Thursday afternoon, May 16, the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation hosted their annual spring luncheon, honoring high-achieving high school seniors from around the Central PA area with a long list of scholarship presentations.
However, before the many scholarships were handed out to students, CPCF President and Board Member Allan Hancock recognized the DelGrosso family with the Philanthropy Award. In a video presentation, Michael DelGrosso, chief sales and marketing officer of DelGrosso Foods, thanked the CPCF for the award, relating that his grandparents, Ferdinand and Mafalda DelGrosso (better known as Fred and Murf), had humble beginnings, but that their love of helping those in need has been a foundation “of all things DelGrosso.” The generosity of the DelGrosso family is a continuing legacy that began 77 years ago and has grown into the family’s third generation.
“Staying true to our founders’ vision, some of the larger donations focus on faith, family, health, education, and the arts,” Michael DelGrosso said in the video.
Just a few examples of the DelGrossos’ generosity over the years include financial and food support to various food pantries and the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen, many donations to individuals and organizations for families in need such as the Children’s Miracle Network and Northern Blair County Recreational Center, support for many cancer-fighting organizations, and support of various educational and artistic schools and organizations. Going along with the theme of giving, the DelGrossos provided a jar of sauce to each guest at the luncheon.
The CPCF then awarded 179 scholarships to 131 students, totaling $143,950. Among the scholarships presented to students from the Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis areas were:
Officer Chris Amerine Memorial Scholarship and Because We Care Scholarship for Criminal Justice: Bryanna Marie Britten
Because We Care Scholarship — Early Childhood Development: Hannah Johnston and Mackenzie Soellner
Mary M. Bigelow-Sleek Memorial Scholarship: Alexa Taylor
Blair County Civic Music Foundation Scholarship: Abigail Eckenrod
Blair County United Survivor Scholarship sponsored by the Scott Garlick Memorial Foundation: Mackenzie Gunsallus and Hannah Johnston
James and Kathryn Crawford Memorial Scholarship — Agriculture: Maverick Fleck
James and Kathryn Crawford Memorial Scholarship — Education: Tony L. Hughes Jr.
Mikayla “Mick” Focht Memorial Scholarship: Anna Twig and Lainey Quick
William E. (Bill) Frank and Swiss Club of Altoona Memorial Scholarship: Savannah Wray
Graystone Scholarship from the Jeff and Vikki Long Family Foundation: Hailey Bickel and Lane McClellan
John B. Gummo Memorial Scholarship: AJ Coleman
Blair Gastroenterology Associates “Guts and Glory” Scholarship: Mackenzie Gunsallus, Lily Miller, and Clayton Riggleman
David and Janet Hileman Scholarship: Rebecca Beck, Allison Beeman, Kaleigh Brodzina, Steven Buck, AJ Coleman, Dravyn Crowell, Joseph Davis, Braden Ewing, Maverick Fleck, Remington Fleck, Mackenzie Gunsallus, Tony L. Hughes Jr., Angel Jimenez, Ryan Light, Breanna Paul, Landon Postreich, Lilly C. Ray, Jacob Rice, Madelyn Rockwell, Rocky Giovanni Antonio Romani, Brady Ronan, Jadyn Smyth, Logan Smyth, Lukas Walk, Andrew Weaver, Remington Weaver, Austin White
Zack Hinish Foundation Scholarship — Special Education Major: Tony L. Hughes Jr.
Rex H. Kaup Accounting Scholarship: Brendan Graizer
Bessie Q. Levine Nursing Scholarship: Hailey Bickel
Donna Sheehan Nursing Scholarship: Riley Walk
Aaron N. Stuckey Memorial Scholarship: Alana Weaver
Teeter Group Foundation Scholarship: Allison Beeman
Donna and Gene Tyler Family Foundation Scholarship: Shawna Nicole Lovrich
Kathy Wagner Memorial Scholarship: Chloe Brown
Adam Zook Memorial Scholarship in Communications: Rebekah Sprankle
Adam Zook Memorial Scholarship Track & Cross-Country Scholarship: Ethan McCloskey and Breanna Paul.
The CPCF has awarded scholarships totaling $2,066,688.55 to 1,879 students since 1998.
