American Heart Association
From humble beginnings, the American Heart Association has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites our more than 40 million volunteers and supporters as well as our more than 2,800 employees. Learn more about our impact over time.
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Our size and scope let us have real impact. We have invested more than $4.5 billion in research, more than any U.S. nonprofit organization. Learn more about our life-changing funded research breakthroughs.
Bell & Evans
Bell & Evans
REACH has been a tremendous resource to Bell and Evans. Many of our team members have access-to-care barriers (namely, transportation, language, and literacy) so developing onsite, culturally sensitive opportunities is vital to getting team members the care they need. The REACH team was instrumental in assisting us most recently with an onsite COVID vaccine/booster clinic. They were influential in pre-clinic education and absolutely priceless supporting the vaccine/booster clinic the day itself. We couldn’t have done it without them.
“Bell & Evans looks forward to continuing the ongoing partnership with the REACH team. We see the value of the relationships they are developing with Bell & Evans team members and the potential of what this means moving forward.”
Mary Hahn,
Vice President, Health and Wellness
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Hawk,
Manager, Chronic Care and Health Outcomes
Jesenia Ridge
Senior Medical Office Coordinator
(Bell and Evans Onsite Clinics)
Berks Nature
Berks Nature is a 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation organization that has been serving the Berks County community since 1974. For 41 years we were known as The Berks County Conservancy. While our name has changed, the quality and nature of our conservation projects remain the same. Land, water, trails, community gardens, education programs, State of the Environment, Eco-Camp, and our valued partnerships will continue. You will see this work reflected in the following sub-brands of Berks Nature as we move forward!
We welcome your involvement in many ways! Become a member today, Volunteer, Make a Donation, attend an upcoming program at The Nature Place Get involved today…help to protect nature and connect others to nature!
Two of Berks Nature’s projects have expanded and benefitted from the addition of the REACH team as a local partner. Berks Nature Rx has experienced a significant advertising campaign that resulted in increased participation of people spending more time outside. Our Angelica Creek Trail extension project is moving through approvals and our REACH team has provided resources, input and ideas to help it become a reality. We look forward to our continued partnership with REACH to engage more residents in the City of Reading.
“REACH has helped us advance several of our projects by providing support and expertise. We value partnerships in this community to help connect more people
to nature.”
Tami Shimp,
VP Development & Community Relations
Jeremy Haymaker,
Trail & Preserve Manager
Regan Moll-Dohm,
Director of Communications
Michael Griffith,
Educator & Watershed Specialist
Berks Nature Rx 
Berks Nature Rx is an easy way to introduce (or re-introduce) nature into your routine weekly life. The Berks County Medical Society and Berks Nature believe that doctors, patients, and the community in general need to utilize the great outdoors to help prevent disease, and as a therapy for physical and mental challenges.
Berks Nature Rx program was initially funded in part by United Way of Berks County. We appreciate our current partners, Penn State Health and Berks County Medical Society, for helping us grow the Berks Nature Rx program.
BMA Farm
In 2013 Blue Mountain Academy restarted its agriculture program with a couple of used greenhouses and a small vegetable garden. Today we offer our students a wide variety of agricultural experiences including the following:
- Beekeeping
- Caring for laying hens
- Food preservation
- Green housing, producing both plants and vegetables
- Growing herbs
- Hay production
- Large and small fruit production
- Large scale grain production
- Maple tree tapping
- Processing Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes
- Vegetable gardening
- Vending at Farmers’ Markets
Caring Cupboard
In the late summer of 2004, it was felt that the program should be expanded to help those in the community and become a ministry of the then Palmyra Area Cooperating Churches, now Palmyra – A Caring Community (PACC). A pilot program to see if there was a need for a community food program and if that program would be sustained by the community was launched. The Outreach Team of the PCOB was empowered with the responsibility of organizing and running the food bank which immediately became a food pantry.
Central PA Food Bank
The Central PA Food Bank is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing hunger in 27 counties across central Pennsylvania. By working with more than 1,000 local agencies and programs, we serve more than 200,000 people in need each month through our two Healthy Food Hubs, located in Harrisburg and Williamsport.
