As an integral member of the Pottstown community, The Hill School is always looking for a way to give back. In 2008, Charles Frank III ’59 and his wife, Betty, established the Student Philanthropy Council, also referred to as SPC, where their yearly donation is allocated among various non-profit applicants. Thanks to their considerate donations many years ago, The Hill School has this opportunity to sustain a lasting impact on the programs surrounding them. 

Each year, a few students are admitted into this program to join the twelve total members who are dedicated to awarding grants throughout the Pottstown community.  Annually, new organizations take the initiative to improve themselves by reaching out to Hill’s SPC. Over the past few years, the selections have widened as more organizations apply for grants. New and interesting causes are supported each year, ranging from food supply to domestic violence awareness.  

“We keep expanding to help more unique organizations, and we do not limit ourselves to certain areas of Pottstown,” Sophie Walsh ’24, a SPC council member, said. 

Starting in the fall term of the school year, the SPC receives requests for grants for numerous causes. The council initially gathers in the winter term to start discussing and reviewing the requests. Around April, after a strict narrowing of options, final decisions are considered and the allocation of $25,000 is determined. This year, SPC saw an all-time high of 19 organizations that applied for grants. 

On May 10, the SPC Award Presentation, required for all students, was held in the CFTA. In this all-school meeting, the nine non-profits awarded, each with different amounts, were announced. The allocation distributed is as follows: 

• Berks Connections for Pretrial Services (Mother’s and Father’s Voices Program): $5,000 
• Pottstown Historical Society: $2,000 
• Foundation for Pottstown Education: $2,200 
• Project Purpose: $2,660 
• Mother Goose Read to Me: $2,570 
• Montgomery County Advocacy Project: $2,500 
• Pottstown FARM: $3,000 
• Steel River Playhouse: 4,246 
• Schuylkill River: $824 

Other organizations that applied included: Camp Rainbow; Centro Cultural Unidos, Trellis for Tomorrow; True U Crew; The Salvation Army; Laurel House; Tri-County YWCA, Family Services Wheels on Wheels; and the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities. The SPC expressed its gratitude towards all organizations that applied and do their part in the Pottstown community. 

Emerging from several countries and states, The Hill School proudly represents a diverse community. As for the council members, the same follows. Each of them declares their own reason for joining the SPC.  

“I saw this as a way for Hill to help the outside community. I joined a club two years ago whose purpose was to help as many cervical cancer patients in Pottstown as possible. However, I believed that the Student Philanthropy Council would help me to have a more direct impact on the Pottstown community,” Helen Ling ’23 stated. 

“Living so far away from home made me very homesick,” Vice President Stefanie Li’23 added. “As Pottstown slowly became my new home, I wanted to find ways to make it the best it could be. When I received an email stating that the SPC was an opportunity, I made sure to act quickly.”  

The Student Philanthropy Council is looking forward to continuing to make a difference in the Pottstown community for many more years to come.