ALLENTOWN, Pa. (June 24, 2025) — The Trustees of the Harry C. Trexler Trust have awarded grants to 85 Lehigh County charities and the City of Allentown totaling $5,765,250. (A full listing of charities and awards is below.)
The 2025 awards were made after extensive review of 123 requests from different charitable organizations seeking funds totaling almost $8 million.
Lehigh County charitable organizations received grants totaling $3,843,500 ranging from $1,000 to $300,000. As stipulated by General Trexler’s will, the City of Allentown was awarded one-third of the Trust’s yearly distribution, $1,921,750, for the “improvements, extension and maintenance of all its Parks.” General Trexler is widely recognized as the founder of the Allentown parks given his donation of land and visionary planning while living as well as his bequest of perpetual financial support administered by the Trust.
The Trust also awarded supplemental grants this year to various food banks and pantries to address increased demand across Lehigh County and federal funding concerns.
“The Trexler Trust has been a stable and dependable source of support for dozens of Lehigh County charities for over 90 years. We know these grants will touch nearly every resident of Lehigh County in some way,” said L. Charles Marcon, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “We are especially pleased that we had the resources to support organizations that provide essential food to our neighbors when the need is high and government funding has become uncertain.”
A perpetual trust, The Trexler Trust was established by the will of Harry C. Trexler after his death in 1933 and the death of his wife, Mary Mosser Trexler in 1934. In 1935, the Trust made its first distribution of $165,827.10. Since that time, more than $193 million has been awarded to the City of Allentown and Lehigh County charities for the benefit of Lehigh County citizens.
Applications for the 2026 grant cycle will open September 1, 2025, and will be accepted through December 1. Charities must be domiciled in Lehigh County to be eligible. More information is available at trexlertrust.org.
Trustees of the Harry C. Trexler Trust are Barnet Fraenkel, Jamie Musselman, L. Charles Marcon, J. Scott Pidcock and Donald Bernhard.
Agencies and 2025 awards:
Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement the food pantry $51,500.00
to support operating expenses $90,000.00
Allentown Art Museum Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $175,000.00
Allentown Band, Inc. (The) Coopersburg, PA
operating support for Lehigh County programs $3,000.00
Allentown Parknership, (The) Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $300,000.00
Allentown Public Library Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $75,000.00
Allentown School District Foundation Allentown, PA
support the literacy program $25,000.00
Allentown Symphony Association, Inc Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $60,000.00
Allentown, City of Allentown, PA
improvement, extension and maintenance of all its Parks $1,921,750.00
Animal Food Bank Services, Inc. Emmaus, PA
support operating expenses for Lehigh County services $5,000.00
Baum School of Art (The) Allentown, PA
support City Arts Camp $27,500.00
support operating expenses $100,000.00
first installment on a $300,000 pledge for building expansion $100,000.00
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lehigh Valley, Inc. Allentown, PA
support operating expenses for Lehigh County programs $16,000.00
Boys and Girls Club of Allentown Allentown, PA
support expenses for educational programs $65,000.00
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center Allentown, PA
support operating expenses for Lehigh County services $30,000.00
Camelot for Children, Inc Allentown, PA
support Camp Camelot $3,000.00
Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA
support services for Lehigh County residents $3,000.00
Casa Guadalupe Center Allentown, PA
support the Pa’Lante education program $110,000.00
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Allentown, Inc. Allentown, PA
support Lehigh County immigration services $25,000.00
Cedar Crest College Allentown, PA
First installment of $50,000 pledge for scholarships to Lehigh Co. residents $25,000.00
Century Promise Allentown, PA
support programs in the Allentown School District $7,500.00
Civic Theatre of Allentown Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $25,000.00
Coalition for Appropriate Transportation Bethlehem, PA
support Lehigh County programs $5,000.00
Communities in Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania Allentown, PA
support programs in the Allentown School District $105,000.00
Community Action Development Corporation of the Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA
support distribution of produce to Lehigh County food pantries $15,000.00
support the Sixth Street Shelter $25,000.00
Community Bike Works Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement the food pantry $20,000.00
support Lehigh County programs and the food pantry $70,000.00
Community Music School Allentown, PA
support operating expenses for Lehigh County programs $35,000.00
Community Services for Children, Inc Allentown, PA
serve as the final installment for the expansion project $65,000.00
Coplay Public Library Coplay, PA
support operating expenses $15,000.00
Da Vinci Discovery Center of Science and Technology, Inc. (The) Allentown, PA
final installment on the expansion project $100,000.00
Emmaus Historical Society Emmaus, PA
support operating expenses $2,500.00
Emmaus Public Library Emmaus, PA
replace HVAC equipment $15,000.00
Essentials Café Bethlehem, PA
support operating expenses $5,000.00