Our Mission Statement: fighting hunger, improving lives, strengthening communities
Our Bold Goal:
By 2025, our collaborative network will provide access to enough nutritious food for everyone struggling with hunger in each of the 27 counties we serve, and we will convene and nurture partnerships to make progress toward ending hunger.
The City of Lebanon is strategically located almost equidistant from Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Reading. Lebanon is accessible from the south via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and from the north by both I-81 and I-78. The City’s 25,000 residents are served by numerous public, private and non-profit entities that have a positive impact on the quality of life.
Originally known as Steitztown, Lebanon City was founded by George Steitz in 1740. On November 25, 1885, Lebanon was incorporated as a City of the third class. Since 1994, the City of Lebanon has operated as a Home Rule Municipality under the Mayor/Council form of government. The five-member Council is elected at large and all legislative powers are vested in Council. The Mayor serves as the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the City of Lebanon responsible for the Executive Branch of the government.
Family First Health
Family First Health
Family First Health is a federally qualified health center
(FQHC) that is accessible and community-minded. We take
a beyond healthy approach that goes outside the confines
of the doctor’s office. We strive to build a healthy community by being the accessible York community health center.
REACH is one of our community partners that we can depend on for support with any outreach events or efforts. They are willing to jump in and help if we host a community function,
a testing event, a vaccination clinic or any other event,
they are always ready to participate.
“At the start of the pandemic, REACH was instrumental in providing infographics to educate our patients. I enjoy interacting with REACH because their focus is to help wherever there’s a need.”
CarrieAnn Frolio
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Kathleen Byrne, MD
Anna Deraco, PA-C
Cathleen Kirkpatrick, CRNP-BC
Vicki Henderson, LPN
Clinical Supervisor
Heather Hoffman, LPN
Kori Falstick, MA
Francheska Lopez, MR
The Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania
The Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health, preventing disease, and promoting wellness.
Founded in 1973, FHCCP oversees and supports a diverse, 28-county network of organizations providing a range of vital services and care to thousands of women, men, children and adolescents each year. Services include women’s health care, cancer screening and education, tobacco prevention and cessation, nutrition advice and healthy foods, and HIV/AIDS support services.
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) was formed as a result of a strategic alignment of three existing business organizations serving Berks County: Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Greater Reading Economic Partnership; Greater Berks Development Fund. This unique and innovative partnership, which includes a 900-member Chamber of Commerce and Berks County’s two leading economic development organizations, represents a comprehensive approach to support the business community. The primary mission of the GRCA is to encourage business attraction, business expansion, job creation and business investment in an effort to foster and promote a thriving economy throughout Berks County. By aligning the three organizations, the GRCA can provide a more comprehensive set of supports and services and act as the single point of contact for companies looking to locate or expand in Berks County. In addition, through effective and ongoing advocacy efforts, the GRCA represents a powerful voice in promoting policies that foster a more business-friendly environment throughout the region.
Mission: To be Berks County’s leading resource for building a healthy, competitive business community.
Vision: Assist companies to retain, expand and grow their operations and employment and attract new business to Berks County.
Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank
The mission of Helping Harvest is to feed the hungry by acquiring and distributing food to people in need within the Berks and Schuykill counties, PA
Latino Connection
Latino Connection is the national leader in outreach and education specifically targeted at reaching low-income, underserved communities. We have extensive, proven experience forging initiatives that are first of their kind and span across the nation with corporate and nonprofit partnerships focused on a unified mission – educating, empowering, and uplifting the Latino community.
Founded by George Fernandez in 2014, Latino Connection creates and activates programming in low-income communities that address every aspect of the social determinants of health. Our vast array of initiatives are focused on reaching families who are low-income, underemployed, uninsured, and at risk of health issues that are often the product of a lack of resources, education, and technology. Latino Connection’s unparalleled success comes from its resilient and deeply-committed team that shares an unwavering vision for helping underserved, non-white communities.
