The Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation’s list of 2024 grant recipients was reported in the Local section of the Bethlehem Press on February 12, 2025, and the Business section of The Morning Call on February 13, 2025.
The Helen and R.K. Laros Foundation Announces Grant Recipients for 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, have announced the annual award of grants for 2024 to 10 local non-profit organizations.
The Foundation Chair R.K. Laros III, Vice Chair Laura Bennet Shelton, and Foundation trustees gathered with this year’s recipients at a virtual event on January 21, 2025, to recognize this year’s recipients and the 2025 Founders Award.
Grants totaling $166,200 were approved by the Board of Trustees of the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation at their annual board meeting on November 8, 2024, and were awarded in January 2025 to the following nonprofit organizations: ArtsQuest: a $23,000 grant to go toward the Textile Classroom in the Cultural Center; Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering: $10,000 for 2024-2025 operating support; Central Moravian Church: $20,000 toward the HVAC overhaul; Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites: $17,000 for Overlook on History in the Colonial Industrial Quarter ; Moravian University: $22,000 grant to support the student center/interview booth; Northampton Community College: $20,000 toward the continued expansion of their dental clinic; Stephen’s Place: $16,700 grant for masonry, gutters, concrete and flooring; Touchstone Theatre: $18,000 to support their efforts to enhance accessibility; Via of the Lehigh Valley: $19,000 toward their parking lot repaving and Bethlehem Area Public Library: $500 for the annual meeting host fee.
Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation highlighted as a Moravian University Community Partner
“Helen and Russell K. (R.K.) Laros have had a profound impact across the city of Bethlehem for over a century, and their incredible influence on Moravian University and Theological Seminary dates back decades. Now through the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation, their legacy lives on in the provision of thousands of dollars in philanthropic support for the renovation and restoration of key spaces and programs on campus, significantly improving academic, athletic, and student life at Moravian.”
Community Partner: Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation – Moravian University News
Helen & RK Laros Foundation Founders Award recipient announced in The Bethlehem Press, Morning Call
The Helen & RK Laros Annual Founders Award, which was awarded this year to Rt. Rev. Hopeton Clennon, Senior Pastor of the Central Moravian Church, was covered by both The Morning Call and The Bethlehem Press during the week of January 20th, 2025. The Trustees chose to recognize Rt. Rev. Hopeton Clennon, known as Hopeton, because he was such an integral part of the Bethlehem community and made significant contributions as Senior Pastor of the Central Moravian Church since 2013, as Chaplain of Moravian University and Moravian Theological Seminary, and as a supporter of the Bethlehem community as a whole.
Front page of The Bethlehem Press
The Morning Call
Helen and RK Laros Foundation recognizes Rt. Rev C. Hopeton Clennon with Annual Founders Award
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 the late Rt. Rev. C. Hopeton Clennon. The Trustees have chosen to recognize Rt. Rev. Hopeton Clennon, known as Hopeton, who was an integral part of the Bethlehem community and made significant contributions as Senior Pastor of the Central Moravian Church since 2013, as Chaplain of Moravian University and Moravian Theological Seminary, and as a supporter of the Bethlehem community as a whole.
The Foundation Chair R.K. Laros III, Vice Chair Laura Bennett Shelton, and Foundation Trustees will gather at a virtual event on January 21, 2025, to recognize this year’s recipients and to announce Hopeton as the 2025 Founders Award honoree.
The Founders Award recognizes the Founders, Helen and R.K. Laros, as faithful and 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 Bob Rapp, Executive Director of Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering; Jeff Parks, ArtsQuest Visionary and 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; Sharon Jones Zondag, former Executive Director of the Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation; and Winston Alozie, steadfast Executive Director Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem.
Sharon Zondag visits Bethlehem YMCA
Sharon Zondag paid one last visit to the Bethlehem YMCA and enjoyed a lunch with Bethlehem Y staff members to celebrate her retirement after 10 years of partnership
Sharon Zondag and Laura Bennett Shelton meet with fellow funder
Sharon Zondag and Laura Bennett Shelton met with fellow funder Lauren Allen of the PNC Foundation on Tuesday, December 10th
The Helen and R.K. Laros Foundation celebrates the retirement of Executive Director Sharon Zondag
The Helen and R.K. Laros Foundation Board of Trustees and members of Bethlehem non-profit organizations with whom the Foundation partners gathered at The Laros Estate on November 7th to celebrate the retirement of Foundation Executive Director Sharon Zondag.
