Chamber Foundation

Foundation Officers and Directors
Click here for the Foundation Board of Directors and Officers

About the Foundation

Established in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization, The Main Line Chamber Foundation is dedicated to its mission of (1) awarding scholarships to local volunteer firefighters and EMTs; (2) supporting area high school students attending PA Free Enterprise Week summer camp; (3) assisting members’ employees participating in the Chamber’s Leadership Main Line program; and (4) supporting the Fund for Investing in Talent.

The Fund for Investing in Talent was created in 2016 to enhance professional development throughout the region through support for The Main Line Chamber of Commerce’s programs The Society of Professional Women, The Talent and Education Network and leadership programs including Leadership Main Line.

Chamber Firefighter Awareness Campaign Page

 Firefighter Scholarship Application

The Main Line Emergency Responders Scholarship Program

In 2005, The Main Line Chamber Foundation initiated a four-part project to address issues that impact on the recruitment and recognition of volunteer firefighters and EMT’s and the funding of the volunteer fire companies and emergency medical services in the region.  This effort is a continuation of a class project undertaken by the Chamber’s Leadership Main Line Class of 2004, which highlighted the need for better public awareness of the serious challenges facing volunteer fire and emergency medical services in the region.

The Main Line Chamber Foundation was pleased to award the 2024 scholarships to 32 firefighter/EMT scholarship recipients representing volunteer fire companies serving the Main Line. The majority of them are working, going to school, and committed to serving as a volunteer firefighter with their local fire company.  Most of the award recipients have a family member who is also a firefighter.  It is truly an honor to present these outstanding young firefighters and EMTs with a scholarship award towards their college education. 

The Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Scholarship program began in 2006 with $6,000. In 2007, this program awarded $14,500 to deserving individuals.  The increase in 2008 awards to $23,000 was due to a fundraiser hosted by Turnaround Management Association (TMA) to honor the memory of Lower Merion firefighter Thomas J. Hays. To date, we are proud to announce we have awarded nearly $700,000 in scholarships to those who help us when we need them most. Each year, recipients are awarded scholarships at the Hometown Heroes Celebration. Everyone in the community is invited to join us on Thursday, June 5. Click here for more information.

Join us on September 14, 2025, for this year's Main Line Run/Walk, presented by The Haverford Trust Company. This event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Foundation's scholarship program. For Details and registration, click here.

Hometown Heroes Celebration 2025

Photo of 2025 recipients and MLCF Board Members

Please join us in saluting and recognizing our 2025 volunteer firefighter/EMT scholarship recipients:

$5,000 WSFS Cares Foundation Leaders of Tomorrow Award:

David Evans, Jr., Aston Township Fire Department, Aston

$5,000 Thomas J. Hays Memorial Scholarships:

Tiffany Lan, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Kevin Mitchell, Jr., Bon Air Fire Company, Haverford

Randall Jack Patton, Paoli Fire Company, Paoli

2024 Scholarship Honorees:

Lindsay Baker, Llanerch Fire Company, Havertown

Charlotte Ackerman, West Whiteland Fire Department, Exton

Matthew Becket, Bryn Mawr Fire Company, Bryn Mawr

Elizabeth Ann Brown, Radnor Fire Company, Radnor

Nathan Bugey, Goshen Fire Company, West Chester

Riley Carroll, Bryn Mawr Fire Company, Bryn Mawr

Eric Chen, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Dominic Cipriani, Bryn Mawr Fire Company, Bryn Mawr

Gianfranco Colella, Belmont Hills Fire Company, Belmont Hills

Velma Willisha Davies, Llanerch Fire Company, Havertown

Levi Dentel, Paoli Fire Company, Paoli

David Evans, Jr., Aston Township Fire Department, Aston

Anthony Frank Fiore, Good Fellowship Ambulance Club, West Chester

Gavin C. Ford, Warrington Fire Company, Warrington

Alexander Joseph Fusaro, Union Fire Association, Merion Station

Diego Andrew Gomez, Alpha Fire Company, State College

Kaitlyn Harkins, Belmont Hills Fire Company, Belmont Hills

Matthew Hand, Brookline Fire Company, Havertown

Madison Jones, West Whiteland Fire Company, Exton

Chandeep Kaur, Llanerch Fire Company, Havertown

Kenneth Keagy, Merion Fire Company, Ardmore

Megan Kozar, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Tiffany Lan, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Yazen Abdul Latif, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Kareem Lee, Centre Square Fire Company, Blue Bell

David Marein-Efron, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Ryan Marsh, Merion Fire Company, Ardmore

Kevin Mitchell, Jr., Bon Air Fire Company, Haverford

Daria Nikolic, Penn Wynne Fire Company, Penn Wynne

Randall Jack Patton, Paoli Fire Company, Paoli

Andrew Payne, Manoa Fire Company

Elizabeth Peckham, Radnor Fire Company, Radnor

Nicolas Rodriguez, Bryn Mawr Fire Company, Bryn Mawr

Gabriella Saylor, Centre Square Fire Company, Blue Bell

Mason Scheibe, West Whiteland Fire Company, Exton

Harrison Reed Shapiro, Penn Wynne-Overbrook Fire Company, Penn Wynne

Alexander James Siegel, Belmont Hills Fire Company, Bala Cynwyd

Steven Ziad Sleiman, Goshen Fire Company, West Chester

Julianna Smull, Upper Merion Fire and EMS Department, King of Prussia|

Breonna Thompson, VMSC, Lansdale

Devora Weintraub, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Luke Willette, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

Christopher Zachar, Concordville Fire & Protective Association, Concordville

Noelle Zeller, Narberth Ambulance Company, Ardmore

The Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Scholarship Program is designed to provide recognition for this important group of dedicated community servants who are part of the 17 volunteer fire companies serving the Main Line. With generous community support, The Main Line Chamber Foundation Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Scholarship program will continue to grow and provide support, recognition, and honor to the young firefighters serving our communities.

If you would like to contribute to the Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Scholarship Program or for additional information, please contact The Main Line Chamber Foundation at 610-687-6232.

The future is in your hands. 
Please find it in your heart to give.
Even just a little gift will help!