Lehigh Valley Road Runners has a longstanding Grant Program that supports the local Greater Lehigh Valley community as it relates to health and fitness through running. Many of our grant requests come from local school track and cross country teams, from elementary to the high school level, to cover things such as uniforms, team shirts, equipment, and transportation costs. The Grant Committee has also approved grants to assist with operating costs at the Allentown YMCA, bring the prestigious USATF Club Cross Country Championships to the Lehigh Valley twice, and support trail signage and trail maintenance to the D&L Heritage Trail, among others.
The absence of grant requests from entities other than local schools and the occasional non-school-related organization could partly be due to the lack of LVRR outreach. For this reason, in March 2021, the LVRR Board of Directors met and decided that outreach activity and cooperation with local trail groups is consistent with both the LVRR mission, as well as the RRCA purpose.
This past July, the LVRR Grant Committee approved a request from Wildlands Conservancy to help fund trails and signage on a new nature preserve planned to open in Fall 2022. It will be number 14 in their growing list of nature preserves. LVRR presented a check to Wildlands in August.
Grant Applications must be submitted electronically which can be done at any time during the year. Grants are considered on a rolling basis. The Grant committee will review each submission and awards will be made in a timely manner. To learn more, please visit our Grant Request page.
[Photo, L to R: Grant committee members Neal Novak and Jill Forsythe (chairperson), Elizabeth Dugan (VP of Development and Communications, Wildlands Conservancy), Leslie Billowitch (LVRR President).