The Helen and R.K. Laros Foundation Board of Trustees visited 10 nonprofits on November 5th, 6th, and 7th for past and present grants
Valley Youth House kitchen remodel
VIA parking lot project
Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
Moravian University HUB construction and window repair
Stephens Place construction project
Northampton Community College dental station
Touchstone Theater
Central Moravian Church HVAC construction
Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites
ArtsQuest
Helen and RK Laros Foundation 2024l Board of Trustees Meeting at Bethlehem Area Public Library
Laros Foundation Vice-Chair Laura Bennett Shelton Speaks at New Bethany Food Bank Dedication
Helen and RK Laros Foundation Vice-Chair Laura Bennett Shelton spoke at the dedication of the remodeled New Bethany Food Bank dedication on October 14th, which was covered in the Nov. 6th issue of the Bethlehem Press. “New Bethany’s strength is to pivot and take action, such as updating this food pantry,” Bennett Shelton said. The remodeled and expanded Choice Food Pantry includes second floor structural improvements, installation of a cargo elevator, improving guest flow, and a conversation to more of a grocery store feel. The Helen and RK Laros Foundation was one of the project’s funders.
Architecture Firm that Rehabilitated the Laros Silk Mill Receives PA Historic Preservation Award
Artefact, Inc., a certified Women’s Business Enterprise that specializes in architectural design, interior design, and historic preservation has been awarded a 2024 PA Historic Preservation Award in Construction-Rehabilitation for the renovation of the Laros Silk Mill building. The Award was announced in the Business section of the Morning Call.
THE R.K. LAROS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ASSOCIATE TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS
The Bethlehem-based Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation, established in 1952 by Laros Silk Mill Founder and Owner Russell K. Laros and his wife Helen to support the nonprofit community in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce the appointment of two Associate Trustees in the second class of Associates.
Chairman R. Keller Laros III and the Board of Trustees of the R.K. Laros Foundation have instituted a category of trusteeship titled “Associate Trustee.” The board seeks to involve future generations in the work of the foundation through first-hand exposure to the art and science of grantmaking. The Associates participate directly in foundation community work and the annual grantmaking process. Through his/her work on the Board, the Associate Trustee will develop a deeper knowledge of grantmaking practices and program evaluation. It is hoped that the participation of an Associate Trustee will reinforce his/her commitment to community involvement and deepen relationships with trustees as well as with members of the Bethlehem nonprofit community.
The first two appointments to the position of Associate Trustee were Janelle Laros and Truman Scout Shelton, both great grandchildren of R.K. and Helen Laros. The second class of Associate includes the appointment of Cleo Nicholas, stepdaughter to Helen & R.K. Laros’ first grandson, Peter Shelton, and Russell K. Laros IV, great grandson of the Founders and son of the current Chair, R.K. Laros III.
Helen and RK Laros Foundation Visits Bethlehem Co-op Market
Top: Vice-chair Laura Bennett Shelton and Executive Director Sharon Zondag pose outside Bethlehem Co-op Market with General Manager Eric Shamis
Bottom: From left to right, Bethlehem Co-op Market Assistant Retail General Manager Krysti Schmidt, Laura Bennett Shelton, Eric Shamis, and Boyle Superintendent Bill Miller
Trustees Gathered 6.14.24 for the "Helen" Huddle Room Dedication @ Bethlehem Public Library
Huddle Rooms are part of the recent BAPL renovations to provide patron privacy for work, reading, collaborative meetings and interviews.
L-R Trustee Bob Bilheimer, Laros Executive Director Sharon Zondag, BAPL Executive Director Josh Berk, Wendy Laros, Foundation Chair Keller Laros, Trustees Diane Donaher & Ron Madison
Russell Keller Laros page published on Wikipedia
The online encyclopedia Wikipedia now includes a page on industrialist Russell Keller Laros: Russell Keller Laros - Wikipedia
Valley Youth House unveils renovated shelter kitchen and thanks community supporters, including The Helen and RK Laros Foundation
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New Bethany thanks Helen and RK Laros Foundation in their Newsletter on the Choice Food Pantry Renovation
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.
Laura Bennett Shelton shares pieces of her Chanel collection with Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
Lindsey Jancay, Director of Collections and Programming, met with Laura Bennett Shelton on February 22nd to see her Chanel collection. Laura has offered to place a few of her pieces on display for the April in Paris event at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts on April 28th, 2024.
