C.F. Martin & Co. Charitable Foundation Announces 2022 Grants, Remembers Vice President Diane S. Martin

Nazareth, PA
Tuesday, February 24, 2023

Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce grants of 72 grants totaling $471,000 to nonprofits in the Lehigh Valley region and around the country.  Grant decisions were made at the Foundation’s December 2022 Board meeting.
 
The Foundation was established by Christian Frederick Martin IV and the late Diane S. Martin in 1996. Since 1998, Martin Guitar Company has contributed to the Foundation every year (but one) to support Foundation programs. Over 25 years of giving, the Foundation has made 890 grants totaling $4.5 million. 
 
The Martin Guitar community continues to mourn the loss of Vice President Diane S. Martin in January, 2022.  Almost 150 companies and individuals honored Diane with gifts to the Foundation.  Her legacy of generosity, warmth, and concern for justice and sustainability continues to inspire and motivate Foundation giving, as the Foundation supports causes and organizations that were dear to Diane’s heart in education, health care, and sustainability.  Northampton Community College again received the Foundation’s largest grant. 
 
C. F. Martin IV, Foundation President, said “The Foundation’s grantmaking is another way for my family and Martin Guitar to continue our philanthropic work. The Foundation can help so many nonprofits because of the hard work of my colleagues at Martin Guitar. Our Foundation Board pursues sustainability, equity, and strong performance in our granting decisions. We are proud to be part of how so many great nonprofits accomplish their work.”
 
Overall, Foundation grants in 2022 supported 47 Lehigh Valley organizations in arts and culture, human service, education, and environmental action with grants totaling $312,000.  The region’s arts scene was supported by Foundation grants to these 13 organizations:

  • Allentown Art Museum
  • Allentown Symphony Association
  • Arts Quest
  • Community Music School
  • Godfrey Daniels
  • Moravian Historical Society
  • Nazareth Center for the Arts
  • Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society
  • Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival
  • PBS39 – Lehigh Valley Public Media (WLVR)
  • State Theatre Center for the Arts
  • Touchstone Theatre
  • WDIY 88.1

The Foundation funded 6 Lehigh Valley educational organizations:

  • Cedar Crest College
  • Holy Family School
  • Lehigh University
  • Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity
  • Moravian University
  • Muhlenberg College
  • Northampton Community College Foundation

As human service needs expand during the pandemic, Foundation funding supported 22 Lehigh Valley organizations addressing poverty, hunger, and homelessness:

  • Allentown Rescue Mission
  • Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
  • Bloom – Lehigh Valley
  • Casey Doolin Foundation
  • Center for Humanistic Change (CHC)
  • Community Bike Works
  • Community Action Committee
  • Family Connection of Easton, Inc
  • Family Promise of the Lehigh Valley
  • KidsPeace
  • Lehigh Conference of Churches
  • Lifepath
  • Meals on Wheels of Northampton County
  • Miller Keystone Blood Center
  • Nazareth Area Food Bank
  • New Bethany Ministries
  • ProJeCt of Easton, Inc.
  • United Way of the Greater L.V.
  • Valley Health Partners Community Health Center
  • Valley Youth House
  • Visiting Nurse Association of St. Lukes
  • Greater Valley YMCA – Nazareth Branch

The Foundation supported Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society, and Wildlands Conservancy.  The Foundation joins Martin Guitar Company and C. F. Martin IV in contributing to Wildlands’ capital campaign and to Fox Chase Cancer Center.

Beyond the Lehigh Valley, the Foundation made 25 grants totaling $159,000 to organizations around the country, mainly for programs in guitar performance, education and research:

  • 317 Community Music Center (ME)
  • Abriendo Mentes ("Opening Minds") (TX)
  • Ashokan Center (NY)
  • At the Tabernacle (NJ)
  • Birthplace of Country Music (TN)
  • Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (TN)
  • Folk Alliance International (MO)
  • Fox Chase Cancer Center (PA)
  • Guitars in the Classroom (CA)
  • International Bluegrass Music Museum (KY)
  • Living Traditions, Inc. (NY)
  • Morris Museum (NJ)
  • Museum of Making Music (CA)
  • Music Maker Relief Foundation (NH)
  • Musical Instrument Museum (AZ)
  • National Blues Museum (MO)
  • National Music Museum (SD)
  • New Hope Helping (PA)
  • Ollie’s Orchestra (PA)
  • Old Town School of Folk Music (IL)
  • Philadelphia Outward Bound School (PA)
  • Special Olympics Pennsylvania (PA)
  • University of North Carolina Libraries (NC)
  • WHYY (PA)
  • Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour (KY)

2022 Foundation Directors were:

President: C. F. Martin IV, Executive Board Chair of Martin Guitar Company
Treasurer: James Dunleavy, Vice President, Finance and Operations, Northampton Community College
Secretary: Debra Karlowitch, retired Vice President of Human Resources, Martin Guitar
Dick Boak, retired Director of Museum, Archives, and Special Projects, Martin Guitar
Mariclare Groller, Executive Assistant at Martin Guitar
Susan Kubik, Managing Principal of eAdvancement
Matthew Kennedy, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Martin Guitar
Roland Kushner, Ph.D., Professor of Business at Muhlenberg College
Charles J. Peischl, Esq., of Peters, Moritz, Peischl, Zulick, Landes & Brienza  

One new Board member was elected in 2022: John McElroy, Corporate Counsel, Martin Guitar.

The Foundation accepts applications for 2023 grants between August 1, 2023, and September 2, 2023. Guidelines are available at this link or by email from dickboak@gmail.com.