Over 20 Allentown-area nonprofits were awarded nearly $105,000 on July 7 during the seventh annual Erie Insurance (ERIE) Allentown Charity Challenge golf tournament. Held at the Saucon Valley Country Club, Erie Insurance agents competed to award a share of the “prize” money to a local nonprofit of their choice.
The winning golf team was Cellucci Foran Insurance Agency, which donated its $15,000 first-place tournament prize to HEADstrong Foundation. The remaining funds were divided among all charities, with donations ranging from $2,000 to $15,000.
“For over 100 years, ERIE has been supporting the communities where our Agents, Employees and Policyholders live and serve,” said Jenny Geertson, community outreach director for Erie Insurance. “Events like the Charity Challenge enable us to gather and celebrate the important work these non-profits are doing every day. Knowing that the contributions from the Charity Challenge help to advance the critical missions of 21 local non-profits is something we are very proud of.”
The Erie Insurance Charity Challenge began in 2010 in Erie, Pa. It expanded to Allentown in 2017 and combined, the two tournaments have contributed more than $2 million to nonprofits in those communities. Erie Insurance covers the cost of the events and 100 percent of the entry fees and sponsorships are donated to charities.
The nonprofits receiving funds in Allentown this year include: Ann Silverman Community Health Clinic, Chester County's Children, Crime Victims Council of The Lehigh Valley, Face to Face, For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation, Freedom First Rescue, HEADstrong Foundation, Healthy Adams County's Adams County Women's Cancer Coalition, Hope for Hallie, Lauren's Hope Foundation, Meals on Wheels of Lehigh Valley, New Bethany Ministries, Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania, She's Somebody's Daughter, Tails of Valor® Paws of Honor, Inc., The Fund of Hope, The Greater Chambersburg Chamber Foundation, Trappe Fire company, West Shore Bureau of Fire and Worthwhile Wear.