$92,500 in grants will be awarded to fifteen organizations across the county!
And the Community Grant Award winners are:
Winners in GBU Life’s (GBU) four Community Pillars – Wellness, Education, Charitable Giving, and Hometown Hero Support
| Prize Amount | Wellness | Education | Charitable Giving | Hometown Hero Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Place $10,000 |
Casey’s Clubhouse (Bethel Park, PA) | Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County (Grand Rapids, MI) | Women’s Help Center, Inc. (Johnstown, PA) | Heroes Supporting Heroes (Oakdale, PA) |
| 2nd Place $5,000 |
Community of Hope Free Health Clinic (Toledo, OH) | Elizabeth Seton Center, Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA) | The Open Door Pantry (Eagan, MN) | Meals on Wheels Erie – Veterans in Need (Erie, PA) |
| 3rd Place $2,500 |
St. Patrick Senior Center, Inc. (Detroit, MI) | Allegheny Health Network Chill Project (Pittsburgh, PA) | Irving Park Community Food Pantry (Chicago, IL) | Restore 22, Inc. (Moon Township, PA) |
| Congratulations, and thank you voters, for supporting your favorite finalists! |
| Special Awards | |
|---|---|
| Community Builders Award – $10,000 | Kidcelerate (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Young Philanthropists Award – $2,500 | Mittens for Detroit, Inc. (Detroit, MI) |
| GBU Employees’ Choice Award – $10,000 | GBU District 684 Jackie Alaimo Memorial Grant Fund (Pittsburgh, PA) |
We’d like to thank our corporate partners for supporting our 2025 Community Grant Awards program.
Impact Sponsor
Engagement Sponsor
Engagement Sponsor
Change-Maker Sponsors:
Heeter
Miller & Newberg Consulting Actuaries
North Shore Pools & Service
Optimity
The Little Fox – Toby’s Foundation, Monroeville, PA
2024 Community Grant Award Winner, Wellness Pillar
Your Impact: Community Grant Stories
Listen to Current Interest Podcasts with 2024 Grant Recipients
GBU Foundation: 60 Years of Scholarships and Counting!
GBU Foundation: 60 Years of Scholarships and Counting!
GBU members, districts and partners fund the GBU Foundation. Its vision and generosity help students take the next step towards achieving their dreams. In 2024, the Foundation provided $169,500 in scholarships and grants to 172 members attending two-year, four-year, and graduate programs. Meet our 2024 GBU Foundation scholars here.
Since 1963, GBU Foundation has awarded
Scholarships and educational grants
4,219
Total
$2,988,400
GBU Foundation was founded in 1963 to encourage and assist members in furthering their education through its scholarship program. In honor of its 60th anniversary, we are celebrating GBU Foundation Scholarship and Grant recipients’ achievements.
If you are a GBU Foundation Scholarship or Grant recipient and would like to update us on your career, please fill out our online form. We will publish your information in the “Where Are They Now” posts in The Reporter and social media throughout 2024. Complete the form.
Celebrating 60 years of GBU Foundation Scholars
Where Are They Now?
Celine van Breukelen
Anchorage, AK
Hydrologist, National Weather Service
DISTRICT 815 – DAYTON, OH
GBU Foundation Freshman Scholarship 2003–2006
Ohio State University, B.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering
About my GBU Foundation Scholarship:
“The scholarship allowed me a little more financial freedom to explore. Due to my ability to travel, I was able to visit Alaska, which I now call home.”
Since I graduated:
“In part due to my GBU Foundation scholarship, I was able to graduate undergrad without debt. This allowed me the freedom to explore. I had the opportunity to do something completely different by attending Graduate School at the University of Alaska studying civil engineering. This flexibility allowed me to have a career about which I am passionate. I get to help people in a place that I love.”
Where Are They Now?
