Allentown School District Foundation

08/26/2026

Today, we witnessed a beautiful moment of kindness and inclusion. 🐾💙🩶💙🩶💙🩶🐾
Two 9th-grade students invited two additional students—who were each sitting alone at a table—to join them for lunch. These students didn’t know one another, but that didn’t stop them from reaching out and making space.

It was a simple invitation, but what a difference their kindness and inclusion made! 🌟

Moments like these remind us that everyone deserves to feel seen, welcomed, and included. What a wonderful example of kindness in action! 💕

08/21/2026

✨ A little Nonprofit Impact Conference news! ✨

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be leading TWO different sessions at this year’s Nonprofit Impact Conference, hosted by the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley!

And if you’re lucky, you can get me in the morning AND the afternoon. 😏

☀️ Morning Session: Philanthropy in Action

Come ready to ask questions. We’re talking about what makes a successful fundraiser, how you build relationships that turn into real investment, how you make the ask, and how you turn a mission into something people genuinely want to support.

I’ll share what has worked for me, what I’ve learned the hard way, and the strategies behind building sustainable revenue instead of simply chasing the next check.

🔥 Afternoon Session: From Emergency Response to Sustainable Impact

Nonprofit leaders are really, really good at putting out fires.

We have to be.

But what happens when we stop asking, “How do we fix this emergency?” and start asking, “How do we prevent ourselves from ending up here again?”

We’ll talk about methods, strategy, planning, partnerships, and how organizations can move from constantly reacting to problems to cutting them off at the pass.

Because impact is not just about how well you respond when something goes wrong.

It’s about building systems strong enough to change what happens next.

Two sessions. Two very different conversations. One day dedicated to making our nonprofit community stronger.

Come find me. I promise we’re going to have some fun while we do the work. 💛

All the Best,
Patti Bruno - Executive Director of ASDF

To register: https://www.volunteerlv.org/nonprofit-impact-conference

08/17/2026

Congratulations! The Allentown School District Foundation is extremely proud to be the sponsor of a such a meaningful award.

On behalf of the entire Louis E. Dieruff High School community, congratulations to our very own Dr. Dodd on being recognized as the Allentown School District Teacher of the Year “You Are the Light” winner! 🌟
Every day, we have the privilege of seeing what a shining example she is as a music teacher, Fine Arts Department Chair, choir director, colleague, and champion for all of our Huskies.

Dr. Dodd, you are truly one of a kind! Thank you for representing our school and district with such passion, excellence, and dedication to your craft. We are so proud to celebrate you and this well-deserved honor! 💙🩶💙🩶

08/10/2026

*STAY TUNED FOR THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH*

One of my goals when I stepped into leadership at the Allentown School District Foundation was simple: if we were going to ask our educators to dream bigger for their students, we needed to work just as hard to give them the resources to do it.

Historically, our Teacher Innovation Grants were capped at $1,200 per award.

Thanks to the continued dedication and generosity of the Harry C. Trexler Trust, I am incredibly proud that we have been able to increase that maximum award to $1,500.

$300 may seem small on paper.

But in a classroom, $300 can be the difference between an idea and an experience.

It can mean additional books, supplies, technology, materials, transportation, or simply enough funding to take a teacher’s creative idea from “I wish we could” to “Look what we did.”

That matters.

At the beginning of this past school year, I had some very specific goals for the Foundation:

Increase scholarships. Check. ✔️

Increase Teacher Innovation Grant awards. Check. ✔️

Increase overall revenue. By 118%. Check. ✔️

Numbers matter because they tell us whether we are growing. But what matters more is what those numbers allow us to do for the students and educators of the Allentown School District.

Growth for the sake of growth has never interested me.

Growth that puts more resources into classrooms, creates more opportunities for students, and tells our teachers that their ideas are worth investing in?

That is the kind of growth I will always chase.

To the Harry C. Trexler Trust, thank you for continuing to believe in our educators, our students, and what is possible when this community invests in public education.

And to our teachers: keep dreaming bigger.

We’re working to make sure the resources grow with you.

-Patti, Executive Director of ASDF

Visit us at

It all begins with an idea. At the Allentown School District Foundation (ASDF), we believe in the limitless potential of every student in the Allentown School District — and we work every day to help that potential become reality.Founded in June of 2009 as a 501(c)(3) on a simple but powerful idea...

07/19/2026

While my current speaking engagement may be international, I am also excited to share that I will be presenting closer to home this fall at the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley!

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Many nonprofit organizations expect their board members to “help with fundraising,” yet boards are rarely given the guidance, training, or confidence needed to participate effectively. At the same time, development professionals often feel isolated in their fundraising responsibilities and may be uncertain about how to involve board members without creating confusion or tension. The result is a common disconnect between staff expectations and board participation.

This session will explore how nonprofit organizations can build meaningful board engagement by strengthening partnerships among development staff, executive leadership, and board members. When board members feel informed, confident, and connected to the organization’s mission, fundraising can become a natural extension of their leadership rather than a responsibility they feel hesitant or unprepared to take on.

Presented from both staff and board perspectives, the session will draw on real-world experience at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where intentional board-engagement strategies have helped strengthen the organization’s culture of philanthropy.

