Delco Religious Institutions Get Security Grant Funds

DELAWARE COUNTY, PA — Several religious institutions in Delaware County have been awarded grant funding that will be used to improve security and protect from hate crimes.

Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday announced 120 churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other nonprofit organizations serving diverse communities have been awarded $5.3 million to ensure their safety.

Below are Delaware County institutions that earned grant funding:

• Congregation Beth Israel of Media, $24,891
• Everest PACE Center Inc., $150,000
• Congregation Beth El-Ner Tamid, $20,000
• Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library, $20,000
• St. Paul's Syrian Orthodox Church, $10,560

Funding comes from the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The program was established to provide grants to nonprofit organizations who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication.

The categories include race/ethnicity/ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.

"This is an investment in the safety and security of the diverse communities that are the tapestry of Pennsylvania," Wolf said. "It's unfortunate that hate continues to surface here, hurting Pennsylvanians and tearing apart our communities. I will continue to stand with and support these communities in any way I can."

The awardees were eligible to apply for grant awards ranging from $5,000 to $150,000 for security enhancements designed to protect the safety and security of their membership.

Funding can be used for safety and security planning, safety and security equipment and technology, training, building upgrades, vulnerability and threat assessments, and other security enhancements.

More information about the Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program and the application process is available online here.