“Our ongoing work and partnership with Penn State REACH have been an added value in our efforts to provide viable points of support to underserved communities. It has allowed us to expand our reach and catalog of resources to offer different audiences we engage with.”
George Fernandez, CEO
Jean Cubilette, Project Manager (vaccination and testing events)
Zuiry Gaytan, Project Manager (table event outreach and preregistration)
Yohanny Moncion, Brand Ambassador
Yndhira Mesa, Brand Ambassador
Katherine Vargas, Office Manager
Michelle Connett-Bergstein, Senior Graphic Designer
Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging
Serving Lebanon County Residents Age 60 and Over
The mission of the Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging is to develop, coordinate and promote a continuum of services that values and supports older adults as they age; empowers them to maintain independence, dignity and respect; and enhances their overall well-being and quality of life.
Lebanon Bicycle Recycle
Lebanon Bicycle Recycle
Beinvenido! We believe bicycles can make our community a better place to live and work. We want to empower people so that they can confidently ride a bike and know how to repair it. Lebanon Bicycle Recycle offers a hands-on program to repair bikes with an opportunity to earn a bike using volunteer hours.
Lebanon Bicycle Recycle accepts bikes and bike parts donations from the community, encourages and trains volunteers and riders to fix them with a commitment to lifelong riding! Let’s GO! Vamos!
Lebanon Bicycle Recycle has partnered with the REACH Project to increase physical activity through bicycling and provide access to bicycles and repairs to the community of Lebanon.
Lebanon County Christian Ministries
Lebanon County Christian Ministries assists people in need of emergency services such as food, clothing and shelter.
We do this by offering the hand of Christ through compassionate volunteers and staff, empowering individuals and families to overcome life’s obstacles.
Lebanon Diversity Social/Futuro
Lebanon Diversity Social/Futuro
Lebanon Family Health Services
The primary mission of Lebanon Family Health Services is to provide education, nutrition, and reproductive health services to the uninsured and underinsured families of Lebanon County with an emphasis on women, infants, and children.
“Our partnership with REACH has strengthened the ability of Lebanon
Family Health Services to reach the Latino population, connecting them
with wellness programs, nutrition education and breastfeeding support.”
Vicki DeLoatch, CFO
Donna Williams, COO
Maggie Progin, VP
Communications, Certified CHE
Holly Dolan, VP
Community Education, Certified CHE
Sara Wingert, Nutritionist, IBCLC
Beth Keeney, Breastfeeding Peer Outreach Coordinator, CLC
Lebanon Valley Conservancy
The Lebanon Valley Conservancy staff and board members continue to work to support and improve our local community and environment. Please feel free to reach out to us via phone, mail, email or Facebook. Take a break today and enjoy nature – it can be a great way to relax and reduce stress!
LebValCTA
The Lebanon Valley Community Tennis Association is partnering with REACH to promote the sport of tennis and encourage Lebanon community members to get active. LebValCTA believes kids should not be excluded from tennis because they don’t have enough money, they live in the wrong neighborhood, or they speak the wrong language. Tennis is at its best when it is an inclusive sport, attracting athletes from all walks of life.
Their mission is to provide a safe, accessible, supportive recreational and educational environment that uses tennis instruction and competitive play as community outreach to enhance the quality of life for Lebanon county residents.
Visit LebValCTA.org
“The REACH Team has been a great resource and partner as we work to build collaborations with established community organizations.”
Oakbrook Collective Impact Council
United Way of Berks County serves as the backbone of the Oakbrook Collective Impact Council (OCIC), whose goal is
to prioritize the identified needs and coordinate
collaborative efforts to respond to what Oakbrook
residents have identified as their critical issues. The Council consists of individuals representing various nonprofits, education partners, the corporate sector, and Oakbrook residents whose ongoing input is critical to this work.
Through a partnership with the REACH team, OCIC
surveyed Oakbrook residents in the fall of 2020 regarding various needs and barriers. We again partnered with REACH to conduct Community Conversations in July of 2021 and are in the process of collaboratively coordinating a door-to-door resident survey for the summer of 2022.