Presley Dougherty
Mount Airy, MD
Graduate Student
DISTRICT 291 – SUMMERHILL-LILLY, PA
GBU Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship 2020-2022
GBU Foundation Graduate Scholarship 2023
The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., Mechanical Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University, Pursuing an M.S., Engineering Design
The Pennsylvania State University
About my GBU Foundation Scholarship:
“I was able to purchase books, a laptop and more easily afford tuition in school because of my scholarships. I was able to focus on being a student without added financial stress. I was able to maintain good grades and get into graduate school as well. My ultimate goal is to work in automotive design, and I am getting closer to that goal every day. I am so grateful for the people and opportunities that I have been granted that have brought me to where I am today.”
As an undergraduate:
“I was the controls, brakes and safety lead for the Penn State formula racing team. In that role, I worked on designing, manufacturing, testing the braking system and driver interface and ensuring we had the proper safety equipment. I had two internships with Ford Motor Company’s Vehicle Propulsion Systems Engineering. This past summer, I worked on powertrain simulations for their diesel vehicles and even made the trip to their headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.”
Where Are They Now?
Mario Gioiello
Bethel, AK
Pilot
GBU Foundation Freshman Scholarship 2019-2022
Kent State University, Aeronautics with Flight Tech Concentration
Where Are They Now?
Elena Gioiello
Cleveland, OH
Dental School Student
GBU Foundation Freshman Scholarship 2019-2022
GBU Foundation Graduate Scholarship 2023
Walsh University, Biology with Business Minor
Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine
Where Are They Now?
Jolena Gioiello
Sandusky, OH
Education Reporter,
Sandusky Register
GBU Foundation Grant 2019
GBU Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship 2020-2021
Ohio State University, Communications
Where Are They Now?
Jonathan Naser
Canonsburg, PA
Customer Service Supervisor, GBU Life, Pittsburgh, PA
District 3000 – HRFA Scholarship, 2012
GBU Foundation Grant, 2014
University of Pittsburgh, Neuroscience, B.S.
About my GBU Foundation Scholarship:
“My GBU Foundation Scholarship helped pay for my education and started my involvement with GBU. Thank you!”
GBU Foundation Scholars
GBU Foundation Scholars
GBU Foundation Giving Form
GBU Foundation Day of Giving
Community Grants Awards
Eligibility Guidelines
The Organization Must:
- Be a 501(c)3 organization
- Have an EIN number
- Positively impact the community or bring members of a community together for a cause outside of the community
The Organization Cannot:
- Be political in nature
- Controversial or serve a negative purpose
- Fund outreach or teaching of any specific religion or point of view
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Breakthrough T1D – Western and Central PA Chapter
Pittsburgh, PA
Project Pillar: Wellness
Mission
Breakthrough T1D’s mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and better treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. Always, we are guided by a single purpose: As we drive toward curing type 1 diabetes, we help make everyday life better for the people who face it.
Vision
A world without type 1 diabetes
What services do you provide to the community?
Breakthrough T1D addresses needs through local community engagement and outreach services, ensuring people with T1D of all ages can lead healthier lives. These services are especially critical in underserved areas, promoting health equity and fostering supportive environments for the T1D community. By providing continuous education and connection opportunities, we fill the gap left by healthcare providers who may lack the time for ongoing T1D management education. By addressing these areas through community outreach, our project offers a lifeline to those who need it most.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Our programming improves disease management and reduces the financial burden of T1D through access to resources. Programs are free to anyone with T1D, their caregivers and families. Activities include community educational summits, covering topics like managing T1D, school rights, healthcare cost management, nutrition, and mental health. We also provide connections to local trained outreach ambassadors (English and Spanish speaking) to support newly diagnosed families. Throughout the year, we provide community connection opportunities, including picnics, family fun days, and outings across the chapter footprint. Through a supportive community environment, individuals with T1D are empowered to manage their condition more effectively.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
Casey’s Clubhouse fosters inclusion and connection through baseball and beyond, providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities to thrive. By expanding our impact locally and globally, we strengthen communities and support like-minded charities to create lasting, transformative experiences.
Vision
At Casey’s Clubhouse, our vision is to create a world where individuals with disabilities experience the joy of connection, growth, and belonging through the transformative power of sports and community. We strive to be a global leader in fostering inclusive environments, expanding our impact, and building supportive networks that empower everyone to reach their fullest potential.
What services do you provide to the community?
