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