“We value the skills, resources and dedication the REACH team provides to OCIC’s ongoing engagement and feedback from Oakbrook residents.”
Guadalupe Flores,
Berks Community Health Center, Oakbrook Outreach Specialist
Mary Jimenez,
United Way of Berks County, Early Childhood and Community Engagement Program Manager
Jennifer Tinsman,
United Way of Berks County, Community Impact Associate
Penn St. Farmer’s Market
The Penn St. Farmer’s Market is an open-air, seasonal farmers market in the heart of downtown Reading, PA. The Market features local farm produce, fresh meats, baked goods, locally owned restaurants and food trucks, and more! The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance and the Market Team are committed to hosting a variety of family and nutritional programs in partnership with The Food Trust, featuring local musicians, kids crafts, and highlighting community resources.
We aim to:
- Promote access to healthy and locally-sourced food in the City of Reading.
- Cultivate a thriving seasonal event through free entertainment, education, and community programming to engage all community members.
- Contribute to downtown Reading revitalization by transforming public space into a vibrant destination on a weekly basis.
The Issue:
In 2013 a Food Assessment for the City of Reading was conducted to determine the extent of food access and insecurity. The Assessment found that there are fewer grocery store establishments per 100,000 people than the rest of the State and Country. To address access to healthy, fresh foods it is critical to continue to strengthen and promote the farmers’ market network in the City of Reading. As the prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and other diet-related illnesses rise, particularly concentrated in low-income urban and rural communities, improving the food environment can have a long-lasting impact on community health.
The Solution:
Enter the Penn Street Market, where local, healthy, and fresh foods are important pillars of the downtown Reading Market. Every Thursday in June through September from 10 AM to 2 PM the community can come together to purchase fresh local fruits, vegetables, meats, and other healthy goods.
A central feature of the Penn Street Market are the weekly SNAP nutrition education programming and demonstrations developed by The Food Trust of Philadelphia – Reading, PA team. The educational demonstrations are interactive and bi-lingual – offering an opportunity for everyone to learn more about healthy food choices and ingredients. All participants walk away with a weekly recipe that features seasonal fruits and vegetables that can be purchased from various vendors at the Market.
The Penn Street Market is for everyone – the team loves to bring people together on a weekly basis on beautiful Penn Square (5th and Penn Streets) in the heart of downtown Reading.
The Market (at participating vendors) accepts SNAP (food stamps), WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program vouchers, and Berks Farm Bucks and provide helpful nutrition information to ensure that fresh, local foods are available to everyone.
Penn State Health St. Joseph
Penn State Health is a multi-hospital health system serving patients and communities across 29 counties in central Pennsylvania. It employs more than 16,500 people system wide.
The system includes Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State Children’s Hospital, and Penn State Cancer Institute based in Hershey, Pa.; Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill, Pa.; Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center in Reading, Pa.; and more than 2,300 physicians and direct care providers at more than 125 medical office locations. Additionally, the system jointly operates various health care providers, including Penn State Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center, Hershey Endoscopy Center, Horizon Home Healthcare and the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute.
In December 2017, Penn State Health partnered with Highmark Health to facilitate creation of a value-based, community care network in the region.
Penn State Health shares an integrated strategic plan and operations with Penn State College of Medicine, the University’s medical school. With campuses in State College and Hershey, Pa., the College of Medicine boasts a portfolio of more than $100 Million in funded research and more than 1,700 students and trainees in medicine, nursing, and other health care professions and biomedical research.
The Food Trust
The Food Trust is a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food and information to make healthy decisions. Headquartered in Philadelphia, The Food Trust works with neighborhoods, schools, grocers, farmers and policymakers in the city and across the country to develop a comprehensive approach to improved food access that combines nutrition education and greater availability of affordable, healthy food.
Since 1992, The Food Trust has been working to ensure that everyone has access to affordable, nutritious food and information to make healthy decisions.
