West Chester, Pa (October 17, 2024) – Thirteen Chester County nonprofit organizations that serve diverse communities were awarded state funding to combat hate crimes by enhancing the safety and security of their facilities, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced.
The funds, approved by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) today, are as follows:
- Beth Israel Congregation of Chester County $15,000
- Chabad Lubavitch $24,000
- Congregation B’nai Jacob $17,000
- Cornerstone Christian Fellowship $16,000
- Domestic Violence Center of Chester County $70,000
- Grace Assembly of God $7,000
- Islamic Society of Chester County $150,000
- Kesher Israel Congregation $49,875
- Masjid Al Rahman of Chester Country, Inc $25,000
- Mount Carmel Church of God in Christ $25,000
- Saint Patrick Roman Catholic Church $50,000
- South Eastern Pennsylvania Sikh Gurdwara $25,000
- Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church $150,000
The funding for Chester County organizations, more than $620,000 in total, comes as part of $10 million awarded statewide to 208 nonprofit organizations across 31 Pennsylvania counties through the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program.
Established by the legislature in Act 83 of 2019, the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program provides grants to nonprofit organizations that principally serve individuals, groups, or institutions that often face bias and hate crimes. Eligible grant projects include a variety of measures to enhance security ranging from equipment and technology upgrades to planning, threat awareness, and response training.
Comitta, then a state representative, voted for the legislation (House Bill 859) that created the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program. This year, as a state Senator, she supported doubling the program’s investment from $5 million to $10 million in the state budget.
“Hate, bigotry, and threats of violence and intimidation will not be tolerated in Chester County or in any place for that matter. I hope these investments help give faith communities added peace of mind that we all have the right to worship freely, safely, and without fear,” Comitta said. “And I am pleased that we expanded Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program to protect families and safeguard religious freedom in more communities across the Commonwealth.”
“All Pennsylvanians deserve to worship peacefully, no matter what you look like, where you come from, or who you pray or do not pray to,” said Governor Shapiro. “That’s why, in our latest budget, we doubled the Commonwealth’s investment in the nonprofit security grant fund to help places like mosques, churches, and synagogues equip themselves with security measures. Under Lieutenant Governor Davis’ leadership at PCCD, we’re working together to drive out this funding to our communities and ensure that every Pennsylvanian has the real freedom that comes when you can walk down the street in your community without worrying about violence.”
“The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to fostering a sense of safety and belonging for everyone, ensuring that no matter who you are, where you come from, or what you believe in, you can access services without the fear of hate or violence,” said Lt. Governor Austin Davis, chair of PCCD. “Thanks to the additional $5 million our Administration secured in this year’s budget, 102 entities, out of the 208 awarded, who have never received this funding before will be able to strengthen security at their facilities, ensuring those they serve feel safer while accessing services.”
The Pennsylvania Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program, now in its fifth year, was established in response to the 2018 attack on the Jewish community at the Tree of Life, New Light, and Dor Hadash congregations in Pittsburgh.
Since its inception, the program has provided $25 million in funding to more than 580 organizations. Based on reported data of the number of people who visit these facilities, it is estimated that approximately four million people across the Commonwealth have been impacted by this funding to date.
PCCD selects awardees in consultation with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and the Pennsylvania State Police. Eligible applicants are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication. The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.
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