Casey’s Clubhouse provides inclusive baseball programs for individuals with disabilities, featuring a custom-designed, accessible field that removes barriers to participation. We offer opportunities for players with disabilities to develop life skills, build friendships, and enjoy meaningful recreation. Our programs include peer mentoring, group outings, and life skills training through our concession stand jobs. We also collaborate with local organizations to expand adaptive programs like participation in 5Ks and adaptive stroller relay teams in marathons. Casey’s Clubhouse also provides volunteers with opportunities to mentor players, develop leadership skills, and make a meaningful impact through community engagement and support.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The purpose of this grant proposal is to secure funding for a storage shed to meet the growing needs of Casey’s Clubhouse across all programs. With additional space, we can efficiently store equipment, uniforms, and supplies for our inclusive baseball leagues, adaptive programs, and the Next Inning initiative, ensuring smooth operations. As part of our mission to provide a Major League experience for individuals with disabilities, this storage solution will enable us to better organize and get rid of temporary shed rental costs. The township has generously granted us land, so now we just need the shed!
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
Community of Hope Free Health Clinic exists to express the love of Christ by providing free quality health care to the uninsured and underserved in our north Toledo neighborhood and surrounding community.
What services do you provide to the community?
The clinic provides free health care, medications, food, community referrals such as health insurance (a community navigator), hygiene items, and winter coats. We provide holistic care, offering mental health services and spiritual health resources. The clinic acts as an essential team member of the multi-faceted needs of poverty. Having free healthcare eliminates a barrier, possibly one of the biggest barriers to creating sustainability (e.g. someone getting a free physical so that they can start their job).
What is the purpose of your grant request?
This grant will provide needed funding for STI testing and treatment as well as operating expenses that keep our clinic open and able to offer testing and treatment. We are a FREE clinic, meaning we are not able to receive any payment from patients or insurance. We rely on grants and generous donations from individuals and organizations to make this clinic possible. Last year we ran 181 STI tests, costing almost $5,000 in lab expenses alone. We anticipate an even higher need this year. A grant of $10,000 would help cover this year’s STI lab expenses and operational costs.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Forget-Me-Not Baskets provides grief support, comfort and remembrance items to families who have experienced a loss during pregnancy, childbirth or shortly after birth.
Vision
Our vision is to make our baskets available to anyone in a community we partner with, who has experienced a loss during pregnancy or childbirth. We want families to feel supported and acknowledged as they navigate their grief journey.
What services do you provide to the community?
We provide items for moms, dads, siblings and grandparents. Forget-Me-Not Baskets focuses on three components: grief support, comfort and remembrance items. Grief support items would include books and journals. Comfort and remembrance items are extremely important because many times when a family leaves the doctor’s office or hospital, they will never receive anything else in memory of their child. Our baskets are changing that. Forget-Me-Not Baskets provides ongoing support beyond the basket. We have a private online support group, an in-person support group. We also host multiple remembrance events each year to honor parents and the loved ones they lost.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Pregnancy loss happens every day in our community. We are still missing families in hospitals that we are currently in because we do not have our baskets in the emergency rooms and surgery centers. We have limited funds for each location, so we are asking for your help to reach more families within the locations that we already serve. We want to provide support to any family member that steps through the door of one of our partner locations. With your help, we can distribute more items to different departments within the locations we already serve.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Provide a place of safety where all persons affected by a mental health concern feel accepted and can build hope through peer based programming, and to deliver education, suicide prevention, and support to family members and the community.
Vision
Improving the lives of persons affected by Mental Illness.
What services do you provide to the community?
We are the only certified Peer Run Organization in the two-county area. We offer a day drop in center for anyone that has a mental health illness, that offers activities, education, and support groups focused on mental health and also general health and wellness. We offer education and support groups to family members and community members that have been affected by mental health or suicide. We also offer Crisis Intervention Team Training to local first responders to help them work more efficiently with those in mental health crisis. We work to break down stigma in our community.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We would like to expand our Family Support Groups in Wayne and Holmes counties. We currently have one that happens in Wooster and we started one in 2024 that meets in Millersburg. We would like to expand our reach into the community of Orrville which has a large Latinx population and also into eastern Holmes county area to reach the Amish population. Both of these populations have a high need for mental health, but also some barriers in receiving these services, including stigma, language barrier, and transportation. We would like to be able to get closer to them.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
The sharing, caring, and loving community of St. Patrick’s Health and Wellness Center empowers the elderly to live independently with happiness through programs of education, health, socialization, and gives lasting support and dignity to the quality of life.
