley announced winners of the 2017 Volunteer Challenge at its annual fundraiser held at ArtsQuest SteelStacks in Bethlehem on May 16. The Volunteer Challenge is an invitation-only corporate competition in which company-sponsored teams conceive, design and complete projects for local nonprofit agencies. Projects are either self-selected by the organization or by project opportunities identified by the Volunteer Center.

Winners of this year’s Volunteer Challenge are:

Small Company Award - The Peak TV – The team partnered with Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network to design and paint a wall mural that will empower children and brighten the space that hosts about 50 children and 175 adults each week.

Medium Company - Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C.-The team partnered with Central Elementary School in Allentown on a Positive Minds/Positive Body campaign encouraging students and families to make positive food choices by providing planter boxes and soil, as well as herb, fruit and vegetable plants so the students could grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

Large Company - Dun & Bradstreet – The company partnered with McKinley Elementary School in Allentown and converted an underutilized old classroom into a multi-purpose community room to be used for Communities in Schools advisory offices, storage and family meetings.

People’s Choice Winner – Crayola – Crayola’s project was selected by attendees of the fundraiser for its creativity, usefulness/purpose to the organization, community impact and sustainability. The company partnered with Third Street Alliance for Women and Children and transformed an underutilized storage space into a relaxing and motivating environment where residents can work on developing themselves.

June Webre, regional president-Lehigh Valley Provident Bank served as this year’s honorary chair. Provident Bank & Provident Bank Foundation were the Premier Sponsor for the event and Air Products was the title sponsor.

Volunteer Center to receive a brochure listing agencies in need of volunteers at 610-807-0336 or e-mail: vc@volunteerlv.org. Visit our website www.volunteerlv.org for a larger listing of volunteer opportunities.