Activities Access Grants

These grants support economically-disadvantaged students so they can attend field trips and participate in PASD activities. Donate to the Together We Can fund, which supports activities access.

Scholarships

We administer over a dozen scholarships for local families and organizations, awarding $40,000 in scholarships in 2025.

Phantom Food Packs

We provide a weekly backpack of food for students in grades K-6 who live in food-insecure households.  Our partners at PACS and Chester County Food Bank are essential to this program. Make a donation to support the Phantom Food Pack program.

Pack a Backpack

This program provides a fully-stocked backpack for any child in need, so every student has the supplies they need to be successful in the classroom. Donate to the Pack a Backpack program.

Grant Funding

Since 2002, PCEF has provided funding for dozens of programs in the Phoenixville Area School District. Read about our most recent grants below:

2025-2026

  • $50,000 for library expansion: Funding additional books for the new Hares Hill library plus all other district buildings.
  • $28,000 for curriculum: Funding for new reading intervention program.
  • $25,000 for Summer Stepping Up: Assistance to expand the district’s summer literacy program to help students in K- 6th grade avoid losing literacy skills.
  • $20,000 for Destinations with Direction: Funding for PAHS program for motivated, mostly first-generation college-bound students.
  • $7,000 for PAMS PBIS Programming Support: Funding for kick-off assembly, Holiday Extravaganza, RISE UP store and pop-up events. This program aims to foster academic excellence, create a positive school environment, and promote a safe and inclusive environment for all.
  • $5,000 for Dual Enrollment: Paid for dual enrollment fees for students with financial hardship.
  • $4,041 for Chomp Saws: Purchase Chomp Saws for all elementary school STEM classes
  • $2,500 for STEM Lego Club: Support STEM Lego Club
  • $1,500 for CPR Manikins: Funding to provide new CPR manakins for PAHS classes.
  • $1,200 for HOSA Club: Provide support for health professions club at PAHS.
  • $1,000 for Book Binding Machine: Purchase binding machine to repair books and increase the lifespan of library books.
  • $1,000 Mental Health Professionals Support: Provide funding for PAMS and PAHS mental health professionals to create coping tools box.
  • $1,000 School Social Worker Needs: Discretionary fund for social worker to address urgent needs of economically-disadvantaged students to keep them safe, healthy, and engaged in school.
  • $1,000 for 6th Grade PBIS Rewards: Funding for PBIS program support at Schuylkill Elementary.
  • $883 for ELD Reading Phillies Trip: Funds to enable ELD students at Barkley Elementary to experience a Reading Phillies game.
  • $800 for Adult/Family ESL Support: Supplies and support for ESL program at PAHS.
  • $700 Kindergarten Field Trip: Funded expanded programming during Kindergarten trip to Elmwood Park Zoo.
  • $555 Cap and Gown Costs: Paid for caps and gowns for PAHS seniors with financial hardship so they could participate in graduation.
  • $500 ELD Incentives:  Support for ELD students at PAHS.
  • $500 Dr. King Oratorical Contest: Provided prizes for district-wide oratorical contest.
  • $500 Health and Hygiene Closet: Start-up funding for health closet for Hares Hill Elementary.
  • $500 for Special Olympics: Supported district-wide Special Olympics event.
  • $500 for Adaptive PE: Purchased games and other Adaptive PE items.
  • $400 STEM Supplies: Supplies for PAELC students to explore when they arrive in the morning.
  • $375 Hispanic Heritage Night: Support for Barkley’s Hispanic Heritage Night to increase family engagement and highlight Hispanic foods, music, and culture.
  • $370 Flexible Seating: Funded flexible seating options for a Manavon classroom.
  • $350 for Crochet Club: Supported the start-up of Barkley Crochet Club
  • $350 for Running Club: Funding for Manavon Running Club.
  • $350 for Music: Commissioned musical piece for Schuylkill.
  • $345 for Recess Equipment: Provided recess equipment for PAELC.
  • $320 for Futsal Club: Funding for new Futsal Club at Barkley.
  • $300 for Bucket Band: Funding for Hares Hill Bucket Band.
  • $300 for Stress Management Class: Funding for PAHS stress management class.
  • $300 for PAMS Guidance: Support for PAMS Wellness Corner.
  • $263 for Table Paintings: Supplies for Manavon 6th grade program.
  • $100 for National Science Honor Society: Start-up funding for PAHS National Science Honor Society.

2024-2025

  • $30,000 for Summer Stepping Up: Assistance to expand the district’s summer literacy program to help students in K- 6th grade avoid losing literacy skills.
  • $12,000 PAMS PBIS Programming Support: Funding for kick-off assembly, Holiday Extravaganza, RISE UP store and pop-up events. This program aims to foster academic excellence, create a positive school environment, and promote a safe and inclusive environment for all.
  • $3,200+ Author Day Visits: Authors visited elementary students to talk about writing, literacy, and other topics.
  • $2,900 ELL Trip to Philadelphia: This grant provided funding for our English Language Learner high school students to see some of the historical sites like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
  • $2,835 EdRising Club: Support for the Educators Rising (future teachers) class to attend the National Conference in June 2025.
  • $1,500 PMEA Composer Grant: Funding to help commission a musical piece for PMEA and PASD band students to perform.
  • $1,200 Special Olympics: Provide support for district-wide Special Olympics event, including medals, adaptive equipment, and snacks.
  • $1,200 for Hares Hill Staff: Purchase shirts for staff with their names and grades, to allow students to learn who the teachers are at their new school.
  • $1,000 Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society: Start up funding for the Math Honor Society at PAHS.
  • $1,000 School Social Worker Needs: Discretionary fund for social worker to address urgent needs of economically-disadvantaged students to keep them safe, healthy, and engaged in school.
  • $610 for Adaptive Music Supplies: Provides instruments like bells, triangles, finger cymbals, dance streamers, and more for students with autism who need adaptive tools to fully engage in music education.
  • $881 for Graphic Design Tools: Funds to purchase sublimation printing supplies for 8th grade art classes.
  • $875 for Sensory Path: Supplies to create a sensory path at MES/ELC for use by all students and teachers.
  • $400 STEM Supplies: Supplies for PAELC students to explore when they arrive in the morning.
  • $350 Hispanic Heritage Night: Support for Barkley’s Hispanic Heritage Night to increase family engagement and highlight Hispanic foods, music, and culture.