25-04-2025
Alvernia University's health center project receives gift from Breidegam Family Foundation
Alvernia University has received a gift from the Breidegam Family Foundation to help turn the former American House into a state-of-the-art community-based health center in downtown Reading.
The center, in partnership with Berks Community Health Center, will provide health care to Reading's underserved populations and experiential learning opportunities for Alvernia students, officials said in a release.
Alvernia did not disclose the amount of the foundation's gift. Officials have said the renovation project will cost $17 million.
'The generous support from the Breidegam Foundation is pivotal in transforming our vision for the American House at Reading CollegeTowne into reality,' said Dr. Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Alvernia president. 'This initiative strengthens Alvernia's commitment to serving underserved communities and enhances experiential learning opportunities for our students across healthcare, social services, education, and other academic programs. We are deeply grateful for this investment in the well-being of our neighbors and the future of our region's workforce and nonprofit sector.'
The former American House at Fourth and Penn streets is, across the street from Alvernia's Reading CollegeTowne campus.
Alvernia University has received a gift from the Breidegam Family Foundation to help turn the former American House into a state-of-the-art community-based health center in downtown Reading. From left are Paula Barrett, Breidegam Family Foundation president; Dan Miksiewicz; Katelyn Miksiewicz-Kline; Dr. Glynis A. Fitzgerald, university president; Dr. Karen Wang, Berks Community Health Center chief medical officer; Matt Miksiewicz; and Thomas Minick, university vice president of advancement and government affairs.
In recognition of the gift, the second floor of the center will be named the Helen and DeLight Breidegam Center at the American House. DeLight Breidegam, who died in August 2021, was a co-founder of East Penn Manufacturing Co. Inc. in Richmond Township.
Officials said the gift comes as the university enters the final year of the five-year Partners in Progress campaign to build stronger communities by redefining higher education.
'The Breidegam Family Foundation is proud to support this initiative, which will have a lasting impact on healthcare access in Reading,' said Paula Barrett, President of the Breidegam Family Foundation. 'This project embodies the values of community service, innovation, education and collaboration, all of which were deeply important to our founders.'
Alvernia bought the 45,000-square-foot, four-story building at 354 Penn St. in June 2022 as part of its Reading CollegeTowne initiative.
The redeveloped building will create a multifaceted health care hub, featuring a new BCHC community health center that will host at least 50 annual clinical experiences for Alvernia occupational therapy, physician associate, physical therapy, exercise science, athletic training, nursing, social work, and addictions and mental health treatment students, officials said.
They said the project will respond to the city's urgent need for accessible health care, noting 27% of Reading residents live below the poverty line. BCHC will be able to serve 2,000 additional patients annually at the center, ensuring they have access to primary care, mental health, addiction counseling and other services-regardless of their ability to pay.
'This project will greatly impact the health care needs of the residents of the city of Reading,' Mary Kargbo, president and CEO of Berks Community Health Center, said in the release. 'By adding this location in the heart of downtown, we are increasing access to care in our quest for a healthier community while also strengthening the pipeline of future health care professionals.'
The third and fourth floors are planned to be renovated for additional business incubator space for the O'Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship and retail space for businesses.
Alvernia said it continues to seek philanthropic support for the project so construction can begin this year. The amount raised so far for the project was not immediately available.
Alvernia announced in November that it had received a $3 million state grant to support health care center project and the conversion of a former grocery store in Pottsville in to a CollegeTowne campus.
In January 2024, the Wyomissing Foundation awarded Alvernia a $300,000 grant toward the health center.
