News and Announcements
Loyalsock Foundation Awarded Room Tax Grant
February 6, 2025
The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau awarded over $125,000 to tourism-related projects and events as part of the 2024 Room Tax Grant Program.
Loyalsock Foundation will use its grant award for updated trail maps and marketing materials. Five organizations from Sullivan County received grants through the Room Tax Grant program.
Read more here.
DCED Approves Additional $37,000 for Driveway Project
January 13, 2025
Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced the approval of $34.3 million through the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) to help low-income individuals and improve distressed areas in Pennsylvania communities. Governor Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-2025 budget doubled the funding for the NAP from $36 million to $72 million, allowing for two rounds of awards. The first round was announced by Secretary Siger in September 2024.
Loyalsock Foundation has been approved for $37,000 in corporate donations towards its permanent driveway project. Read more here.
$250,000 Awarded to Loyalsock Foundation
November 12, 2024
State Sen. Gene Yaw and State Rep. Joe Hamm announced $250,000 has been awarded to Loyalsock Foundation by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) through the Community Conservation Partnership Program (C2P2).
Funding will be used for construction of ADA parking, an ADA pathway, observation deck, and pedestrian bridge for The Landing, a community wellness space designed as a treehouse.
Read more here.
Presentation at EMHR Annual Meeting
October 8, 2024
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region held its annual meeting and luncheon on October 2 to acknowledge achievements from the past year and present updates on its National Heritage Area endeavor. As a recipient of this year’s EMHR Partnership Mini-Grant, Loyalsock Foundation representative Jessica Pennella gave a short presentation on the interpretive and directional signage project for an ADA pathway leading to The Landing.
Read more here.
Loyalsock Foundation Approved for $334,500 in Corporate Donations
September 10, 2024
Loyalsock Foundation is excited to announce that it has been approved for $334,500 in corporate donations through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. DCED Secretary, Rick Siger, made the official announcement on September 5, 2024.
Governor Shapiro approved a total of $36 million in support of 185 community revitalization projects throughout the Commonwealth. Loyalsock Foundation will use its approved funds for Phase 2 of the permanent driveway/access road project for The Summit: Center for Wellness
Read more here.
Loyalsock Foundation Receives $25,000 from Hawbaker Charity Golf Outing
August 12, 2024
Thanks to the generosity and dedication of its employees, event sponsors, and volunteers, Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. (GOH) raised over $100,000 through its annual Charity Golf Outing, benefiting four nonprofit organizations across five Pennsylvania counties, including Loyalsock Foundation of Sullivan County.
This year’s event, held on July 20 at the Penn State Golf Courses in State College, was attended by 260 golfers and 50 volunteers who helped facilitate various activities throughout the day. In addition, GOH had the privilege of welcoming several special guests, including Penn State Wrestling head coach Cael Sanderson and NIL director Clay Steadman.
Read more here.
The Road to The Summit: A Community Walk
July 29, 2024
Curious about what’s been happening at The Summit: Center for Wellness campus? Wondering why so many trees were cleared?
Bring your questions to a community walk, The Road to The Summit. Join us Monday, August 5 at 6:30 pm for a guided walk. See for yourself what’s going on with the driveway project, what the next steps are, and what the next project will be.
Note: If you missed the walk, check our our FAQs.
Driveway Groundbreaking for The Summit: Center for Wellness
July 23, 2024
The official groundbreaking for the permanent driveway, “Summit Grove,” leading to the future Summit: Center for Wellness was celebrated on Thursday, July 18. Elected officials, corporate donors, key supporters, volunteers and community friends marked this momentous occasion with a short program, followed by a walk through The Summit campus in Laporte Township, Sullivan County.
Read more about the groundbreaking and view additional photos here.
Summit Loop is Official eBird Hot Spot
June 22, 2024
If you are a fan of birding, the Summit Loop is now an officially recognized eBird Hot Spot. Created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird is a way for anyone around the world to store birding observations, photos, and sound recordings and make them available to educators, scientists and birders. Hundreds of thousands of people around the world are using eBird and it continues to grow.
For more information and to see what birds have been spotted on the Summit Loop, click here.
Join in the birding fun by creating your own eBird account here - it’s free!
