Bloom for Women thanks Helen and RK Laros Foundation in Monthly Newsletter

Bloom for Women thanked the Helen and RK Laros Foundation for granting them the funds necessary to upgrade all the windows for their Heather House. Here’s the writeup:

A big thank you goes out to the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation for granting Bloom the funds necessary to upgrade all the windows for our Heather House.

"We are so grateful for the generous support of the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation," said Carol Andersen, CEO of Bloom. "Operating and maintaining all five of our homes in the Lehigh Valley can be expensive. Receiving grants like this one is essential to ensure a safe, comfortable space for women and their children to heal and begin their journey towards a life of independence."

"The Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation is honored to support Bloom in their mission to give victims of trafficking a safe and structured environment to start the next phase of their lives," said Laura Bennett, Foundation Vice Chair & Trustee of the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation.

Helen & R.K. LAROS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2023 GRANTS Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-January 16, 2024

The Bethlehem based Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation, established in 1952 by Laros Silk Company Founder and Owner R.K.Laros and his wife Helen, announced today the annual award of grants for grant year 2023 to 8 local non-profit organizations. The Foundation Chair R.K.Laros III, and Vice Chair Laura Bennett Shelton and Foundation Trustees gathered with this year’s recipients at a virtual event on 1.17.24 to recognize this year’s recipients and the 2024 Founders Award.

Grants totaling $142,136 were approved by the Board of Trustees of the Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation at their annual board meeting on November 10, 2023 and were awarded in January 2024 to the following nonprofit organizations:

Bethlehem Public Library a $20,000 grant to complete the “Huddle Rooms” as part of the library’s recent renovations, Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering $10,000 for 2023-2024 operating support & honoring Executive Director Bob Rapp with the Founders Award, Bloom for Women $16,300 to complete the replacement of windows in their Bethlehem Shelter, City of Bethlehem $15,000 to support the Friendship Park splash pad as part of the “Northside Alive” initiative, Fountain Hill Food Pantry $336 for personal shopping bags, New Bethany Ministries $20,000 for the updates and renovations of the “Choice Food Pantry”, Pennsylvania Playhouse $20,000 for accessibility renovations, Valley Youth House $20,000 for a kitchen renovation at the 8th Street Shelter, Northampton Community College $500 in gratitude for hosting the 2023 Foundation annual meeting, YMCA of Bethlehem $20,000 for Phase III of the Child Care Center.

Since 1952 the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation has provided grant support with a focus on enduring capital projects that will have significant community impact in the Bethlehem Area. The Foundation has distributed $9 million in support to over 150 organizations. For more information about grant opportunities or the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation contact Executive Director Sharon Jones Zondag at larosfoundation.org

Helen & R.K. LAROS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES The Annual Founders Award Recipient Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-January 16, 2024

The Bethlehem based Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation, established in 1952 by Laros Silk Company Founder and Owner R.K.Laros and his wife Helen, announces the Annual Founders Award recognizing Bob Rapp, Executive Director of Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering.

 The Foundation Chair R.K.Laros III, and Vice Chair Laura Bennett Shelton and Foundation Trustees gathered with this year’s recipients at a virtual event on 1.17.23 to recognize this year’s recipients and to announce the 2024 Founders Award honoree.

 The Founders Award recognizes the Founders, Helen & R.K.Laros as faithful nd continuous supporters of their community and is only awarded when the board sees an example of the Founders’ commitment in Bethlehem. Past recipients of the Founders Award include Jeff Parks, ArtsQuest Visionary & Founder, Bonnie Coyle Board Member and tireless leader for the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley, & Diane LaBelle innovative Executive Director Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts.

 The Trustees are glad to recognize Bob Rapp, Executive Director of Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering of Bethlehem who has consistently demonstrated a deep and unwavering commitment to the Bethlehem community and especially to those among us who most need our support. Bob has been an untiring and vocal advocate for the homeless and he makes a difference each and every day in their lives and to their future. Bob Bapp unequivocally invests himself in making Bethlehem a stronger community for us all.

Since 1952 the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation has provided grant support with a focus on enduring capital projects that will have significant community impact in the Bethlehem Area. The Foundation has distributed $9 million in support to over 150 organizations. For more information about grant opportunities or the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation contact Executive Director Sharon Jones Zondag at larosfoundation.org

Bob Rapp, Executive Director of Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering

The Trustees visited 10 nonprofits on November 8th & 9th 2023 for past and potential grants.

Mayor Reynolds joined the board for a visit to Friendship Park as part of the Northside Alive initiative. The Trustees awarded a grant to the city as part of the restoration effort for this important neighborhood project.

The Trustees visited the YMCA of Bethlehem November 9, 2023. A portrait of R.K.Laros hangs behind the Trustees.

The Laros Trustees are welcomed by the children at the YMCA Child Care Center in Bethlehem. The Trustees have supported the Y & the Child Care Center with continuing grants since 1952.

The Trustees sat down with employees at Valley Youth House on November 8th to discuss the organization’s grant proposal.

The Bethlehem Area Public Library welcomed the Trustees on November 9th to check out the" “Huddle Rooms” as part of the Library’s recent renovations.

The Trustees visited the Miller-Keystone Blood Center on November 8th.

The Trustees got a demonstration of the Trima Accel Automated Blood Collection system the Foundation funded in 2023.

The Trustees made a stop at the Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts to check out their exhibit, The Story of Silk, which features garments and other pieces from the Helen and RK Laros Family.

