The Greater Pottstown Foundation’s “Round the Town” scholarships have helped make college possible for many Montgomery County Community College students, especially those attending the Pottstown Campus. For over 18 years, the GPF has provided more than $250,300 to help MCCC students.
While a scholarship may open the door to a student’s educational future, it also represents an important investment in the future of the entire community. The Greater Pottstown Foundation recently awarded a $26,000 gift—through the Montgomery County Community College (PA) Legacy Fund—to support MCCC student scholarships.
The Greater Pottstown Foundation’s “Round the Town” scholarships have helped make college possible for many MCCC students, especially those attending the Pottstown Campus. For over 18 years, the GPF has provided more than $250,300 to help MCCC students.
“The Greater Pottstown Foundation has been a dedicated partner in helping to expand access to higher education for our students,” said Sarah Rudich, MCCC Senior Director of Institutional Advancement. “Their longstanding generosity reflects a deep belief in the power of education to transform not only individual lives, but entire communities. We are profoundly grateful for their continued investment in our students and in the future of Pottstown.”
One MCCC scholarship recipient, Brionna Walton, shared her appreciation in a letter to the GPF: “…The financial assistance you provided will be of great help to me in paying my educational expenses, and it will allow me to concentrate more of my time on studying. I also have a five-year-old. This will help tremendously. Thank you for your generosity and support. This means a lot to us students trying to finish school.”
In addition to the “Round the Town” scholarships, the GPF offers an annual $30,000 Shandy Hill Essay Contest Scholarship, awarded to a high school graduate to support their college education.
While the GPF’s primary focus has been education, it has also supported numerous impactful community initiatives, such as mentoring camp programs at Green Allies, Pottstown Library’s children’s programs, a pre-K summer program, art classes at ArtFusion 19464, and golf and tennis lessons for underprivileged youth.
Although the GPF has made a significant impact over the years for students and local organizations, the board members want to continue to broaden their impact.
“We’ve been a quiet, behind-the-scenes organization, but now we want to get the word out about the Greater Pottstown Foundation’s existence, so we can continue to help more students reach their goals and ultimately shape their communities,” said board member Gregory Bell.
A major step in expanding awareness has been the launch of the GPF’s new website, designed by board member Hannah Bell, which highlights its mission and provides information about how to donate to support its scholarship programs.
For Paul A. Prince, Esquire, president of the Greater Pottstown Foundation Board, education has always been a driving force.
“The cornerstone of my success is my education,” Prince said. “I value my education and what it has done for me. The future of Pottstown is dependent upon education and retention. This is a small part I can play to make education available to the greater Pottstown community.”
The genesis of the GPF traces back to a generous gift from Shandy Hill, who co-founded the Pottstown Mercury in 1931 with William Heister and served as managing editor until he retired in 1967. Honoring Hill’s wishes, Prince and Prince (now Prince and Kurtas) established The Greater Pottstown Foundation as a Pennsylvania-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The GPF’s earliest work centered on supporting college scholarships through the Shandy Hill Essay Competition for seniors from Pottstown, Pottsgrove, the Hill School and Owen J. Roberts high schools.
Today, the GPF remains committed to helping students and the community while keeping operational costs minimal through volunteerism. Board members include Paul A. Prince (president), Patricia Crosson, Chris Webb Heidenreich, Anthony Giamo, Gregory Bell (secretary), and Matt Murray. Hannah Bell volunteers as the social media manager. To learn more about the Greater Pottstown Foundation, visit the Greater Pottstown Foundation website and follow the organization on Instagram and Facebook.
As community partners like the Greater Pottstown Foundation continue expanding educational opportunity, MCCC continues to strengthen its capacity to support students through the new Montgomery County Community College (PA) Legacy Fund, the College’s official philanthropic arm. The MCCC (PA) Legacy Fund advances MCCC’s mission by providing resources that enhance academic programs, support employee development and improve campus initiatives that increase access to higher education. These investments ensure students have the support and opportunities they need to thrive in college and beyond. To learn more about the MCCC (PA) Legacy Fund, visit mc3.edu/legacyfund.