Vision
To serve as a loving, caring, and sharing beacon of happiness for the senior citizens of the greater Metropolitan area of Detroit.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our agency provides: non-emergency transportation to medical appointments and basic needs services; medical advocacy for older adults; health screening; health education; chronic disease management services; nutrition counseling and education by registered dietitians; congregate meals; community navigator services; resource benefit enrollment assistance; Medicare Medicaid Assistance Counseling; housing assistance; digital literacy and technology training; volunteer opportunities; workforce development training; arts and crafts; friendly reassurance program; and recreation and socialization activities.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The purpose of this grant request is to continue the expansion of our older adult friendly reassurance program. This program continues to be expanded from a service that provides phone calls for home-bound elderly adults at-risk for social isolation to a safety net support system that also incorporates services to assist them in remaining in their homes. The participants will receive regular phone support from the program coordinator or trained peers, transportation to our health and wellness center, delivered home cooked meals, access to a registered dietitian, assistance with resource benefit program enrollment, and other basic needs and support services.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Together, we will work to make our community the most disability friendly in the nation by increasing independence for people with disabilities, discovering true passions, and changing the community’s perception of disability.
What services do you provide to the community?
The Ability Center provides a range of services that promote independence for individuals with disabilities, including advocacy, assistance dogs, education, and outreach programs. We offer programs focused on adaptive technologies, accessibility, employment support, and life skills training. Additionally, we offer community engagement initiatives that aim to change societal perceptions of disability, including public awareness campaigns and partnerships with local organizations. Our services empower individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling, independent lives, while also providing resources for families and caregivers.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The purpose of this grant request is to support The Ability Center’s ongoing efforts to create a more disability-friendly community through programs and services that enhance the independence and quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
Working as an integrated system within Highmark Health, employees at all of AHN’s care sites, including hospitals, Health + Wellness Pavilions, primary and specialty care offices and more, we are committed to improving health and promoting wellness in our communities, one person at a time, by creating a remarkable health experience, freeing people to be their best.
Vision
We strive for an inclusive culture, regarding people as professionals, and respecting individual differences while focusing on the collective whole. Our vision is a world where everyone embraces health.
What services do you provide to the community?
Based on a thorough needs assessment & work already completed by the Community Outreach Specialist, students, faculty, and parents/caregivers will be taught skills to help them increase mindful awareness, leading to better decision making and behaviors through coordinated engagement of all key stakeholders.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
AHN Chill Project™ sparks change by providing innovative behavioral health solutions for youth, educators, and caregivers. Our Clairton High School program serves a community grappling with violence, poverty, and food insecurity. To improve student outcomes, we propose a teacher professional development series on trauma-informed practices. This series, delivered in-person and online, will be piloted at Clairton and then expanded to all 53 AHN Chill Project schools. Trauma-informed approaches boost academic success, student engagement, and attendance while reducing behavioral issues. This grant will fund the development and implementation of this crucial training, benefiting both educators and students.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, Formerly Children’s Assessment Center
Grand Rapids, MI
Project Pillar: Education
Mission
At the Children’s Advocacy Center of Kent County, our mission is creating safe, trauma-informed support while seeking justice for child victims of sexual assault. Since we have opened our doors in 1993, our mission has changed only to enhance and reflect our growing commitment to not only intervening when a child has been abused, but also preventing child sexual abuse by educating students and the community.
Vision
Building trust. Inspiring Hope. Empowering community.
What services do you provide to the community?