Everlasting Life Ministries Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement the food pantry $15,000.00
support Lehigh County operating expenses $35,000.00
Family Promise of the Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $20,000.00
Fund to Benefit Children & Youth, Inc Whitehall, PA
support basic needs of Lehigh County residents $5,000.00
Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley & Pocono Fogelsville, PA
support programs in the Allentown School District $7,500.00
Grace Community Foundation Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement the food pantry $15,000.00
support operating expenses $38,000.00
Grace Montessori School Allentown, PA
provide scholarships for Allentown children $10,000.00
Guardianship Support Agency, Inc Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $10,000.00
Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA
support the Lehigh County Home Repair Program $100,000.00
Haven House Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement the food pantry $15,000.00
support building improvements and the food pantry $30,000.00
iHave iNeed Schnecksville, PA
underwrite a one-year Food Rescue Hero app subscription
to benefit Lehigh County food pantries $5,000.00
Jewish Community Center of Allentown Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $90,000.00
Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA
support building security improvements $20,000.00
Jewish Family Service of the Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement the food pantry $15,000.00
Community Connections program for Lehigh Co residents $45,000.00
Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation Schnecksville, PA
invest in technology for workforce development training $50,000.00
Lehigh Conference of Churches Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement food services $40,000.00
support operating expenses $150,000.00
Lehigh County Historical Society Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $40,000.00
Lehigh County Humane Society Allentown, PA
support vet clinic services for low-income, Lehigh Co. pet owners $10,000.00
Lehigh County Senior Citizens, Inc Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $25,000.00
Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, Inc Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $35,000.00
Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, Inc Allentown, PA
support building renovations to the Neffs center $30,000.00
Literacy Center (The) Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $70,000.00
Manito Life Center Allentown, PA
support programs for Lehigh County residents $40,000.00
Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley Allentown, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement food services $25,000.00
expand delivery services in center-city Allentown $50,000.00
Mercy School for Special Learning Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $45,000.00
Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley (The) Allentown, PA
support the resurfacing of the playing field $5,000.00
Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA
support the Community Internship Program $20,000.00
Neighborhood Center, (The) Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $42,000.00
Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority Slatington, PA
support the summer camp $10,000.00
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (The) Center Valley, PA
support educational programs in Lehigh County $20,000.00
Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $7,000.00
Pinebrook Family Answers Allentown, PA
Mental and behavioral health programs for Lehigh County youth $95,000.00
Pioneer Band of Allentown, Inc Allentown, PA
support Lehigh County performances $1,000.00
Planned Parenthood Keystone Allentown, PA
support expenses of the Allentown Health Center $25,000.00
Pratyush Sinha Foundation Allentown, PA
support programs in the Allentown School District $7,000.00
Public Library of Catasauqua Catasauqua, PA
support operating expenses $15,000.00
Refugee Community Center Allentown, PA
support program expenses $40,000.00
Repertory Dance Theatre Emmaus, PA
support programs in the Allentown School District $6,000.00
Resurrected Community Development Corporation, Inc Allentown, PA
support the James Lawson Freedom School in Allentown $25,000.00
Ripple Community Inc Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $125,000.00
Salvation Army (The) Allentown, PA
supplemental grant for food services $25,000.00
support programs and services in Allentown $175,000.00
SATORI, Ltd Allentown, PA
support the Gift of Music program in Allentown School District $1,500.00
Sights for Hope Allentown, PA
provide services and adaptive technology for Lehigh Co. residents $25,000.00
Slatington Public Library Slatington, PA
support improvements to the building $20,000.00
Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, Inc Allentown, PA
support for services to Lehigh County residents $35,000.00
Union and West End Cemetery Association Allentown, PA
support replacement of street trees $7,000.00
Via of the Lehigh Valley, Inc Bethlehem, PA
support vocational training services for Lehigh County residents $40,000.00
Whitehall Township Public Library Whitehall, PA
support ADA building improvements $17,500.00
Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative Whitehall, PA
as a one-time grant to supplement the food pantry $10,000.00
purchase food and personal care items $15,000.00
Wildlands Conservancy, Inc Emmaus, PA
support operating expenses $40,000.00
Wildlife Information Center Slatington, PA
support operating expenses $30,000.00
Young Women’s Christian Association Allentown, PA
support operating expenses $75,000.00
Information provided to TVL by:
Michael Drabenstott
