Allegheny County Delegation announces $1.5 million in security grants for nonprofit organizations
Rep. Sara Innamorato March 11, 2021 | 12:07 PM
HARRISBURG, March 10 – Members of the PA House Democratic Allegheny County Delegation said $1.5 million will be awarded to nonprofit organizations across the county for security projects.
The funding is being provided through the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund, set up by Act 83 of 2019 and administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The goal is to better protect individuals, groups and organizations that are susceptible to hate crimes. The program was created largely as a result of the Squirrel Hill synagogue attack of 2018 that claimed the lives of 11 Pennsylvanians.
Grant recipients can use the funds for security enhancements designed to protect the safety of the users of the facility that is owned and operated by the nonprofit organization. These include safety and security planning, purchase of security equipment, safety and security training, and other safety-related projects.
The following nonprofit organizations will receive grants through the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund in 2021:
- Chabad Lubavitch of the South Hills Inc.: $25,000
- Congregation Poale Zedeck: $150,000
- Tzohar Seminary: $56,312
- Saint Brendan’s Episcopal Church: $25,000
- Beth El Congregation of the South Hills/ United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism: $56,391
- Yeshivath Achei Tmimim of Pittsburgh: $75,000
- Ebenezer Baptist Church: $120,000
- The Neighborhood Academy: $18,800
- Congregation Beth Shalom: $24,500
- Temple Ohav Shalom of Pittsburgh: $25,000
- National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section: $45,112
- Shaare Torah Congregation: $24,800
- Shepherd Wellness Community: $16,805
- First Baptist Church of Penn Hills: $25,000
- Tree of Life: $150,000
- The Aleph Institute: $21,219
- Lubavitch Center: $75,000
- Allies for Health & Wellbeing: $38,023
- Bnai Emunoh Chabad INC: $75,000
- The New Riverview (Riverview Apartments Inc.): $94,000
- Jewish Association on Aging: $82,087
- Beth Hamedrash Hagodol-Beth Jacob Cemetery: $17,300
- Islamic Center of Pittsburgh: $50,000
- The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh Inc.: $15,902
- Temple B’nai Israel: $5,200
- Holy Family Institute: $150,000
- Greater Hope Restoration Ministries: $20,000
- Persad Center: $25,000
- Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh: 22,869
Priority for funding was given to organizations that indicated their organization and/or membership was the victim of a hate crime, that received credibly hate-crime threats, or that serves a population susceptible to hate crimes, which include people of certain races/ethnicities/ancestries, religions, sexual orientation, disabilities, genders and gender identities.
Allegheny County Delegation Chair Austin Davis, as well as state Reps. Sara Innamorato, Brandon Markosek, Jessica Benham, Dan Deasy, Tony DeLuca, Dan Frankel, Ed Gainey, Emily Kinkead, Anita Kulik, Summer Lee, Robert Matzie, Dan Miller, Nick Pisciottano and Jake Wheatley issued the following statement:
“We saw 11 lives taken from us because of the senseless attack at the synagogue in Squirrel Hill. It showed us that even as we take steps to make this country inclusive to everyone, certain groups of people are still subject to heinous hate crimes. We need to protect the groups and organizations that serve these individuals and ensure their safety and security. That’s what the funding awarded to organizations through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is designed to do.”
More than $5 million was awarded to nonprofit organizations across the state through this grant program.