To support children and families impacted by sexual abuse, we combine efforts of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to build trust and provide life changing services that promote hope and healing. In Kent County, our MDT consists of partnerships with 10 law enforcement agencies, Children’s Protective Services, the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office, and the YWCA. It also comprises our internal team of Forensic Interviewers, Advocates, and Therapists. The Center also provides prevention services through our school-based program, Kids Have Rights™ that empowers both children and adults to recognize, report, and prevent child sexual abuse within our community.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The Kids Have Rights program strives to halt the cycle of child sexual abuse. We know how important it is to engage our children in conversations regarding matters of safety. It’s easy to talk about seatbelts, helmets, and stranger danger, but when it comes to teaching children about body-safety and sexual abuse, it’s tempting to stay quiet. Kids Have Right provides children and the adults caring for them with information to help increase understanding and awareness of child sexual abuse and foster important conversations surrounding body-safety.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
The Education Partnership (TEP) provides free school supplies to students and their teachers in under-resourced schools in Southwestern PA.
Vision
A high-quality education unlocks a student’s full potential. We equip students with the tools and support they need to thrive. Our vision is a Southwestern PA where every student and teacher has what they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
What services do you provide to the community?
TEP understands that a well-rounded education and access to the right tools will foster 21st-century skills, improving students’ creativity, self-esteem, and academic achievement, ultimately creating a framework for student success in and out of the classroom. Since 2009, TEP has been the sole nonprofit in the region, championing equitable access to free school supplies to bridge the opportunity gap for students in Southwestern PA. In the last 16 years, TEP has deployed over $70 million of supplies and resources to economically disadvantaged students and their teachers in under-resourced schools across eight Southwestern PA counties.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
TEP’s Teacher Resource Center (TRC) empowers Southwestern PA educators by providing them year-round access to essential classroom supplies—teachers ‘shop’ at the TRC twice annually, receiving up to $1,000 worth of resources. From basic school supplies to technology, classroom decorations, furniture, books, clothing, and health and hygiene products, the TRC fosters engaging learning environments and supports student academic success. Ultimately, it allows educators to focus on providing a safe, healthy, and positive school that ensures every student can reach their full potential.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
In the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Elizabeth Seton Center’s Mission is to be a magnet center of intergenerational lifelong learning where people of all ages can gather to learn, to change, and to grow in body, mind, and spirit.
Vision
At Elizabeth Seton Center, our Vision is to welcome people of all ages, offering programs that expand cognitive and social growth and personal development. We cherish the potential of all generations and seek to offer programs that foster community through shared experiences.
What services do you provide to the community?
Elizabeth Seton Center is a nonprofit organization that provides Child Care services to approximately 300 children 6 weeks old to 12 years old as well as Senior Services to more than 300 seniors (ages 60+) in Allegheny County. Seton Center also offers an Adult Day Services program and an Ombudsman program in Greensburg, Westmoreland County. The hallmark of Seton Center is its Intergenerational program, which brings all ages together for enriching and mutually beneficial activities that foster lifelong learning. Additionally, Seton Center offers music lessons to community members at the Brookline location and serves as a polling location during elections.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We currently have three vans that we use to transport children between their schools and our before and after school Child Care program. We also use these vans to transport seniors to cultural and enrichment activities planned by our Senior Center. One of these three vans is very old, and we recently had to invest in short-term maintenance so that it would pass inspection. We anticipate that it will not be running beyond this year, so we are in need of a new vehicle that we can use for transport. This vehicle will allow us to hire another driver.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Transforming Sandyvale into a legacy community park that embraces our past and honors our veterans, while forging our future by creating a holistic sustainable community space characterized by opportunities for environmental stewardship to benefit both the natural and human communities.
Vision
Sandyvale’s vision is to renovate a historic building within this low income neighborhood to provide a community space for educational programming in health and wellness and food preparation to improve the quality of life for its residents.
What services do you provide to the community?
