C.F. Martin & Co. Charitable Foundation announced grants of 63 grants $400,000 to Lehigh Valley and national organizations at its December 2021 board meeting.

The Foundation was established by Christian Frederick Martin IV and Diane S. Martin in 1996. Since 1998, C.F. Martin & Co. has contributed to the Foundation every year (but one) to support Foundation programs. Over 25 years of giving, the Foundation has granted $4.05 million to nonprofit organizations.

The Foundation Board said, “We would be remiss if we did not pay tribute to Vice President Diane S. Martin, who if not for her incredible generous spirit and the time she contributed to many philanthropic causes, the Foundation would not be what it is today. The Foundation Board deeply mourns her recent death on Jan. 4, 2022. Diane’s legacy of generosity, warmth, and concern for justice and sustainability will continue to inspire and motivate Foundation giving. The Foundation will continue supporting causes and organizations that were dear to Diane’s heart.”

The Foundation grant supported 13 Lehigh Valley organizations in arts and culture, human service, education and environmental action. The area’s rich cultural environment was supported by Foundation grants to

Allentown Symphony Association

ArtsQuest

Community Music School

Godfrey Daniels

Lehigh Valley Arts Council

Moravian Historical Society

Nazareth Center for the Arts

Northampton City Historical & Genealogical Society

PBS39

State Theatre Center for the Arts

Touchstone Theatre

WDIY 88.1

As human service needs expand during the pandemic, Foundation funding supported 18 Lehigh Valley organizations addressing poverty, hunger and homelessness:

Allentown Rescue Mission

Bloom – Lehigh Valley

Center for Humanistic Change

Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley

Community Bike Works

Family Connection of Easton Inc.

Greater Valley YMCA – Nazareth Branch

Lifepath

Meals on Wheels

Miller Keystone Blood Center

Morningstar Senior Living Foundation

Nazareth Area Food Bank

New Bethany Ministries

ProJeCt of Easton Inc.

Second Harvest Food Bank

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley

Valley Youth House

Visiting Nurse Association of St. Lukes.

The Foundation funded six Lehigh Valley educational organizations:

Da Vinci Science Center

Moravian University

Muhlenberg College

Bethlehem Area Public Library

Nazareth Area Public Library

Northampton Community College Foundation.

NCC Foundation received the largest grant, $35,000 to support the college’s guitar-building program. Other area grants went to Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Easton Development Partnership, and Nazareth Economic Development Commission.

Beyond the Lehigh Valley, the Foundation made 21 grants to organizations, mainly for programs in guitar performance, education and research:

317 Community Music Center (ME)

Ashokan Center (NY)

At the Tabernacle (NJ)

Beyond the Bars (PA)

Birthplace of Country Music (TN)

Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings (HI)

Folk Alliance International (MO)

Fox Chase Cancer Center (PA)

Guitars in the Classroom (CA)

International Bluegrass Music Museum (KY)

Morris Museum (NJ)

Musical Instrument Museum (AZ)

Museum of Making Music (CA)

Music Maker Relief Foundation (NH)

National Music Museum (SD)

Old Town School of Folk Music (IL)

Philadelphia Outward Bound (PA)

Rockingham County Educational Foundation (NC)

University of North Carolina Libraries (NC)

WHYY (PA)

Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour (KY)

Woody Guthrie Center (OK)

2021 Foundation Directors:

President: C. F. Martin IV, Executive Board Chair of C.F. Martin & Co.

Vice President: Diane S. Martin

Treasurer: James Dunleavy, vice president, Finance and Operations, Northampton Community College

Secretary: Debra Karlowitch, retired Vice President C.F. Martin & Co. of Human Resources and Foundation

Dick Boak, retired Director C.F. Martin & Co. of Museum, Archives, and Special Projects

Susan Kubik, Managing Principal of eAdvancement

Matthew Kennedy, Project Manager at C.F. Martin & Co.

Dr. Roland Kushner, Professor of Business at Muhlenberg College

Charles J. Peischl, Esq., of Peters, Moritz, Peischl, Zulick, Landes & Brienza

Two new board members were elected in 2021: Mariclare Groller, executive assistant at C.F. Martin & Co. and John McElroy, Corporate Counsel, C.F. Martin & Co.

The Foundation accepts applications for 2022 grants between August and Sept. 2.

Guidelines are available at this link or by email from dickboak@gmail.com.