The Hazleton Integration Project (HIP) received a $50,000 First Federal Charitable Foundation grant it will use to make security upgrades to its building.
HIP, which provides low-cost or no-cost educational, cultural, and athletic opportunities to economically underserved children and families in Greater Hazleton, has been operating for the past 10 years out of a former school building that is 75 years old.
The organization offers children two core educational initiatives: Time 2 Learn, a bilingual
Pre-K that helps children who come from homes where English is not the primary language transition into the Hazleton Area School District's English-only kindergarten program, and the HIP After School Scholars, where 85 children in grades K-7 receive homework help and a STEAM-based curriculum developed in conjunction with Penn State University. The organization also offers free music lessons in guitar, piano, drums and voice to children ages 8-15 and opens its gymnasium so high school students can play organized basketball in a structured environment.
HIP also offers adult education in English as a Second Language, U.S. citizenship, basic computer and GED classes. It has also become a primary source of food for more than 300 area families through a partnership with the Weinberg Food Bank.
Founding President Bob Curry said that, as a result of recent racially-motivated attacks in places like Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Anthony Petroski contacted HIP officials about upgrading the building's security.
“Trooper Petroski told us that 'credible chatter' picked up through electronic surveillance suggested that extreme groups of people are continuing to target minority populations. He also said that, although our center was not specifically identified, he felt that there was a pressing need to strengthen the security in our building in order to prevent a tragedy from occurring,” Curry said. “In light of this information, the HIP Board enlisted Trooper Petroski, along with former Hazleton City Chief of Police Frank DeAndrea, to conduct a building walk-through and help develop a comprehensive security plan that would minimize vulnerable areas while allowing us to maintain a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for our largely minority clientele. This support from the First Federal Charitable Foundation will allow the security upgrades to be completed in the timeliest manner, and the Hazleton One Center will be a far safer environment for the hundreds of children and their family members who attend programs and events there every day of the year.”
Megan Kennedy, executive director of the First Federal Charitable Foundation said, “The Hazleton Integration Project at the Hazleton One Center serves a large part of the Latino community in Greater Hazleton with a host of programs and it’s important that the organization addresses security issues at its facilities and our foundation is pleased to be assisting with this important project.”
The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.
Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but services either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.
For more information on the foundation or to obtain a grant application, visit www.1stfederalcharitable.org or email