Through Sandyvale’s hydroponic gardening system in our greenhouse and our conventional community gardens, Sandyvale donates each year thousands of heads of lettuce and vegetables to service organizations and food pantries that feed the needy throughout our region. Sandyvale’s paved walking and biking trails, community gardens, healing garden, veterans event lawn and working greenhouse provides and promotes healthy living through activities and programming such as yoga, walking/biking and exercise equipment installed along the trail. A dog park is also heavily used and offers exercise for both pets and their owners.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The purpose of this grant request of $10,000.00 is for the installation of plumbing. Restrooms and a presentation kitchen are needed for classes on food preparation and preservation to improve food accessibility to these disadvantaged citizens. The reclamation of this building will also enable Sandyvale to host community events such as farmers markets, cultural events and year-round programming in food production and preparation which is now limited to summer months in a greenhouse classroom that has no heat in the winter. These activities provide the low income surrounding communities with important programming both in nutrition, gardening and the arts.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
The mission of CASA for Kids, Inc. is to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the Washington County juvenile court system. By training community volunteers to serve as factfinders and speak for the children in court, children’s needs are met to ensure safety, permanency, and the opportunity to thrive in their lives.
Vision
To ensure that every child who is placed in CYS custody due to abuse and or neglect has a trained and qualified CASA volunteer assigned to advocate on their behalf.
What services do you provide to the community?
CASA for Kids recruits, screens, trains and supports community volunteers who serve as best interest advocates for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Volunteers are carefully screened and complete 40 hours of pre-service training prior to being assigned to advocate on behalf of a child. The court swears these volunteers in and assigns CASA volunteers to particularly complicated cases where focused attention on a child is needed. CASA volunteers are required to make a 2 year commitment (24 months) however the average amount of time a volunteer stays with our program is 58 months.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We are seeking funding to recruit, screen and train 8 new community members to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to be assigned to the 15 children currently on our waiting list from the Washington County Juvenile Dependency Court. CASA volunteers will receive specialized training using National CASA curriculum and will be assigned to advocate for a child or sibling group upon completion of the training.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Irving Park Community Food Pantry
Chicago, IL
Project Pillar: Charitable Giving
Mission
The Irving Park Community Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping alleviate food insecurity on the Northwest side of Chicago. The purpose of the IPCFP is to provide hunger relief services, hunger education and awareness and advocacy to influence anti-hunger policy. Our goal is to provide caring, consistent service through an equitable distribution of Pantry resources to all clients. On a weekly basis, our volunteer-run organization provides clients in need with a 3-5 day supply of food from all food groups.
What services do you provide to the community?
IPCFP is open for food distribution every Wednesday morning and one Tuesday evening each month. The Pantry provides nutritionally balanced food to our clients who are at risk of hunger. Each client is given at minimum, a 4–6-day supply of nutritionally complete food on a monthly basis, or at minimum 10% of total food needs, to supplement other food resources. The pantry has adopted a client choice model which enables clients to shop for and select items they prefer. Pet food and toiletries are also available. In addition, a Client Resources Coordinator connects clients to essential social services.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Fresh Foods for Better Health is part of a community partnership that guarantees the weekly provision of fresh produce, fresh protein, fruit juice, whole-grain cereal and other healthy food to our clients. Our goal is to provide every household with 4-6 servings of a variety of fresh food and produce. As IPCFP use continues to grow, funds from the GBU Community Grant Award will be used to increase the amount of fresh food and produce purchased through our wholesale partners.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
Isaiah117House has a threefold mission: reduce trauma for children awaiting placement, lighten the load for child welfare workers, and ease the transition for foster families.
Vision
The vision of Isaiah 117 House is to see a world where children entering foster care experience love, compassion, and support rather than fear and trauma.
What services do you provide to the community?
Isaiah 117 House provides a safe, welcoming home where children entering foster care can wait in comfort while caseworkers secure foster placements. The house is fully equipped with clothes, toys, toiletries, and food to meet children’s immediate needs. Volunteers offer emotional support, ensuring children feel cared for during this stressful time. The organization helps shoulder the childcare responsibilities, allowing caseworkers to focus on finding the best placement for each child. Additionally, Isaiah 117 House supports foster families by ensuring children arrive well-prepared, reducing the strain on foster parents during the initial transition period.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
The purpose of this grant request is to support the ongoing operation and maintenance of Isaiah117House, ensuring we continue to provide a safe, comforting space for children entering foster care. Funding will help us shower these children with love and essential items, including clothing, toiletries, and comfort items. Additionally, the grant will allow us to assist foster families by providing necessary items, such as beds, cribs, and car seats, to help them say “yes” to placements. We also plan to expand and improve our outdoor play area, creating a fun, inviting space for children to enjoy during the summer months.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
A fresh approach to ending local hunger through access to healthy food.
