Our Community Garden has received a grant to support and grow its impact!
The Upper Perkiomen YMCA is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $5000 grant from the PPL Foundation. The funds will support our Community Benefits Garden, a farming project which helps provide free produce to low- and no-income residents in our area.
Founded in 2016, the Community Benefits Garden is planned and farmed by YMCA volunteers. The garden, which produced a 90 lb. crop in its first year, grew to more than 1600 lbs. in 2021. These crops were donated to a community food pantry organized by The Open Link, a local social services organization, and served close to 1000 families.
PPL Foundation’s grant will fund new raised farming beds, which will allow greater yields, enabling the Garden to help even more area residents.
PPL Foundation donates millions of dollars each year, partnering with nonprofit organizations focused on education; diversity, equity & inclusion; and sustainable communities. The PPL Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process.
“The Community Benefits Garden is a perfect manifestation of the YMCA’s mission to connect people to healthier lives. It provides healthy, locally grown food to families and individuals in need. And it benefits those who farm the land by offering them an activity that is a great stress reliever. What we love most about the garden, however, is how it empowers us to build a more sustainable community. We are grateful – and honored – by PPL’s support for this initiative and the way it will positively impact our efforts”, says Michael Tannous, Executive Director of the Upper Perkiomen YMCA.
About the PPL Foundation
Through strategic partnerships, the PPL Foundation supports organizations working to create vibrant, sustainable communities; promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; and empower each citizen to fulfill her or his potential. The PPL Foundation contributes more to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations in eastern and central Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit pplcares.com.
Check out the impact the YMCA has on the Greater Philadelphia area: