The Junior League of Lancaster has announced the winners for their first Annual Community Grant winners. The three winners were Milagro House, Thaddeus Stevens Foundation and Susquehanna Heritage’s Females Inspiring Real Empowerment (FIRE). Grants Chair Sarah Lesser stated that she is “proud of the Committee and the generosity of the Junior League members for investing funds to the community that will directly impact Resilient Youth and Girls in STEM in Lancaster County.”

Milagro House’s mission is to provide educational programming, housing and life skills training for women and their children who would otherwise be experiencing homelessness. They help women get an education by removing the barriers to betterment and self-sufficiency that women in poverty often experience. The $2,500 grant will be going to add STEM components to the children’s programming at Milagro House.

Thaddeus Stevens Foundation will receive a $1,500 grant to provide materials for hands-on projects during the one-day STEM focused event at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology for the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s annual Women in Business Mentoring program. This event reaches 100 female junior and senior students annually. The goal of the event is to raise awareness of and encourage more young women to pursue education for STEM-related careers. Research links hands-on STEM activities with more interest in STEM subjects, so girls will make an item they can take home.

Susquehanna Heritage is partnering with Columbia School District’s Females Inspiring Real Empowerment (FIRE) mentoring program to take students to the Susquehanna River to learn about STEM and understanding the watershed. The $1,000 grant will help fund a day trip down the river for hands-on learning.

Shown from left to right: Columbia Crossings Manager Hope Byers and JLL Grants Chair, Sarah Lesser

Shown from left to right: Thaddeus Stevens’ Director of Grants Deb Strubel and JLL Grants Chair Sarah Lesser