The Food Trust’s comprehensive approach includes improving food environments and teaching nutrition education in schools; working with corner store owners to increase healthy offerings and helping customers make healthier choices; managing farmers markets in communities that lack access to affordable produce; and encouraging grocery store development in underserved communities.
“Connecting with REACH to conduct a needs assessment with Corner Stores in the City of Reading, aim to increase the variety, and quality of fresh produce available in our communities.”
Alex Roche
Project Manager – Adult Education, Reading Team
Jenn Ramirezv
Project Coordinator – Healthy Corner Store Initiative
United Way of Berks County
United Way of Berks County helps people in need and addresses critical issues to make our community a better place for everyone. Our efforts are rooted in those fundamental principles, as we bring the right mix of people and organizations together to focus on our community’s health and human service needs and to create lasting changes throughout Berks County.
Our work is centered on raising and distributing funds to support a vital network of health and human services, as well as tackling our community’s key issues and working towards solutions in the areas of Education, Health, Financial Stability and Safety Net Services.
When we LIVE UNITED, we can all be part of the change we want to see in our community.
Mission: United Way of Berks County improves lives by inspiring collaboration, volunteerism and financial support to build a stronger community.
Vision: Uniting our community to improve lives.
United Way of Lebanon County
United Way of Lebanon County fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.
United Way of Lebanon County focuses on the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our communities. Our small team of Lebanon County natives is augmented by a strong Board of Directors, active community volunteers, and a variety of committees and partnerships.
We work collaboratively with corporate partners, service agencies, and other local organizations to ensure that resources (knowledge and capital) are appropriately aligned to address the needs in our community. We believe that bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives allows us to collectively and more effectively address the issues that face Lebanon County.
As a trusted community leader, United Way of Lebanon County facilitates community partnerships, leads local nonprofit organizations, and works with many in our community to ensure a high quality of life for everyone in the Lebanon Valley.
WellSpan Health
By working as one coordinated health care organization, the people of WellSpan Health are transforming care through sophisticated clinical information technology and creating innovative new models as a means to create a high quality, exceptional patient experience regardless of where you are in central Pennsylvania or on life’s journey.
Union Community Care
Union Community Care is a community health center dedicated to offering the best in primary medical, dental and behavioral health services to the entire community that are both accessible and affordable.
They are recognized as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Patient-centered primary care is defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as care that is relationship-based with an orientation toward the whole person, and that includes partnering with patients and their families to understand and respect each patient’s unique needs, culture, values, and preferences.
WEPA Empowerment Center
WEPA Empowerment Center
WEPA Center is committed to fostering leadership, cultural competency, and individual growth by developing close partnerships with like-hearted organizations providing services and program opportunities throughout South Central, Pennsylvania.
The REACH team has been diligent in connecting with the Hispanic community in Lebanon County. Our partnership allows for a wider reach in order to get the maximum input from folks who live and work here. We also support each other with the mission of addressing the needs of the community in order to provide equitable, culturally appropriate opportunities. By sharing our expertise and resources we strengthen our communities.
“WEPA and the REACH Project are two like-hearted organizations committed to improving the overall health of the community.”
Rafael M. Torres, CEO and Founder
Maribel Torres, Co-Founder
Wholesome Wave
Wholesome Wave is fighting nutrition insecurity across the US by developing and deploying programs, platforms, and seed funding to help a network of community-based organizations address the lack of affordability and access to healthy food. We share outcomes of this work to successfully advocate for food and health systems change
When poverty and hunger strike, it’s not just about getting more food, it’s about getting the right food. Addressing food insecurity overshadows the real problem: nutrition insecurity. Nutrition insecurity leads to the diet-related conditions that are driving the highest rates of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
Wholesome Wave was built to solve nutrition insecurity.
Youth Advocate Programs Inc.
Youth Advocate Programs Inc. (YAP) is a national nonprofit solely committed to keeping youth and adults ‘safely home’ with their families, supported by their community.
They promote divesting in facilities and investing in communities to create continuums of care capable of providing exactly what each person needs to achieve well-being.