The Weatherly Hillclimb Association received a First Federal Charitable Foundation grant the organization will use to complete construction of a new pavilion it will use during the events.
The Weatherly Hillclimb race has been run for the past 59 years. Proceeds from the event are shared among other nonprofit organizations throughout Weatherly, including the Weatherly Little League and Boy Scouts. Additionally, nonprofit organizations are invited to attend the Hillclimb races, which are held twice a year, and raise money for their organizations during the events.
The Weatherly Hillclimb Association used a previous First Federal Charitable Foundation grant to begin construction of the pavilion a few years ago and, although it wasn’t fully completed, used the pavilion during its race last fall to provide shelter to the nonprofit vendors.
Having the pavilion in place allows the association to have a permanent electrical structure in place and avoid the cost of renting tents for shelter. The organization plans to allow nonprofits to use the pavilion for their own fundraisers throughout the year and rent it out to the public for family events.
Joseph Cyburt, president of the Weatherly Hillclimb Association, said the organization will also use some of the funds for additional work on the existing billboard and excavation work on the property and said the First Federal Charitable Foundation’s help with nonprofit organizations is “incredible.”
“Without the First Federal Charitable Foundation’s contributions to our organization, we wouldn’t be where we are today with our construction. No other event held in the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association/Sports Car Club of America sanctioned events has anything comparable to what we have to offer. The foundation has provided us with the ability to erect this structure and it is a big plus to our town. It definitely has helped us contribute an asset to our community,” Cyburt said.
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 that are 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.