PHOTO PROVIDED The Clinton County Community Foundation Board of Directors and staff gathered for the 2026 annual meeting this week at the Annie Halenbake Ross Library in Lock Haven. Seated in front, from left, are board members Lynn Maggs and Michele Terry; bookkeeper Julie Anderson and Outreach Coordinator Bob Rolley. From left in back are Rev. Don Grant, board secretary; Mark Weaver, board president; board members William “Bill” Strunk; Rick Riccardo, board treasurer; Robert Lugg, Rev. Taylor Camerer, Dennis Trout, board vice president; Michael Frank, Ken Hall, Doug Miller and Johanna Berta.

LOCK HAVEN — The Clinton County Community Foundation board of directors has approved competitive grants totaling $302,708 after receiving 72 grant applications collectively seeking more than $950,000 in funds for 2026.

At its annual meeting on Wednesday, the board spent hours discussing and assessing individual grant applications submitted by dozens of nonprofits and municipalities.

From life-saving equipment to helping to grow good citizens; from supporting food banks to providing boots, shoes and socks to children and families in need; from helping victims of home fires to public park upgrades; from celebrating America’s 250th birthday to caring for animals; from beautifying Lock Haven and so much more, the Foundation’s competitive grants will impact a significant number of people.

Collectively, the applicants sought an estimated $950,000 in grant funds to address needs related to housing, homelessness, mental illness, emergency response, food insecurity, dental care, leadership training cultural and entertainment events and more.

“Awarding grants this year was very, very challenging. We received over 70 requests and the needs outlined in each application clearly reflected the significant needs in the county,” Foundation board President Mark Weaver explained.

“We wish we could fully fund all of the grants, but the amounts requested far exceeded the amount of funds we had available to provide. In fact, the amounts requested were triple the amount of funds we had available to provide.

“We had to make some difficult decisions,” Weaver added. “The amounts requested from repeat grant applicants significantly increased, making it difficult to fund them completely. We also received more applications seeking $25,000 or more. There are grants that are partially funded as we tried to spread the dollars as far as we could.”

Importantly, the awarded grants will leverage thousands of dollars in additional investment by recipients to complete a wide range of services and projects serving Clinton Countians.

Each competitive grant recipient will receive an agreement letter in the mail to acknowledge and sign before grants are dispersed. Each recipient also is required to submit an evaluative report by Dec. 1, 2026, to explain and verify how the grant funds were spent.

Forthcoming will be an announcement of more than $230,000 in committed or designated gifts to numerous organizations, thanks to the Foundation’s generous donors.

And in late spring, the Foundation will announce thousands of dollars in educational scholarships in concert with local secondary schools.

Meanwhile, here is the list of competitive grant recipients for 2026:

CRITICAL NEED

— A Woman’s Concern Pregnancy Resource Clinic Medical Supplies, $5,000

— American Red Cross Home Fires Campaign, $5,000

— Boxes of Hope Care Packages, $1,500

— Boxes of Hope Pink Warrior Day, $1,000

— Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, $10,000

— Chapman Township Vol. Fire Co. Rescue ATV, $5,000

— CCEP Leadership Clinton County Training, $7,500

— Clinton County Healthy Comm. Dental Clinic Outreach Supplies, $4,000

— Clinton County Housing Coalition Appliances, $6,741

— Clinton County SPCA Trap Neuter Return, $6,000

— Covenant United Methodist Church Backpack Program, $1,000

— Dunnstown Volunteer Fire Co. Radio Upgrade, $3,850

— Goodwill Hose Co. Ambulance Assn. Ventilator, $12,500

— Haneyville Vol. Fire Co. Boiler, $9,500

— Horses of Hope Training, $2,000

— Jersey Shore Care & Share Refrigeration Unit, $2,157

— Lock Haven Area Shoe Bank Shoes, Boots, Socks and More, $10,000

— Lock Haven Emergency Medical Services Stryker System, $18,000

— Nittany Valley Vol. Fire Co. Thermal Imaging Camera, $6,980

— Salvation Army of Lock Haven Food Pantry, $10,000

— Sleep in Heavenly Peace Beds for Kids, $8,400

— St. Paul’s Food Pantry, $4,000

— Sugar Valley Community Fire Co. Equipment, $13,575.92

— Sugar Valley Lions Food Pantry, $4,000

— Wayne Township Vol. Fire Co. Rescue Equipment, $4,350

BETTERMENT

— A. Halenbake Ross Library McNaughton Books, $1,893

— A. Halenbake Ross Library Traveling Library, $2,193

— Clinton County CleanScapes Trees, $3,480

— Clinton County Fair Association Infrastructure, $32,000

— Clinton County Police Camp Cadet, $10,000

— Clinton County Police Camp Cadet Lacy Day, $2,000

— Dogwood Circle Garden Club Beautification, $1,250

— Downtown Lock Haven Inc. Black Box Graphic, $1,400

— Foundation for Free Enterprise Education, $4,170

— Keystone Central School District Summer Recreation, $2,500

— Lock Haven Univ. Kent’s Fest, $7,000

— Renovo Area Public Library Handicap Access, $14,900

— Western Clinton County Recreation Authority Humidity Control, $1,966.20

— Woolrich Community Center Gardens, $1,000

CULTURAL

— Artpost Awareness, $985

— City of Lock Haven Summer Beach, $2,500

— City of Lock Haven Concert Series, $5,000

— Clinton County Arts Council LH Jams, $7,650

— Greater Renovo Heritage Park Concert Series, $3,000

— Greater Renovo Heritage Park Magic in the Air, $2,100

— Millbrook Playhouse Seniors-Veterans, $6,000

— Pennsylvania State Flaming Foliage Festival, $5,000

— Piper Aviation Museum Lighting Upgrade, $3,500

MUNICIPAL

— Avis Borough Kephart Field, $4,000

— Lamar Township Long Run Recreation Area Restroom, $13,000

— Renovo Borough Playground Equipment, $2,166

To learn how you can support a cause, service or program you care about, contact the Foundation at 570.220.1038; send an email to cccf@clintoncountyfoundation.org, or for more information, visit www.clintoncountyfoundation.org.