BERKS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
SELECTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR ANTI-DRUG FUND

Reading (June 14, 2007) – Berks County Community Foundation today announced the creation of an advisory committee to develop grant guidelines and review grant applications for The Berks County District Attorney’s Anti-Drug Fund, which was established earlier this month. The $1.1 million fund will make grants to support drug enforcement efforts and community based programs. 

The following individuals have agreed to serve on the advisory committee:

• The Honorable Elizabeth Ehrlich, a retired judge from the Berks County Court of Common Pleas;
• John Kramer, executive director of the Center for Community Leadership, which works with Berks County municipalities on government issues;
• Karen Miller, executive director of Berks County Community Foundation’s Pennsylvania Outreach Project, former secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs, and former mayor of the City of Reading;
• Ralph “Rick” Periandi, former deputy commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police; and
• Dr. Andres Pumariega, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center; professor of Psychiatry at Temple University School of Medicine, and clinical professor of Psychiatry at the University of Medicine and New Jersey-Camden campus.

“We’re confident that the members of this advisory committee will provide fair and thoughtful guidance on the distribution of this money to support local drug enforcement efforts,” said Richard C. Mappin, vice president for grantmaking at Berks County Community Foundation. “I’m honored that this group of highly regarded professionals has volunteered to serve the community in this capacity.”

The advisory committee will draft grant guidelines and distribute them to local police forces and community organizations later this summer. The committee will then review grant requests and recommend which should be funded to the Community Foundation’s board of directors, which has final authority to approve all grants.  Grants will be distributed over a five-year period. 

“The funds will be used in innovative ways, and will help continue the Community Foundation’s commitment to making our region a safe one for our families,” Mappin said.

About Berks County Community Foundation

Berks County Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing and distributing funds to meet existing and emerging community needs. The foundation currently manages $42 million in charitable assets, which provide more than $2 million in grants and scholarships annually for the region. For more information, log on to www.bccf.org or call 610.685.2223.