C.F. Martin & Co. Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce 63 grants totaling $400,000 to Lehigh Valley and national organizations from 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 organisations.
“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 January 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.” – C.F. Martin & Co
The Foundation grants 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 6 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 the 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 were:
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 1, 2022, and September 2, 2022.
Guidelines are available at this link or by email from dickboak@gmail.com.