What services do you provide to the community?
The Open Door provides fresh, healthy food to over 16,000 individuals each month through innovative, client-centered programs. Our Mobile Pantry delivers food directly to 28 sites, including senior living facilities, schools, and mobile home communities. Our fixed-site pantry offers client-choice shopping appointments, and our Garden to Table program empowers families to grow their own produce at several community garden sites. Additionally, we provide emergency food bags for unhoused individuals and support local organizations with food donations. By meeting people where they are, we ensure dignified, equitable access to nutritious food for those who need it most.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
This grant will support The Open Door’s overall operations, ensuring the continuation and expansion of our critical hunger relief programs. Funding will help us provide fresh, healthy food to over 16,000 individuals monthly through programs like our Mobile Pantry, fixed-site pantry, and Garden to Table initiative. Additionally, it will enable us to reach underserved communities, including senior living facilities and mobile home parks, while maintaining essential services like emergency food bags for unhoused individuals. By supporting general operations, this grant ensures we can continue meeting the growing need for food assistance in Dakota County.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania
Erie, PA
Project Pillar: Charitable Giving
Mission
The mission of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is to provide food to those in need within eleven counties of northwest Pennsylvania while creating awareness and educating the community on the realities of hunger.
Vision
A hunger-free community.
What services do you provide to the community?
We distribute millions of pounds of food each year. Working with all levels of the food industry, we receive excess or unsalable but nutritious products, which we distribute ourselves and to partner organizations that directly serve people facing food insecurity. In fiscal year 2023-2024, we distributed roughly 12.5 million pounds (equal to 10.4 million meals) to 384 partner organizations. Our programming includes BackPack, School Pantry, and summertime child feeding programs, Produce Express and Military Share mobile food distributions, a Senior Box Program, and food rescue. We provide SNAP application assistance and run a Healthy Pantry Initiative through select food pantries.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
This grant will support the purchase of food for our Child Feeding programs, for children who are facing food insecurity. Our BackPack and School Pantry programs provide child-friendly foods through participating schools to children experiencing food insecurity to take home on Fridays or prior to extended holiday breaks. Our Summer Feeding component launched in 2023 and, in summer 2024, expanded to include 13 more schools for a total of 28 participating schools. Last fiscal year, we provided 96,969 backpacks of food to children. We currently serve more than 4,500 children each week through our Child Feeding programs.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
Transforming lives by providing empowerment, supportive services, education, hope, and the tools to build a better life.
Vision
Building foundations for tomorrow, where everyone has a safe place to call home.
What services do you provide to the community?
Our services include: Emergency shelter, information and referral, Community Health Workers, Housing & Resource Navigation (HUD certified housing counselor), eviction prevention services for emergency rental assistance, shelter diversion services to assist with security deposits, street outreach, financial literacy and prepared renter’s education, The Way Home transitional housing, and food assistance through our food bank.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
We are requesting funds to help furnish our new 8-bedroom transitional housing duplex. This is part of The Way Home program, providing housing for up to 18 months for individuals transitioning from homelessness. The program goes beyond providing housing. It also provides an array of supportive services such as case management, education, life skills, budgeting, and more. This grant will enable us to furnish and equip 8 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, 2 dining areas, and 2 kitchens.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Heroes Supporting Heroes
Oakdale, PA
Project Pillar: Hometown Hero Support
Mission
The mission of Heroes Supporting Heroes is to meet the basic life needs of others through: Seeking to bear one another’s burdens. The foundation of HSH began with serving those in military uniform (past, present & families.) This remains a cornerstone of our organization, even as we have expanded into the civilian population. Leveraging the gifts of our Servant Heroes. As our ranks grow with more gifts, we will continue to seek ways to maximize them. Everything from technical trades to hard-working individuals wanting to help others will shape our service offering. Serving for the greater good. We seek to maximize the impact to our local communities by sponsoring the West Allegheny Workcamp and other projects to improve the lives of our neighbors.
