11 nonprofits receive $28,000 from Hill School’s student philanthropists

The Hill School’s Student Philanthropy Council and faculty advisers, standing, from left: Cathy Skitko, Co-Adviser to the SPC and Hobart’s Run’s Director of Communications and Community Relations; Grace Carroll; Addison Beckey; Jeremy Lee; Devon Smith; Bates Bland; Co-President Atticus Short; Bobbi Jo Keefer, Co-Adviser to the SPC and Director of Leadership Programs at The Hill School. Seated, from left: Mao Motoyoshi; Lucy Lyu; Co-President Sophie Walsh; and Ella Grindle. Missing: Claire Wozniak and David Slavtcheff. (Photo via The Hill School)

POTTSTOWN — The Hill School’s Student Philanthropy Council recently awarded a total of $28,000 to 11 Pottstown-area nonprofits, including several operating in the Hobart’s Run neighborhood.

An awards ceremony was held last month in Hill’s Center For The Arts.

The following organizations received grants from the council: The Arts Bubble; Shady Hollow Assisted Riding; Second Wind Bicycles; the Pottstown Historical Society; Pottstown GoFourth!; Hearts of Humanity Community Development Corporation; Good Samaritan Services; The Ricketts Center of Boyertown Area Multi-Service; Be ReZilient; Animal House Project and Trellis for Tomorrow.

The council was created in 2008 through a gift to The Hill by the late Charles Frank III, Class of ’59, and his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Frank. The Franks’ goal was to encourage students to learn about the value and processes of philanthropy; develop life-long habits of volunteerism and “giving back;” and provide funds to nonprofits that enhance the lives of Pottstown-area residents.

The 12 Student Philanthropy Council members are elected after an application process that looks for students’ genuine interest in altruistic endeavors and in serving the community where Hill makes its home.

This year a record number of applicants — 30 — requested a total of $147,789.

“Ultimately, we made our selection with several factors in mind. We hoped to fund some relatively new programs that had never applied to the SPC before,” said Sophie Walsh, student philanthropy council co-president and a sixth form/senior from Pittsburgh. “We wanted to support a range of causes, from food insecurity and education to historic preservation and mental and physical wellness. Also, we aimed to leave an impact on a variety of demographics, from young children to senior citizens.”

“If we could, we would have funded each applicant. Needless to say, this process fulfills the founders’ goal of educating us, as students, about the heart-wrenching but ultimately rewarding experience encountered by philanthropists,” said Atticus Short, co-president of the council and a sixth form/senior from Chicago.

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