Upper Merion Township’s Board of Community Assistance Surpasses the Two-Million-Dollar Mark in Grants and Scholarships During the 12th Annual Awards Reception
On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the Valley Forge Casino Resort hosted the 12th annual Board of Community Assistance Awards Reception. The Board of Community Assistance (BCA) celebrated that, as of this year, the BCA has provided over two million dollars in grants to non-profit organizations, sports, and scholarships to local high school students.
This year, the BCA awarded $211,890 in grants and scholarships to 58 worthy recipients. Recipients included 39 organizations and 2 sports, which have been awarded individual grants for upwards of $20,000.
Academic scholarships have been awarded to 17 high school students – 8 Seniors and 9 Juniors. These scholarships include 6 Ronald G. Wagenmann $5,000 scholarships which have been awarded to the following high school students: Tristan Albright (Jr.), Claire Gardiner (Sr.), Quinn Lai (Jr.), Elle Meade (Jr.), Prerna Singh (Sr.) and Mason Yu (Sr.). The prestigious General von Steuben $10,000 scholarship has been awarded to high school Junior, Chloe Wardlow.
“The BCA represents what’s best about Upper Merion: a unique public-private partnership unlike anything in the region. It plays a significant role in molding the present and the future of our community. We thank Valley Forge Casino Resort and Boyd Gaming for everything it does for our community,” remarked Greg Waks, Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisor Liaison to the Board of Community Assistance.
The BCA is a partnership between Upper Merion Township and the Valley Forge Casino Resort. The purpose of the BCA is to provide financial assistance to organizations via grants that benefit Upper Merion residents and scholarships that benefit high school Juniors and Seniors who reside in Upper Merion Township and are pursuing post-secondary education.
To see what organizations and students are 2025 Award Winners, click HERE. .
The 2026 BCA Grant and Scholarship Program will open on November 20, 2025. More information on the upcoming program will be made available later this year.
For Your Information Only: The 2025 BCA Program:
The 2025 BCA Grant and Scholarship Program opened on November 25, 2024. The application window is open through March 31, 2025, and the public presentation of grant and scholarship awards is scheduled for the May 15, 2025 Business Meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
BCA 2025 Application Deadline: Applications must be received by email (at BCA@umtownship.org or gvattimo@umtownship.org), the US Postal Service, or hand-delivered to the Twp. Bldg. cashier window by Monday, March 31, 2025, by 5:00 PM.
Applications may be submitted via email (to Gerri Vattimo at gvattimo@umtownship.org), via the U.S. Postal Service, or may be hand-delivered to the Upper Merion Township Building’s Cashier Window by 5:00PM on March 31, 2025.
Mail Application to:
Board of Community Assistance
c/o Gerri Vattimo
Upper Merion Township
175 West Valley Forge Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Awards will be announced at the Thursday, May 15, 2025 Board of Supervisors’ Business Meeting, followed by the Awards Reception at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in June.
BCA SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY
All High School Juniors and Seniors residing in Upper Merion Township (attending any high school) and planning to go to college or for other post-secondary education are encouraged to apply for a BCA College Scholarship. Please see the BCA Scholarship Application for details regarding specific application requirements. As part of the BCA Scholarship Application program expansion, a student may apply for a BCA Scholarship in both their Junior and Senior years. Note: The BCA may elect not to award a second Scholarship based on the quality of the application.
Scholarship Award Service Projects commence on May 31, 2025.
Service Project deadlines:
- Seniors: December 1, 2025 (6-month project window)
- Juniors: March 31, 2026 (9-month project window)
About Scholarship Awards:
An Early Review Period for Scholarship Applications is available to students between November 25th and March 17th. Student applicants are invited to send feedback requests about their applications, including their proposed community service projects to the BCA review team. Applicants who receive improvement feedback submit their final application by the March 31st deadline.
Scholarship Award Check Delivery: The scholarship award will be delivered in a one-time payment for the total award amount to the award winner’s college account after the BCA project submittal deadline (Seniors receive their check in December of Freshman Year of College; Juniors receive their check in July following Senior Year of High School). Note: The award payment is contingent on the student’s Service Project Completion Report submission by the deadline per the signed agreement of the BCA application.
BCA GRANT ELIGIBILITY FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SPORTS CLUBS
Any non-profit organization that provides services that directly benefit Upper Merion Township residents may apply for a BCA Grant. Please see the BCA Grant Organization Application for details regarding specific application requirements.
A Drop-In Session with BCA representatives for Organizations and Sports is scheduled for Monday, March 10, 2025 from 5:30PM to 7:30PM in the Township Building’s Henderson Room. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions and review their applications with BCA members.
EMAIL US! Applicants may send an email to BCA@umtownship.org with questions to the BCA.
Grant and Scholarship Awards will be presented at the May 15, 2025, Business Meeting. The BCA Presentation of 2025 BCA Award Recipients will be delivered at the Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisors Business Meeting in Freedom Hall on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (The live broadcast of the meeting can be viewed on Comcast Channel 22 and Verizon Channel 33). Notification letters are mailed to applicants (award and no award). Awardees will receive an invitation to the BCA Awards Reception held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 from 5:30PM to 7:30PM at the Valley Forge Casino Resort.
Questions?
Contact Gerri Vattimo, BCA Staff Liaison, at gvattimo@umtownship.org or at 484-636-3899.
