Our History

Rooted in Health. Growing Through Equity.

Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (PRCF) has spent more than two decades investing in the wellbeing of the greater Pottstown region. Founded in 2003 as the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation (PAHWF), we began with a health-focused mission and quickly expanded our impact through strategic grantmaking, nonprofit partnerships, and community-led initiatives. In 2023, we formally transitioned into a public community foundation—broadening our mission to address equity across education, economic opportunity, and health.

Today, we serve western Montgomery, northern Chester, and eastern Berks Counties as a regional convener, donor partner, and steward for local change. Every year of progress builds on our founding purpose: to improve lives through thoughtful, lasting investment.

Over the last 22 years we've...

2003
Foundation Established

Formed as Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation following the sale of Pottstown Memorial Medical Center to Community Health Systems.

2004
Laying the Groundwork

Released our first Community Health Needs Assessment.

Approved inaugural grant of $50,000 to United Way of Western Montgomery County.

Distributed over $840,000 in grants during the first funding cycle.

2005
Roots in Place

Moved into our permanent headquarters at 152 E High Street in Pottstown.

2006
Trailblazing Health

Funded the construction of a 1.8-mile section of the Schuylkill River Trail, improving access to outdoor activity.

2007
Expanding Nutrition and Early Learning

Premiered “Mission: Good Nutrition,” a local TV series promoting healthy lifestyles.

Partnered to launch the Pottstown Early Action for Kindergarten Readiness (PEAK) initiative.

Teamed with La Salle University’s Nonprofit Center to strengthen nonprofit leadership.

2008
Expanding Health Access

Celebrated the opening of Community Health & Dental Care (CHDC), co-located with Creative Health Services and later designated a Federally Qualified Health Center.

2009
Five Years of Impact

Marked our 5th anniversary with more than $1 million in cumulative grants awarded.

2010
Promoting Active Living

Completed the Pottstown Area Parks & Recreation Study in partnership with Penn State’s Hamer Center.

Launched “Mission: Healthy Living,” encouraging fitness and wellness across the region.

2011
Recognition and Growth

Received the Economic Development Impact Award from the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce for our regional contributions.

2012
Inclusive Public Spaces

Funded ADA accessibility upgrades at Manderach Memorial Playground in Limerick Township.

2013
Launching HBHM Institute

Held the first Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds Institute to support school wellness.

Expanded school-based wellness programs regionwide.

Partnered with DCNR to launch mini-grants for park improvement.

2014
Driving Recreation and Mobility

Introduced the “On Your Park, Get Set, Go!” challenge to activate public parks.

Supported a $1 million DCNR grant for regional recreation planning.

Secured $1 million for Pottstown’s Walk/Bike infrastructure project.

2015
Behavioral Health Evaluation

Funded Creative Health Services’ regional behavioral health evaluation.

Launched the School Wellness Checklist Challenge in collaboration with MUSC.

2016
Trauma-Informed Education

Co-founded the Pottstown Trauma Informed Community Connection (PTICC) with PEAK and Pottstown School District.

2017
Community Fundraising

Awarded a challenge grant to TriCounty Community Network for The Amazing Raise campaign.

2018
15 Years, $38.5 Million Granted

Celebrated our 15th anniversary with $38 million in grantmaking across 200+ organizations.

2019
Planning for Economic Revitalization

Hosted the Urban Land Institute Advisory Panel to develop inclusive economic growth strategies for Pottstown.

2020
Emergency Response and Resilience

Launched the COVID Relief & Recovery Fund to support nonprofits and families.

Provided laptops to Pottstown School District through a grant to the Foundation for Pottstown Education.

Convened community vaccine Town Halls to promote equitable access.

2021
Advancing Public Health

Tri-County Health Council hosted the Vaccine Town Hall, engaging residents and leaders in COVID safety and equity.

2022
Activating Community Streets

Launched Pottstown Play Streets to create seasonal outdoor play zones in local neighborhoods.

Earned the Excellence in Recreation and Parks Award from the Pennsylvania Recreation and Parks Society.

2023
Becoming a Community Foundation

Secured a USDOT Thriving Communities grant for equitable transit planning.

Completed our fifth Community Health Needs Assessment.

Officially transitioned to Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (PRCF), expanding our donor and program capacity.

2024
20 Years of Impact

Celebrated two decades of service with more than $55 million awarded to nonprofits and public partners across the region.

2025
New Name, Expanded Vision

Unveiled new PRCF name and brand at Pottstown’s GoFourth Parade and Community Day.

Launched new website, fund options, and engagement tools to support regional equity and collaboration.

Why We Evolved

As our region’s needs became more complex, we expanded to meet them. Transitioning from a private health foundation to a public community foundation allowed us to:

Invite broader donor participation.

Support systemic solutions across health, education, and economic development.

Convene cross-sector partnerships with lasting reach.

Our mission evolved, but our commitment remains: to improve lives, strengthen communities, and invest in equity across the greater Pottstown area.

Welcome to Your Community Foundation

Please have patience with our website, it is still under construction from our transition to our new name. If you have any questions, please reach out to Samuel Mirarchi, Marketing & Communications Specialist at smirarchi@pottstownfoundation.org. Thank you