17-04-2025
Lee Initiatives awards a total of $700,000 to dozens of local nonprofits
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – With federal funding streams delayed or on the chopping block, nonprofits in Cambria and Somerset counties have made especially urgent requests for grants from the local Lee Initiatives Health and Wellness Endowment.
Lee Initiatives Health and Wellness Endowment board members awarded about $700,000 in grants to 60 nonprofits in the region Wednesday during the organization's 19th annual grant award reception at the Boulevard Grill in Johnstown.
Some of the largest grants awarded Wednesday were to food programs.
'We've always had a need to alleviate food insecurity in the region, but with federal funding cuts, nonprofits may not see federal funds coming to their organization, so it's definitely been more of a cry for help this year,' Lee Initiatives Health and Wellness CEO Jodi Clark said.
Increased food prices compound the uncertainty nonprofits face of losing federal funding as the White House seeks to reduce spending.
Food banks of the St. Vincent de Paul Society received $45,000 Wednesday to keep pantries stocked with food for families.
'Prices of all food we serve has gone up,' St. Vincent de Paul grant writer Georgia Lehman said. 'This grant helps us purchase items in bulk that our pantries request.'
In March, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of supermarket food purchases, a measure of economy-wide inflation, increased 0.5% from February to March as four of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The increase was driven primarily by a 5.9% increase in the index for eggs. The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs rose 1.3% in March. The beef index also increased over the month, rising 1.2%. The index for other food at home increased 0.5%.
In 2025, overall food prices are anticipated to increase 3.2%, slightly faster than the historical average rate of growth, according to an April report of the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Cambria County Backpack Project, which sends food home each weekend with more than 700 students from schools across the county, received $46,300 from Lee Initatives.
'Lee Initiatives has supported us since our inception and helped us grow,' Cambria County Backpack Project Executive Director Kristen Villarrial said. 'We are seeing a record number of children needing food. With rising costs of utilities, gas and food, families are choosing between groceries and rent. We are so thankful to Lee Initiatives for this funding to cover children's meals.'
Some of the other larger grants awarded Wednesday included $45,000 to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, which serves Somerset and Cambria counties; $50,000 to Highlands Health free medical clinic, to fund medication management and new procedures for pain clinic referrals; and $30,000 to Veteran Community Initiatives, for health and wellness outreach programs.
All funds awarded by the Lee Initiatives Health and Wellness endowment spring from investments of donations.
The money market has been 'volatile,' Clark said, 'but we always come out ahead.'
