Giant, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful award 32 community improvement grants
Giant in partnership with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced the 32 recipients of its 2024 Healing the Planet grant program. A total of $108,243 in funding was awarded in support of tree planting projects across Pennsylvania.
“When it comes to healing our planet, small change can make a big difference, including ensuring we have enough thriving trees throughout our communities,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations and charitable giving, at Giant.
Hopcraft added, “Through the work of this year’s 32 Healing the Planet grant recipients, more than 3,000 new trees will be planted in the coming months to help absorb carbon pollution and improve the quality of the air we breathe.”
[Read more: Giant partners with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to offer Healing the Planet grant program]
The following Pennsylvania organizations are the recipients of a 2024 Healing the Planet grants:
- Antis Township
- Board of Supervisors of Derry Township, Lewistown
- Borough of East Stroudsburg
- Borough of Wyomissing
- Capital Area Greenbelt Association, Harrisburg
- Chesapeake Bay Foundation, City of Lancaster
- City of Allentown
- City of DuBois
- City of Reading Public Works
- Colonial Canopy Trees, Plymouth Meeting
- Concord Township, Glen Mills
- East Buffalo Township, Lewisburg
- Excel Events, Levittown
- Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia
- French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Glenmore
- Izaak Walton League of America York, Dallastown
- Juniata College, Huntingdon
- Manada Conservancy, Hummelstown
- Michaux Forest Association, Gardners
- Mountain Top Area Swimming Pool Association, Snow Shoe
- Newtown Square in Bloom, Newtown Square
- Open Land Conservancy, Malvern and Berwyn
- Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Pittston
- Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation, Reading, Mifflinburg and Quakertown
- Pennsylvania State University, Schuylkill Haven
- Red Lion Borough, Red Lion
- Snipes Farm and Education Center, Morrisville
- St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lititz
- Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Jenkintown
- Town of Bloomsburg
- Wildlands Conservancy, Hellertown
- Wild Ones Pennsylvania Ridge & Valley Chapter, Neenah
[Read more: Giant releases community impact report]
Since 2021, the Healing the Planet grant program has awarded more than $1.2 million to 142 recipients for projects connecting communities to green spaces, improved or helped to protect local waterways and water resources and supported projects that addressed food waste prevention, reduction and recovery.
“Community tree planting fosters shared responsibility and stewardship, strengthening social ties. Native trees provide food and shelter for local wildlife, improve water conservation, provide protection from soil erosion and are more apt to survive with minimal care. Beautifying communities also tends to reduce littering and other illegal behaviors, making it a better place for all residents and providing a foundation for community and economic development.” said Heidi Pedicone, director of programs, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We are proud to provide the funds to Pennsylvania organizations to plant native trees and honored to continue our partnership with The Giant Company. We also want to thank all of you who ‘rounded up’ at the register. Your generosity will make a huge difference for these communities.”