Chair of the Helen and R.K. Laros Foundation Russell Keller Laros III and Vice-Chair Laura Bennett Shelton sat down with ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert on November 8th. The Foundation supported ArtsQuest’s new Cultural Arts Center in 2023.

The Trustees toured Bloom for Women’s Bethlehem home to discuss their grant proposal for new windows in the building. The Foundation funded the first phase of the project in 2022.

Moravian University Alumni Association Honors the Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation

At the April 21st Shining Stars Event Moravian University honored the Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation with the Community Partnership Award

Executive Director Sharon Jones Zondag Receiving the Foundation’s Community Partnership Award 4.21.23

L-R April 21, 2023 Sharon Jones Zondag, Executive Director Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation, Laura Bennett Shelton Foundation Vice Chair, Bryan Grigsby Moravian University President & Elizabeth Shimer Bowers Foundation Trustee. Laura is the granddaughter-in-law and Elizabeth is the & great-granddaughter of Helen & R.K.Laros.

HELEN AND RUSSELL K. LAROS HAVE BEEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORAVIAN SINCE THE LATE 1920S WHEN THEY SENT THEIR FOUR DAUGHTERS TO THE MORAVIAN SEMINARY AND COLLEGE FOR WOMEN. IN 1952 THE HELEN AND R.K. LAROS FOUNDATION WAS ESTABLISHED TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE ARTS, EDUCATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, AND PUBLIC AND HUMAN SERVICES. SINCE, THE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO MORAVIAN, INCLUDING FUNDING THE EXPANSION OF REEVES LIBRARY AND THE RENOVATION AND RESTORATION OF BUILDINGS ON SOUTH CAMPUS, JOHNSTON HALL, THE HAUPERT UNION BUILDING, COLLIER HALL OF SCIENCE, AND BORHEK CHAPEL, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS TO THE STEEL FIELD COMPLEX,

THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOTH THE PRISCILLA PAYNE HURD ACADEMIC COMPLEX AND THE SALLY BREIDEGAM (BRIDE-EH-GAHM) MIKSIEWICZ CENTER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDED PROGRAM SUPPORT TO MO’S CUPBOARD DURING THE PANDEMIC. ADDITIONALLY, TWO FORMER MORAVIAN PRESIDENTS, RAYMOND HAUPERT, AND HERMAN COLLIER, SERVED ON THE FOUNDATION’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AND THREE STUDENTS RECENTLY SERVED AS INTERNS FOR THE FOUNDATION. MORAVIAN IS THANKFUL FOR THE CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HELEN AND R.K. LAROS FOUNDATION.

 

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation Announces the 2022 Founders Award honoring the community commitment of Founders Helen & R.K. as found in the Bethlehem leaders of today

The Bethlehem Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Winston Alozie addresses the Helen & R.K.Laros Trustees on a site visit 11.30.22

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Helen & R.K. LAROS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 

The Annual Founders Award Recipient

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-February 8, 2023

The Bethlehem based Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation, established in 1952 by Laros Silk Company Founder and Owner R.K.Laros and his wife Helen, announces the Annual Founders Award recognizing Winston Alozie, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem.

The Foundation Chair R.K.Laros III, and Vice Chair Laura Bennett Shelton & Foundation Trustees gathered with this year’s recipients at a virtual event on 1.25.23  to recognize this year’s recipients and to announce the 2023 Founders Award honoree.

The Founders Award recognizes the Founders, Helen & R.K.Laros as faithful & continuous supporters of their community and is only awarded when the board sees an example of the Founder's commitment in Bethlehem. Past recipients of the Founders Award include Jeff Parks, ArtsQuest Visionary & Founder, Bonnie Coyle Board Member and tireless leader for the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley, & Diane LaBelle innovative Executive Drector Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts.

The Trustees are glad to recognize Winston Alozie, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem who has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to the Bethlehem community and especially our children.

The Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation provides grant support with a focus on enduring capital projects with significant community impact in the Bethlehem Area. The grant application for 2023 and additional details are available on the foundation website http://www.larosfoundation.org

For more information about grant opportunities or the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation contact Executive Director Sharon Jones Zondag at larosfoundation.org


12.1.22 The Trustees visit Godfrey Daniels for a site visit

Ann Laros-Weaver, Trustee & Laros grand-daughter, Trustee and Laros great grand-daughter Elizabeth Shimer Bowers, great-grand-daughter and Associate Trustee Janelle Laros, grandson and Chair R.K.Laros III, Godfrey Daniel’s Board member Bill George, Ramona LaBarre Development Director Godfrey Daniels, Trustee Bob Bilheimer & Wendy Laros for a site visit to consider a grant proposal to replace the aged flooring. (It was approved).

Bethlehem based Helen & R.K.Laros Foundation Trustees visit the NCC Dental Hygiene Department at the Fowler Southside Campus

Trustees visit the NCC Fowler Campus Dental Hygiene Department in consideration of a 2022 grant proposal to expand the department’s capacity.

L_R The NCC team is led by Vice President of Advancement Sharon Beales. The Laros Foundation Trustees on an on-site visit to the Fowler Campus. The Panoramic Imaging equipment was made possible with support from the Laros Foundation in 2015 to SLUHN, Dental Center partner.

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Since 1952 the legacy of Helen & Russell K. Laros has continued to provide support for the community. For 70 years the Foundation has distributed $9 million to over 150 Non-Profit and Charitable Organizations.

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