Vision
To support stable and safe housing for military members and their families, senior citizens and others in need in order to honor God!
What services do you provide to the community?
We help veterans, elderly, and people in need with keeping them in their own home.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
This grant will help us cut grass for the entire summer, replace water heaters, and install an HVAC system for veterans. We often turn down veterans who need these services because we cannot get the funding we need.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
Meals on Wheels Erie enables people to age at home with dignity by providing a compassionate check-in, nutritious meals, and grocery delivery.
Vision
We envision an Erie County PA where no one goes to bed hungry for food or human connection.
What services do you provide to the community?
Meal & Grocery Delivery, Social Connection Calls & Visits
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Veterans in Need Meal Program: To enable us to increase deliveries to homebound, disabled, and elderly veterans.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Winners
Mission
Restore 22 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a relaxing, informal environment for military veterans to connect with each other and with resources that can enhance their quality of life.
Vision
We host programs and events for veterans to help reduce the 22 veteran suicides that happen every day. Our plan is to create Restore 22 Coffee Shop, a brick-and-mortar location for veterans to meet and take advantage of the services we provide and where civilians are welcomed to hear their stories.
What services do you provide to the community?
We currently host programs to bring veterans together – Coffee & Camaraderie, Yoga Stand Down, Game Night and Bicycle Rides. Our coffee shop will be the place where veterans can come together on a daily basis and take advantage of the resources we offer.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
Our project is to create a nonprofit coffee shop focused on veterans that’s also open to the public who want to provide support. Here, veterans will build friendships with each other and with civilians who want to support them and hear their stories. As we get to know the veterans and earn their trust, we will identify areas where they may need assistance and provide resources and/or referrals to other organizations focused on their particular needs.
GBU Foundation Community Grant Award Finalists
Mission
The mission of the USO is to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.
What services do you provide to the community?
Through our USO Center at the Pittsburgh Airport, we provide a calm and peaceful place to rest during stressful travel, both for personal travel and when on official orders. We bring programming to units in the area, like the 171st Refueling Wing, to boost morale and provide impactful events so that service members and their families know they can count on the USO both at home and while deployed.
What is the purpose of your grant request?
This grant request seeks funding to support the USO center at the Pittsburgh Airport and the implementation of the USO’s Core Programs that benefit military units across the greater Pittsburgh area. These funds will help provide essential support to traveling service members and their families (both for personal and official DOD travel) as well as Core Programs to enhance their well-being and morale. This support ensures that the USO can continue its mission of serving those who serve by offering vital support programs to strengthen the connection between service members and the community.
Community Builders Award
Mission
Nutritious food, quality education, and healthy relationships help children to be successful in life. Kidcelerate strives to provide quality programs focusing on these building blocks.
How will we use our GBU Foundation Community Grant?
The funds will support the Kids Meal Network (KMN) summer food service program, covering expenses such as staff, training, food safety supplies, meals, and marketing materials. In 2024, KMN provided 18,500 free meals at 20 sites in Greater Pittsburgh, serving children in food-insecure communities, with plans to offer the same in 2025. The program provides stipends for trained site supervisors, who are crucial to daily operations. While food costs are mostly reimbursed, about 20% are funded through grants, and additional supplies like thermometers and gloves are provided. Marketing materials and on-site activities further encourage participation, ensuring children receive the nutrition they need during the summer.
Young Philanthropists Award
Mission
Our purpose is collecting, purchasing, and distributing new mittens and gloves for children, teens, and adults in need in Detroit, Michigan, and other nearby underserved cities.
More About Us
Mittens for Detroit, founded in 2010, is a nonprofit based in downtown Detroit that collects, sorts, and distributes new mittens and gloves to those in need. Thousands of people donate pairs each year, which are packed by volunteers and distributed through a network of nearly 100 agencies, nonprofits, schools, shelters, and medical facilities. The organization has provided over a quarter of a million pairs to individuals in need, thanks to the generosity of donors and volunteers.