The PPL Foundation awarded a second round of grants for 2023, awarding $450,000 in Empowering Communities Grants to more than 50 nonprofit organizations working to build stronger communities in eastern and central Pennsylvania.

In all, the PPL Foundation expects to award nearly $1 million in grants this year to support the Foundation’s focus areas: education; diversity, equity and inclusion; and sustainable communities.

Funds from the second round of grants will be used to enrich the vitality of communities through programs that protect the environment and improve people’s lives.

Programs receiving grants focused on environmental stewardship and education, economic development and workforce development. The first round of grants focused on diversity, equity and inclusion was awarded in the spring.

Area recipients of Empowering Communities grants, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, included:

• American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania

• Brodhead Watershed Association, Henryville

• Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership, Hazleton

• Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation, Tamaqua

• Monroe County Habitat for Humanity, Tobyhanna

• Pocono Mountains United Way, Stroudsburg

• Sharing Excess, Lehigh Valley

• Via of the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem.

The Foundation’s next round of grants – Energizing Education – is focused on supporting equitable and engaging high-quality educational opportunities for all students. These grants fund programs focused on STEM, literacy, summer learning, and college and career readiness. Applications for Energizing Education grants are being accepted through Oct. 15. For more information, visit www.pplcares.com.