Participants will learn how to move beyond vague expectations and develop a clear, actionable model of shared philanthropic leadership. The presentation will highlight practical strategies for:

• Clarifying board members’ fundraising roles and expectations
• Providing fundraising training centered on relationship-building rather than simply “making the ask”
• Coaching board members to participate confidently in donor conversations
• Creating leadership-driven systems that support board involvement in donor engagement
• Strengthening collaboration among development staff, executive leaders, and board leadership

The session will also examine the important role executive leadership plays in bridging the gap between staff and board members, ensuring that fundraising responsibilities are aligned with the organization’s priorities, mission, and culture.

Participants will leave with practical tools they can immediately apply to activate board engagement, strengthen donor relationships, and create a more collaborative and sustainable culture of philanthropy.

This session is designed for nonprofit executives, development professionals, and board members seeking to build stronger partnerships and more effectively share responsibility for fundraising success.

07/15/2026

My name is Patti Bruno 🌻. (Context: The photo of a volunteer helper - consented by her Mom)

When I was hired as Executive Director of the Allentown School District Foundation nearly two years ago, a lot of people placed their faith in me.

This week, after moving our entire office in less than a single week, I looked around and saw something I’ll never forget.

Our Board showed up. Families showed up. Kids rolled up their sleeves and helped. One of our Board members (and his wife!) even surprised me with sunflowers—my favorite. 🌻

There are moments in leadership when you realize you aren’t carrying the mission alone.
After the boxes are unpacked and the furniture is in place, what remains is the reminder that community is built by people willing to show up for one another.

To everyone who gave their time, their energy, their encouragement, and their belief in us: thank you. You reminded me why this work matters.

We are incredibly grateful, and if this is what the beginning of our next chapter looks like, I cannot wait to see what our future holds.

Photo: Mackenzie McMullan - with permission from her mother

07/10/2026

This week, we're trading desks for boxes, coffee for packing tape, and a whole lot of bubble wrap.

The Allentown School District Foundation is officially moving to 520 Hamilton Street... just one block away.

The move may be small. What it represents is anything but.

When I joined as Executive Director, the Foundation was a one-person operation. Today, we're growing into a true team with a bookkeeper, a Literacy Coordinator, and our new Development Intern. That growth means we can do even more for the nearly 17,000 students we exist to serve.

Of course, every move comes with a little organized chaos. If an email takes a bit longer this week or you hear packing tape in the background during a call, you'll know why.
Thank you for your patience, your encouragement, and your belief in this Foundation. Every box we unpack represents something bigger than office furniture it represents a Foundation that's growing because this community continues to invest in our students.
Here's to our next chapter at 520 Hamilton Street.

06/16/2026

We are proud to announce that the Allentown School District Foundation has been awarded a $15,000 Trusted Response Fund Grant from the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation!

These funds will directly support our literacy initiatives, helping us continue to expand access to books, reading opportunities, and educational enrichment for students across the Allentown School District, one of the largest and most diverse school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Every child deserves the opportunity to discover the power of reading. Through programs that place books directly into students’ hands and foster a lifelong love of learning, this investment will help us continue removing barriers and creating opportunities for thousands of young people.

On a personal note, I am incredibly grateful to the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation and the Trusted Response Fund for their confidence in our work. It is a privilege to serve a community that believes so deeply in its children and their potential.

Together, we are doing more than funding programs. We are investing in futures, strengthening our community, and leaving this world a little better than we found it.

Thank you, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, for being a trusted partner in this important work.

All my best,

Patti

06/02/2026

There are moments in this work that remind me exactly why community matters.

Today, we had the privilege of awarding the Canzano Scholarships, helping students take the next step toward their dreams and their futures. This year, thanks to the incredible generosity of the Canzano family, we were able to increase each scholarship award to $3,000, creating even greater opportunities for the students who have worked so hard to reach this milestone.

As an Italian American woman myself, I am especially grateful for the Canzanos’ unwavering commitment to investing in young people. Their belief in education, hard work, family, and giving back reflects values that have shaped generations of our community.

The Canzano family does not simply write a check. They show up. They invest. They believe in our students and in the future of Allentown.

For our scholarship recipients, this award represents more than financial support. It is a reminder that an entire community is standing behind them, cheering them on, and believing in what they can become.

To the Canzano family, thank you for choosing to make a difference in the lives of our students year after year. Your generosity is helping open doors that might otherwise remain closed, and your legacy will be carried forward through every student whose life is changed because you cared enough to invest in their future.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients. We are incredibly proud of you, and we cannot wait to see where your journey takes you next.

The future is bright, and because of families like the Canzanos, it shines a little brighter for Allentown’s students. ❤️🎓📚

We’re all bleeding Blue and Canary Gold today.

- all the best,
Patti

06/02/2026

The Allen Canaries may not have brought home a state title, but they accomplished something just as important.

They won our hearts.

They reminded an entire city what is possible when young people believe in one another, trust the process, and refuse to quit.

Two championships. One unforgettable season. Countless memories.

As Coach said, this team thrives in chaos. They perform under pressure. Time and time again, when the moment demanded courage, discipline, and grit, these young men answered the call.

What made this season special wasn’t just the wins. It was the way they brought people together. Alumni came back. Teachers filled the stands. Families packed the bleachers. A city rallied around a group of student athletes who gave us something to believe in.

Championships are measured in trophies.

Legacies are measured in impact.

And the impact of this team will be felt long after the final out.

On behalf of the Allentown School District Foundation, I want these players, coaches, families, and supporters to know how incredibly proud we are of you. You represented Allen with heart, determination, and pride. You showed every younger student watching what can happen when talent meets hard work and when a team commits itself to something bigger than any one person.

Thank you for reminding us who we are.

Thank you for reminding us what Allentown is capable of.