Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday recognized an organization dedicated to improving life in the county.

The Schuylkill Area Community Foundation was honored as part of the nationwide Community Foundation week, Nov. 12 -18.The foundation relies on donations and grants to improve the quality of life by supporting arts and culture, community, education, environment, health and wellness, and human services."Community foundations impact lives, solve problems and improve futures," Executive Director Eileen Kuperavage said. "As many resident grapple with limited resources and a growing need for services, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging issues."Founded in 1967, the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation administers 154 endowment funds that have a total value of $16.9 million.The organization is close to Commissioners' Chairman Frank Staudenmeier's heart."My mother and father both served on the board of the foundation, and I have served on it for the past 20-some years," he said.Staudenmeier said the foundation began with a $1,000 donation from the then-mayor of Ashland.Last year, the foundation gave $49,917 in educational grants, including Marian Catholic High School; $41,971 in environmental grants, including Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association; $21,585 in human services grants, including Schuylkill Women in Crisis; $33,566 to libraries, including the Lehighton Area Memorial Library; $25,417 to public safety; and numerous scholarships.