$6.3 million awarded to Allentown, Lehigh County charities by Trexler Trust

More than $6 million was awarded to 84 Lehigh County nonprofits and the city of Allentown this year by the trustees of the Harry C. Trexler Trust.

Charitable organizations received grants totaling $4,209,350 to support a variety of programs and services, including housing insecurity, mental health, libraries, youth outreach and the arts, the trust announced Tuesday in a news release.

As stipulated by Trexler’s will, Allentown received a third of the funds, $2,104,675, for improvement, extension and maintenance of city parks.

The latest round of grant recipients means that trust has awarded $200 million to the city and other Lehigh County organizations since its inception in 1935. The awards were made after reviewing 130 requests from different organizations.

“These grants support such a wide array of vital community organizations that we are confident they will improve the lives of all Lehigh County residents,” J. Scott Pidcock, chair of the board of trustees, said in the release. “In addition to supporting the operation of dozens of nonprofits, we are pleased to make several capital investments in new and upgraded facilities so that organizations can expand their offerings, reimagine their programs and meet the needs of residents long into the future.”

The trust, established after Trexler’s death in 1933, began in 1935 with its first distribution of $165.827.10, according to the release.

Applications for the 2027 grant cycle will open Sept. 1 and will be accepted through Dec. 1. Only charities in Lehigh County are eligible.

Here are the agencies receiving the largest awards:

• Allentown: $2,104,675 for parks

• Allentown Art Museum: $250,000 for the first of five payments on a $1.25 million pledge for construction of a new art museum; $175,000 for operating support

• Allentown Parknership: $300,000 for operating expenses

• Baum School of the Art: $100,000 for operating expenses; $100,000 for second payment pledge of building expansion; and $27,500 for city arts camp

• Lehigh Conference of Churches: $180,000 for operating expenses and data collection system upgrade

• Community Bike Works: $100,000 for first of two payments on a $200,000 pledge for construction of a Franklin Park Youth Bike Hub; and $80,000 for operating expenses for Lehigh County services

• Salvation Army: $175,000 for operating expenses of Allentown services

• Ripple Community Development Inc.: $125,000 for operating expenses

• Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank: $105,000 for operating expenses

• Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania: $100,000 for operating and program expenses for Lehigh County services

• Jewish Community Center of Allentown: $100,000 for operating expenses

• Pinebrook Family Answers: $100,000 for behavioral and mental health program expenses for Lehigh County youth

• Via of the Lehigh Valley: $100,000 for building renovation and safety improvement costs

• Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science and Technology: $75,000 for one-time grant to assist with 2026 budget needs; and $25,000 for operating expenses for Lehigh County services

• Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley: $90,000 for program expenses of the Lehigh County home repair program

• Casa Guadalupe Center: $90,000 for expenses of the education program for Allentown youth

• Boys and Girls Club of Allentown: $60,000 for operating expenses; $30,000 for one-time award to sustain Cumberland Gardens clubhouse

• The Literacy Center: $87,000 for operating expenses of services to Lehigh County residents

• Allentown Public Library: $75,000 for operating expenses

• Young Women’s Christian Association: $75,000 for operating expenses of Lehigh County services

• Allentown Symphony Association: $60,000 for operating expenses; $10,000 to improve Rodale Room lighting

• Jerusalem House Ministries: $50,000 for operating expenses of services for Allentown residents

• Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation: $50,000 for costs to update and market educational courses in healthcare

• Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley: $50,000 for program expenses of the Lehigh County meal subsidy program

• Wildlands Conservancy: $50,000 for operating expenses of Lehigh County services

The chart below shows all grants awarded in this funding round, and can be sorted by agency and dollar amount.