Loyalsock Foundation Receives 2024 EMHR Partnership Grant
June 18, 2024
The Endless Mountains Heritage Region has awarded $66,986 in Parternship Mini Grants to 13 projects across a four county region, including Loyalsock Foundation. The program is funded in part by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
Loyalsock Foundation was awarded $10,000 to design, purchase, and install directional, informational, interpretive, and wayfaring signs for an ADA accessible pathway to The Landing. The Landing is a wellness and community space designed as a treehouse and will be open to the Sullivan County community for educational and public use. The Sullivan County Recreational Association generously gave a 100% matching donation, bringing the total available for signage to $20,000.
Craig’s Lookout Dedicated
May 28, 2024
Family and friends gathered on Saturday, May 25 to honor Craig Harting with the dedication of Craig’s Lookout. Clear skies gave attendees a glimpse of North Mountain in the distance as the plaque marking the newly named vista was unveiled. Craig’s legacy and influence were felt as beloved memories were shared by those in attendance.
Craig Harting was a valued community member and served on Loyalsock Foundation’s advisory board. He gave generously of his advice and time in laying the foundation for The Summit: Center for Wellness and believed wholeheartedly in the project. Craig passed away in November, 2023.
Read more about the dedication ceremony and Craig’s Lookout here.
Chesapeake and EOS Volunteer Day
May 2, 2024
Chesapeake Energy and Evergreen Oilfield Solutions employees volunteered on The Summit Loop Trail on May 2 through the H.E.L.P. (Helping Energize Local Progress) Initiative. Close to a dozen employees brought equipment and helping hands to spread wood chips on the trail.
Loyalsock Foundation is appreciative of Chesapeake and EOS for giving back to the Sullivan County community.
You can find more photos on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Loyalsock Foundation Named as Charity Beneficiary
April 29, 2024
Loyalsock Foundation is one of four beneficiaries for the 2024 Glenn O. Hawbaker Annual Charity Golf Tournament. The golf outing is scheduled for July 20 at the Penn State Golf Courses.
To learn more about this charitable endeavor, click here.
Casey Secures Funding for Loyalsock Foundation
April 11, 2024
Big news! Loyalsock Foundation’s FY24 Community Project Funding request for The Landing, a wellness and community space designed as a treehouse, was approved by the US Congress and signed by President Biden on March 9, 2024. US Senator Bob Casey included Loyalsock Foundation’s $457,000 project as one of 142 recommended projects from across Pennsylvania receiving a total of $172.4 million for community revitalization, infrastructure construction and restoration, and health facility expansion. Read more here.
Poetry Walk: Now Open
It’s here! Our first Poetry Walk has been installed along The Summit Loop Trail, thanks to the Sullivan County Library. You’ll find 24 poems featuring themes of nature and recreation as you walk along the trail. Local poets submitted several poems on display!
To learn more, click here.
Donation From Fish Real Estate
March 7, 2024
John Richlin of Fish Real Estate presented a check for $2,500 to Loyalsock Foundation volunteer April Gavitt. Fish Real Estate was one of six businesses who contributed a total of $336,000 towards Loyalsock Foundation's permanent driveway/access road project through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development's Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) in 2023.
The 2024 program is already under way, with the goal of raising the remaining funds for the driveway project. Businesses who contribute receive a 75% PA tax credit, with the additional benefit of investing in their local community. For more information, email info@loyalsockfoundation.org.
Entrance Sign Installed
There’s something new along Route 42. Check out our new entrance sign. Many thanks to The Sign Shop for creation and installation of the sign.
Volunteers Kathy, Mary and Herm stopped by on installation day.
Loyalsock Foundation Receives $336,000 in Corporate Donations
Loyalsock Foundation is excited to announce that it has received $336,000 in corporate donations through the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Neighborhood Assistance Tax Credit Program. Governor Shapiro made the official announcement on November 20, 2023.
Six local businesses contributed towards Loyalsock Foundation’s permanent driveway project.
In Memory of Our Friend, Craig Harting
1957 - 2023
Loyalsock Foundation will miss its dear friend and advisor, Craig Harting. Craig believed wholeheartedly in our mission and gave generously of his advice and time in laying the foundation for The Summit: Center for Wellness. We extend our deepest sympathies to Craig’s family.
Craig spent many hours clearing Meditation Ledge, a special spot found just off The Summit Loop Trail. To honor his memory, a section of Meditation Ledge will be named “Craig’s Lookout.”