Beneficiaries
Mushroom Festival awards $70,000 to charitable organizations at its Spring Event
On April 29, 2011 The Mushroom Festival honored the 31 local organizations chosen to receive a 2011 Mushroom Festival grant.
“It is really exciting to help others in our community,” said Mushroom Festival Coordinator Kathi Lafferty. “Although our Festival is only two days long, the requests we fund through our grant process give many local organizations the ability to provide their services. We work hard each year to maximize our donation to the community to be able to help as many of our friends and neighbors as we possibly can each year.”
“The Festival committee was excited over the number of grant requests we received and were able to honor,” said Mushroom Festival Board President Michael Pia, Jr. “Every year the number of requests grows. Non-profits, now more than ever, rely on funding from grants sources like ourselves. It is with great privilege that we are able to award these grants to their intended recipients.”
Below are the organizations receiving Mushroom Festival Grants in 2011 (from the 2010 proceeds) with explanations on how the organizations plan to use the funds.
City of Hope: a donation to support the organization’s research on mushrooms and breast cancer.
Adult Care of Chester County: funds for Adult Day Services at its Kennett Square location.
ALS Association (Lou Gehrigs disease): funds to purchase durable medical equipment to loan to Chester County residents with ALS including companion wheelchairs, folding walkers, lift chairs and shower chairs.
The Arc of Chester County: to fund Spanish translation services for four education advocacy trainings in southern Chester County to help individuals advocate for their family members with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Avondale Fire Co. No. 1: funds to upgrade the audio and public address system in the Fire Company’s multipurpose training room/community hall.
The Barn at Spring Brook Farm: to cover the cost of one day of summer camp (Camp Geronimo) for 30 children with special needs based on animal-assisted activities.
Bournelyf Special Camp: funds toward sending seven Chester County residents to a two-week summer camp for youth with mental retardation and other disabilities.
Camp Dreamcatcher: to cover the cost of sponsoring two Kennett Square children to the organization’s HIV/AIDS Therapeutic Summer Camp
Canine Partners for Life: to partially fund the costs of producing the specialized harnesses used with the service dogs.
Christian C. Sanderson Museum: funds to develop a website for this Chadds Ford museum.
Community Gardens of Chester County: funds for supplies to build and plant 16 vegetable gardens for low-income Chester County residents.
Domestic Violence Center: funds to support the Center’s Kennett Square satellite office.
Friends of Tennis: to purchase the necessary equipment required to meet USTA guidelines for teaching youth tennis in order to offer free tennis lesson for Kennett Square children.
Friends Home in Kennett: funds for renovation and improvements to two dining rooms.
Good Neighbors: Funds to help the organization carry out their mission of home repairs for low income families in southern Chester County.
Historic Kennett Square: funds to support the Memorial Day Parade.
Kennett After-School Association: partial funding of costs associated with the transportation of students home at the conclusion of After the Bell afterschool program each day.
Kennett Area Senior Center: funds for the programs at the Center’s day care for elderly with Alzheimer’s.
Kennett Fire Co. No. 1: funds to purchase a 911 Messaging System which will send text messages to firefighters as a second form of communication.
Kennett Symphony of Chester County: to help underwrite the expenses for the Young Artist competitions — Vocal, Instrument, and Junior.
Kennett Education Foundation: funds for the Innovative Grants for Teachers in KCSD program which provides funds to classroom projects as requested/granted by teachers.
Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County: funds to develop a Mycotechnology Education program @ its Permaculture Environmental Center.
Learning to Lead: funds to send five SCC girls to “Girls Take Charge”, a one- week leadership program at Villanova University.
Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern PA: funds to print the “Lyme Disease: The Basics” booklet, a plain-English introduction to Lyme Disease, which is offered free of charge on request.
Quest Therapeutic Services: toward the costs of veterinary care expenses for the programs ten hippotherapy horses.
Reins of Life: funding for the organization’s therapeutic horseback riding scholarship program.
SCC Emergency Medical Services: funds to upgrade personal protective gear for paramedics and emergency medical technicians.
Spanish Health Ministry: funds to cover interpreters and transportation costs for medical appointments for the underserved Spanish-speaking children/families that require specialized medical care.
The Garage Community & Youth Center: costs associated with running an after school program for the West Grove Garage Youth Center.
Together for Education: funds to fill backpacks with school supplies for children in KCSD who cannot afford them.
William W. Fahey Post 491 America n Legion: Funds to repair the deteriorating flag pole and add a second pole to fly the PA state flag
