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STATE COLLEGE — Centre Foundation recently announced that Centre County high school students awarded $14,621 in grants to eight local organizations supporting youth well-being, education, leadership development, emergency preparedness, environmental learning, grief support and basic needs.

Centre PACT (Philanthropic Actions Created by Teens) is Centre Foundation’s hands-on philanthropy program for high school students in Centre County. Throughout the school year, student members identify pressing issues impacting their peers, solicit and evaluate nonprofit proposals, and ultimately award grants to programs that will make a measurable difference for youth in the community.

Since its launch in 2016, Centre PACT has raised and distributed more than $79,500 to local nonprofits through support from the Centre PACT Fund — a permanent endowment held at Centre Foundation — along with contributions from community members and local businesses. Modeled after Centre Foundation’s Giving Circle, the program teaches collaborative philanthropy by empowering students to pool resources, evaluate community impact and direct funding toward causes they believe in.

“Centre PACT has helped me see the bigger picture of our community,” said Lila Franklin, a senior at State College Area High School and two-year Centre PACT participant. “A lot of students don’t always realize what others around them may be going through. Through this program, I’ve been able to see the impact local nonprofits make every day and be part of helping support that work. It’s given me a deeper appreciation for philanthropy, service and the importance of giving back to others.”

This year’s Centre PACT grant recipients included the following organizations:

2026 Centre PACT Grant

Recipients

— Sleep in Heavenly Peace received a grant for $3,000 to support No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town! PA-Lock Haven.

Funding will help the PA-Lock Haven chapter build and deliver beds to children ages 3-17 who do not have a bed of their own in Lycoming, Centre, Clinton and Potter counties. By addressing this basic need, the program helps ensure that children have a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

“We are so grateful for Centre PACT’s support of the PA-Lock Haven chapter,” said Laura Orndorf, chapter president of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “This grant will help us continue our mission to ensure that no child sleeps on the floor in our community. Every bed we build and deliver makes a meaningful difference for a child’s comfort, dignity and sense of security.”

— Penns Valley Education Association received a grant for $2,000 to support its Elementary Environmental Camp.

In partnership with the Penns Valley Conservation Association, this environmental education initiative will provide elementary students with hands-on, place-based learning experiences during a multi-day summer camp.

“For many students, summer camp is one of the few chances they have to explore, create and learn in a way that feels exciting and hands-on,” said Danielle Yoder, co-chair of Penns Valley Education Association. “This support helps us offer a program that encourages discovery, teamwork and a deeper appreciation for the natural world.”

— Snow Shoe Emergency Medical Service received a grant for $2,000 to support the First Responders Club.

This initiative promotes public health and safety by educating youth in emergency preparedness, basic first aid and prehospital emergency medical concepts while fostering leadership, teamwork and community service.

— Tides, Inc. received a grant for $2,980 to support Supplies and Resources for Child Grief Therapy.

As Tides launches a new grief therapy program for children in Centre County who have lost a loved one, this funding will provide therapeutic tools and play-based resources for licensed counselors working with children through the grieving process.

“Grief can leave children feeling isolated and unsure of how to express what they’re carrying,” said Holly Oxendale, executive director of Tides, Inc. “These resources help create a space where they can feel safe, seen and supported as they begin to process a loss that has changed their lives.

— Park Forest Preschool received a grant for $1,641 to support Preschool Pantry Stopgap.

This funding will help offset increased food costs during a staffing transition in the preschool’s kitchen, ensuring that children continue to receive nutritious meals while new staff strengthen systems for managing food resources and budgeting.

“This grant will help us bridge an unexpected gap in our food budget while our new staff learn the kitchen systems,” said Rocky Landers, board member of Park Forest Preschool. “It allows us to keep providing children with healthy meals in a safe, nurturing environment.”

— Centre County Youth Service Bureau received a grant for $1,500 to support Every Experience is a Learning Opportunity.

Through this program, youth from families with limited resources can participate in enrichment experiences such as trips to the zoo or ice skating, building confidence, skills and social connections outside the classroom.

“Experiences outside the classroom can be just as important as what happens inside it,” said Theresa Kieffer, vice president of programs at Centre County Youth Service Bureau. “This support helps create opportunities for young people to build confidence, try something new and connect with others in ways that broaden their horizons and strengthen a sense of belonging.

— Under Angel Wings Family Center received a grant for $1,000 to support Rising Royalty: Youth Empowerment & Leadership Project.

Through the Princes to Kings boys’ group and Glow & Grow Girls empowerment group, this project supports teen boys and girls in Centre County by building confidence, leadership, healthy coping skills and meaningful peer connections in a safe and inclusive environment.

“When young people feel seen, encouraged and supported, they start to believe in their own potential,” said Angelique Abdul-Quddus, executive director.

— Centre Wildlife Care received a grant for $500 to support Wild About Animals Educational Outreach.

Through educational programs featuring live wild animals, this outreach initiative will help young people learn about wildlife rehabilitation, natural history and what to do when they encounter an injured wild animal.

“Wildlife encounters have a way of turning curiosity into care,” said Robyn Graboski, Director and Founder of Centre Wildlife Care. “When young people meet these animals up close, they begin to understand how fragile and interconnected our natural world really is–and that understanding can last a lifetime.”

Beyond Funding

Centre PACT said these grants represent more than just funding; they reflect thoughtful choices made by teens committed to making Centre County a more inclusive, healthy and hopeful place for young people.

Nathaniel Rasmussen, community impact director at Centre Foundation, emphasized the deeper value of Centre PACT beyond the grants themselves.

“Centre PACT gives students the opportunity to see firsthand how philanthropy works and how thoughtful giving can directly impact their community,” Rasmussen said. “They aren’t just learning about community needs, they are helping address them.”

Beyond helping students build strong college and scholarship applications, students value Centre PACT for its manageable time commitment, meeting just once a month, making it ideal for busy students seeking meaningful opportunities to earn service hours and get involved.

About This Year’s

Centre PACT Class

The 2025-2026 Centre PACT class includes a dedicated group of high school students from across Centre County who spent the school year learning about community needs, evaluating grant proposals and awarding funding to local nonprofits.

Their hard work, insight and passion for giving back are a testament to the power of youth philanthropy, the organization said.

This year’s Centre PACT student participants were Addison Behe, Abigail Behe, Lillian Belkin, Amelia Borger, Timothy Chen, Lia Fox, Lila Franklin, Ava Haque, Lauren Krentzman, Olivia Li, Kendall Lingenfelter, Tyler Lippincott, Joanna Liu, Haydn Matthew, Zoe Michaleris, Lisel Perles-LeClear, Daniel Sahakian, Ryan Stapleton, Caitlyn Tan, Will Tolton, Abby Vance, Justina Wang, Allison Warner, Lea Wassom, Maame Yeboah and Raymond Zhang.

This year’s program was guided by Centre Foundation staff advisors, Grants and Scholarship Coordinator Krista Williams and Rasmussen.

The nonprofit said it is grateful to its local business contributors for supporting this opportunity and investing in the next generation of community leaders: Associated Realty, Bellefonte Dental, Highland Holding Group, Paradigm Properties Group, Inc., State College Orthodontics

Get Involved

Centre County high school students are encouraged to apply to join the Centre PACT program each fall. The program offers a hands-on, student-led exploration of philanthropy and community service, an experience that not only helps nonprofits but also prepares the next generation of community leaders.

The student membership application opens every fall. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations can apply for Centre PACT grants in December 2027. To learn more, contact Grants and Scholarship Coordinator Krista Williams at krista@centrefoundation.org or 814-237-6229.