Giant Food Stores, Keep PA Beautiful Award 37 Healing The Planet Grants To Support Local Native Tree Planting Projects

On August 15, Giant Food Stores and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful announced the 37 recipients of its 2025 Healing the Planet grant program. A total of $119,022 in funding was awarded in support of native tree planting projects across Pennsylvania.

“Every action, big or small, helps create a greener tomorrow,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations and charitable giving at Giant. “This year’s Healing the Planet grant recipients are making a difference in their own local communities, planting more than 4,000 new trees throughout the Commonwealth.”

The following Pennsylvania organizations are the recipients of a 2025 Healing the Planet grant from Giant and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful:

Abington Township Public Library, Abington

Chester Housing Initiatives, Chester

Chester-Ridley-Crum Watersheds Association, Edgemont

ClearWater Conservancy of Central Pennsylvania, State College

County of Bucks, Doylestown

Darby Creek Valley Association (DCVA), Drexel Hill

Delaware Valley University, Doylestown

East Buffalo Township, Lewisburg

Fairmount Park Conservancy, Philadelphia

Founding Forward, Valley Forge

Friends of Churchville Nature Center, Churchville

Friends of Johnston, Inc., Bethlehem

Friends of the Rail Park, Philadelphia

Friends of Wildwood Lake Nature Center, Harrisburg

Haverford Township Civic Council, Havertown

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association, Kempton

Hollidaysburg Area School District, Hollidaysburg

Honey Brook Community Library, Honey Brook

Horn Farm Center for Agricultural Education, York

Indiana Borough, Indiana

Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens, Devon

Juniata College, Huntingdon

Lancaster County Therapeutic Riding, Lancaster

Lycoming Audubon Society, Williamsport

Manheim Township, Lancaster

Marsh Creek State Park, Downingtown

Martins Jacoby Watershed Association, Bangor

Newberry Township, Etters

North Branch Land Trust, Dallas

Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, Schwenksville

Pottsville Area School District, Pottsville

Red Lion Borough, Red Lion

Springfield Township Delaware County, Springfield

St. Thomas Church Whitemarsh, Fort Washington

Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership, Philadelphia

Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh Valley, Nazareth

Wildlife Information Center, Slatington

Since 2021, the Healing the Planet grant program has awarded over $1.3 million to 178 recipients, empowering projects that connect communities with green spaces, protect and improve local waterways and water resources, prevent, reduce and recover food waste and support native tree planting and habitat restoration.

“Native trees play a critical role in protecting local ecosystems. They support wildlife, reduce erosion, and require less maintenance to thrive. Tree planting efforts also help improve the appearance and safety of our communities, which can reduce littering and support long-term economic development. Each grant recipient is making a lasting impact in their community, from restoring green spaces to protecting water resources across Pennsylvania,” said Heidi Pedicone, director of programs at Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “We’re proud to invest in these initiatives and are grateful for our partnership with The Giant Company.”

Other ways The Giant Co. works to heal the planet include zero-waste initiatives, offsetting emissions, reducing food waste and producing green energy, and plastic reduction efforts. 

To learn more, visit the Giant Food Stores website.

Annual Conference

Registration is now open for the Keep PA Beautiful 2025 Annual Conference to be held October 15-16 at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College.

Hear our keynote speaker, Lara Fowler, Penn State School of International Affairs, share her thoughts on what we can do to help build sustainable, resilient communities in a time of extraordinary change.

Help celebrate 35 years of stewardship, sustainability, and environmental education.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from KPB, Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, visit their YouTube Channel.

Also visit the Illegal Dump Free PA website for more ideas on how to clean up communities and keep them clean and KPB’s Electronics Waste website.

The 2025 Pick Up Pennsylvania Initiative fall coastal cleanup begins September 1!  Questions should be directed to Michelle Dunn at 1-877-772-3673 Ext. 113 or send email to: mdunn@keeppabeautiful.org.

Keep PA Beautiful helps mobilize over 100,000 volunteers a year to pick up litter, clean up illegal dumping and beautify Pennsylvania.

NewsClips:

-- WESA: Shattering Misconceptions About Glass Recycling In Southwestern PA; Chances Are Glass Is Back On Store Shelves In About 30 Days 

-- Inquirer/WPost: I’m A Microplastics Researcher, Here’s How I Limit The Plastic In My Life 

-- TribLive: Member Of Congress Summer Lee Tours Creek Near Max Environmental Yukon Hazardous Waste Landfill At Request Of Concerned Residents

[Posted: August 15, 2025]  PA Environment Digest