Earlier this month, members of the 20/20 Circle of the Carbon County Community Foundation met to select a charity to receive a grant from the 20/20 Fund. At a breakfast meeting at Whispering Pines Banquet Hall in Jim Thorpe, members listened to presentations from three area nonprofit organizations and then voted to award $3,000 to St. Peter’s Community Resource Center in Lehighton.

The 20/20 Circle is made up of individuals and businesses who work together to pool their philanthropic dollars to increase their impact, year after year. Members make a one-time contribution of $1,000 to the endowed 20/20 Fund. Membership is payable over up to four years - just $20 per month - making it an easy and accessible opportunity for many who might not consider themselves philanthropists. Members are invited to an annual meeting where they vote to award a grant to an area nonprofit. As membership and the 20/20 Fund grow, the annual grant amount will also increase.

This year’s selected grant recipient, St. Peter’s Community Resource Center, is an all-volunteer organization focused on assisting people in need through referral services, providing space for other to operate their nonprofits, and helping people with everyday items such as toiletry and food needs.

The proposed project, which was presented to the 20/20 Circle by Tammy Hoffman, treasurer and secretary at St. Peter’s, is to add a part-time community resource specialist to their staff. This person would have dedicated office hours to serve the public, providing resource and outreach to those in need. The grant from the 20/20 Circle will cover all costs of the position, including salary, making it the first paid staff member for the organization.

“We have been wanting to have a part-time employee since the inception of the St. Peter’s Community Resource Center six years ago,” Hoffman said. “And now, with the generous grant from the 20/20 Circle, we can see this become a reality. We are excited for the impact that it will have on outreach for residents of Carbon County.”

“The 20/20 Circle is a great example of how people can have a greater impact with their donations through the Community Foundation,” said Sharon Alexander, President of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “Both projects that have received grants through this initiative, St. Peter’s this year and CTC Manufacturing last year, were funded 100% by the 20/20 Circle. A member might not be able make a difference like that on his or her own, but collectively, we can have a huge impact on an organization. We’re looking forward to seeing the grant amounts - and our collective impact - grow over the years.”

In addition to St. Peter’s Community Resource Center, the two other nonprofit organizations that presented to the 20/20 Circle this year were Peaceful Knights Inc., and Volunteers in Medicine Carbon & Schuylkill Counties. Following the meeting, members and other individuals were invited to contribute to any of the three finalist organizations through the Fund for Carbon County at the Community Foundation.

The 20/20 Circle presentations were recorded and can be viewed on the Community Foundation’s website at www.cccfoundpa.org. Those interested in joining the 20/20 Circle can contact the Foundation at 1-855-545-1311 or info@cccfoundpa.org.

The Carbon County Community Foundation was formed in 2015 with the mission to improve the quality of life for residents of the Carbon County region, now and forever.

The Foundation exists to simultaneously be a philanthropic leader, a community resource and a financial steward.