HARRISBURG, March 11, 2020 – Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today announced a total of $149,080 for three non-profit organizations in Pittsburgh to strengthen safety and security measures.

Organizations qualify for the grants based on a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) classification of their history and vulnerability to hate crimes.

“It is in our community’s interest to help protect any individual or organization targeted due to their race/ethnicity/ancestry; religion; sexual orientation; disability; gender; and gender identity,” Fontana said. “I will continue to stand with these organizations and speak out against hatred.”

The non-profit security grants approved today include:

  • $90,000 for Beth El Congregation/United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism;
  • $35,080 for Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, Inc.; and 
  • $24,000 for the Center that CARES.         

The grants are administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The law (Act 83 of 2019) establishing the grant program was co-sponsored by Fontana. The legislation was introduced following the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in 2018 where a gunman killed 11 worshippers.

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