Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania Named Non-Profit of the Year
LEBANON, Pa. (Dec. 19, 2022) – The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce named Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania (CISPA) Non-Profit of the Year at the Membership Breakfast and Awards on Dec. 14.
Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania brokers and develops community school programs such as mentoring/tutoring, after-school programming, individualized interventions, future planning and family assistance. During the ’21-’22 school year, CISPA served 16,035 students and distributed 45,153 basic needs items. Communities in Schools’ holistic approach addresses both the academic and nonacademic needs of students and recognizes that if basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter are not met, children are unable to learn.
"As a new member of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, CISPA is honored to be recognized by Chamber membership for our impactful work in Lebanon County,” said Lyndsey Sturkey, CISPA Chief Program Officer. “We are so fortunate to have an incredible team in Lebanon working tirelessly every day to make a difference for students and their families in Lebanon.”
The Non-Profit of the Year Award is presented to a 501c3 organization that has significantly impacted the Lebanon Valley community during the past 12 months. Chamber members voted for the non-profit they believe has a strong mission, works with other sectors of the community and does a great job responding to the needs of the community. CISPA was nominated by Lebanon School District Superintendent Dr. Arthur Abrom, who has worked closely with the organization since 2019.
"It has been an honor to work alongside CISPA and see their growth and impact as an organization in Lebanon County,” said Dr. Arthur Abrom, Lebanon School District Superintendent. “I am proud of them for being recognized as recipients of the Non-Profit of the Year award.”
Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania currently serves four schools in Lebanon County: Lebanon Middle School and Northwest Elementary School in Lebanon School District, and Ebenezer Elementary School and Union Canal Elementary School in Cornwall-Lebanon School District. CISPA is interested in expanding programs in Lebanon, Dauphin and Lancaster Counties to reach more students and families in Pennsylvania.
“We have so many great nonprofits in our region, but Communities in Schools has made an incredible impact on so many Lebanon County lives, especially in the past year by providing much-needed programs and support,” said Karen Groh, Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce President & CEO. “They were chosen as a finalist by a group of regional businesses and then won by popular vote at our Networking with Nonprofits event in November. We know they will continue to build on their impact on Lebanon County.”
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About Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania
Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania (CISPA) is an affiliate of the national Communities in Schools network, which operates in 27 states and the District of Columbia and serves more than 1.2 million youth annually. CISPA began in 1994 as a statewide advocacy and fundraising organization, working to support accredited CIS affiliates in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley. In 2014, CISPA launched its first school-based programs in the School District of the City of York. Since then, CISPA has grown to serve 25 schools across 11 school districts. The mission of CISPA is to “surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.”
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