Marking its 70th anniversary, The R.K. Laros Foundation has announced its 2021 grants, as well as a big branding change in honor of its founder’s equally committed spouse.

The newly-christened Helen & R.K. Laros Foundation has presented grants totaling $232,900 local organizations, including:

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem a $10,000 contribution to the Giving Bach Campaign in support of the Artistic Director & Conductor Endowment Fund honoring retiring Artistic Director, Greg Funfgeld;

Bethlehem Area Public Library $10,000 to support the costs to upgrade the audio/visual capabilities in its meeting rooms at the Main Library;

Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering, Inc. $10,000 to support the operating costs of the shelter during the 2021-22 winter months;

Bethlehem Food Co-Op $10,000 to support the costs of the Community Room at the new 250 East Broad Street location;

Bloom, formerly known as Truth for Women $10,000 to support the costs of replacing windows and doors at two of Bloom’s residences;

Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem $20,000 to support the costs of system upgrades for heating and lighting in their program spaces at the 52-year-old clubhouse;

Bethlehem Branch of the Greater Lehigh Valley YMCA, $20,000 to support the costs of Phase II of the Bethlehem Branch Child Care Center;

Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley $10,000 to support the costs of installing a new air conditioning unit at Basilio Huertas Senior Center at HCLV;

Kellyn Foundation $10,000 to support the costs of purchasing two cooler units to support the strategy of providing fresh, local, non-local produce and healthy Lifestyle Medicine Meals;

Lehigh University $20,000 as part of the Foundation’s Associate next generation Trustee program supporting Outfit supporting the establishment of the brand new food pantry at Fountain Hill Elementary School, the R.K. Laros Foundation Endowed Prize for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation & Sponsorship of the the Lehigh University Community Service Office’s Livin LaVida Lehigh for 50 Broughal Middle School students to experience what it is like to be a college student for a day at Lehigh;

Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley $10,000 to endow in perpetuity the Laros Family Volunteer Award;

National Museum of Industrial History, $15,000 to support the costs of vertical access to the second floor by installing two elevators, shaft walls, door frames and metal pan stairs on either end of the facility;

New Bethany Ministries $20,000 to support the costs of replacing the flooring in the Transitional Housing Program;

Rosemont Lutheran Church $15,000 to support the costs of replacing the existing windows in Laros Hall with more energy-efficient windows and installing french drains on the lower level;

St. Luke’s University Network Hospital $10,000 to support the costs of purchasing a new dental van to serve students in the Bethlehem School District to positively impact overall health with accessible dental care;

Stephen’s Place $10,000 to support the costs of remodeling the residents’ second-floor bathroom;

Touchstone Theatre $2,900 to support the costs of the installation of a recovery ventilator with fresh air exchanges to the recently installed HVAC unit (also R.K.Laros Foundation supported) that heats & cools the theatre;

United Way of the Lehigh Valley a $10,000 contribution to the 2021 Campaign chaired by long-serving Laros Foundation Trustee, Laurie Gostley Hackett, honoring her commitment, dedication and service to the R.K.Laros Foundation;

Valley Youth House $10,000 to support the costs of adding wood decking to the base of the Archery Range pavilion.