Comitta Announces State Funding to Promote Affordable Housing and Prevent Homelessness

June 12, 2025

West Chester, PA (June 12, 2025) – Sixteen Chester County organizations working to prevent homelessness, promote affordable housing, support emergency shelters, and help people achieve financial self-sufficiency were awarded nearly $3.25 million in total state funding to support their efforts, state Senator Carolyn Comitta announced today.

“Every family deserves a safe and healthy place to call home. From expanding emergency shelters to providing no-cost home repairs to enhancing affordable housing opportunities for seniors and coaching first-time homeowners on financial literacy, these investments benefit our entire community,” Comitta said. “I want to thank the organizations and professionals across Chester County who are working to address housing insecurity and help people stay in their homes.”

The funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) program.

“PHARE is one of the most effective tools we have to expand access to safe, affordable housing in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “That’s why we’ve nearly doubled our investment in this program — because it works. Local communities know what they need, and PHARE gives them the resources to meet those needs, tackle the housing crisis, and help more Pennsylvanians stay in their homes. My budget proposal this year builds on that success by raising the PHARE cap to $110 million by 2028 – so we can build more homes, repair more aging properties, and deliver real results for the people of Pennsylvania.”

“I’m impressed each year with how well local organizations target PHARE dollars to address communities’ housing needs,” said PHFA Executive Director and CEO Robin Wiessmann. “We stress to applicants that their requests must demonstrate how PHARE money will be leveraged with other funding sources to make the largest housing impact possible, and that approach has significantly expanded PHARE’s financial investment again this year.”

The grants, which supported 22 projects in the 19^th Senatorial District, are as follows:

• $75,000 for Open Hearth’s Targeted Homelessness Resource Coordination Program (THRC). The THRC program is a community-wide effort to end homelessness in Chester County led by a program coordinator. The coordinator works with shelters, partner agencies, and county representatives to create and maintain a list of those experiencing homelessness and work with all housing providers to prioritize them for permanent housing.

• $75,000 for Open Hearth’s Continuum of Care Permanent Supportive Housing (CoC) Program, which provides rental and utility assistance as well as critical supportive services to approximately 75 households each year. The program prioritizes serving households facing significant challenges, including those already experiencing homelessness, heads of households who have disabilities, and those with criminal convictions or no income.

• $65,000 for Kennett Area Community Service Homeless Prevention, Diversion, Emergency Housing, and Re-Housing services for families and individuals experiencing housing crisis in the Southern Chester County region.

• $250,000 for the Chester County Department of Community Development to expand its Diversionary Enhancement and Street Outreach Operations to provide flexibility, enhance integration with other systems, and improve positive outcomes. The initiative aims to reduce first-time homelessness and increase permanent housing placements and retention.

• $150,000 for Brandywine Valley Active Aging to maintain its Community Resource Navigator/Intensive Case Management program, which supports individuals who are homeless, at-risk for homelessness (housing insecure), or disaster survivors. The program aims to maintain and grow its case management department to prevent and address the increased incidence of older adults (60 and older) experiencing homelessness in Chester County.

• $300,000 for the Housing Partnership of Chester County’s (HPCC) Conservatorship Program. The funds will be used for HPCC to acquire and rehabilitate three properties before making them available for purchase to successful graduates of its First Time Home Buyer program.  

• $400,000 for the Housing Partnership of Chester County’s Senior Home Maintenance Program, which provides no-cost grants to address the pressing housing maintenance and safety issues faced by low-income seniors. It allows participating seniors to safely remain in their homes.

• $50,000 for the Housing Partnership of Chester County’s First Time Home Buyer and Financial Counseling Program aims, which provides free fiscal education to members of the community interested in improving their own financial foundation. Counseling is provided by a HUD-certified housing counselor (English or Spanish) and available to low- and moderate-income Chester County residents. Group financial education classes are offered throughout the county at various locations. Individual counseling and support are also available to income-qualified clients.

• $50,000 for North Star of Chester County to prevent homelessness and promote self-sufficiency for working single-parent families. The program provides ongoing rental assistance, paid directly to landlords, to help families maintain housing, as well as funding for children’s programs, gas and grocery gift cards, and access to an office pantry. In addition, case managers offer budget counseling and financial mentorship to guide parents toward financial independence.

• $100,000 for Chester County Human Services to support the Human Needs Network, which aims to support housing and behavioral health information and referral services in Chester County. The funding will support an Information and Referral (I&R) Program Director, an I&R Manager, an I&R Data Manager, I&R Navigators, and I&R Mobile Navigators to maintain accurate housing and behavioral health information and referral system.

• $100,000 for Family Promise of Southern Chester County to provide short-term emergency support, medium-term shelter, and long-term case management for low-income families with children who are at risk of homelessness.

• $250,000 for the Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children for its Eviction Prevention Case Resolution (EPCR) Program. The program provides legal representation, tenant education, landlord negotiation, limited rental assistance, and short-term case management services to low-income households whose landlords have filed eviction requests in Coatesville, Downingtown, and West Chester District Court 15-2-03. The program anticipates expanding to Exton Court 15-4-03 in January 2025.

• $150,000 for the W.C. Atkinson Memorial Community Service Center to prevent homelessness through individualized intensive case management. The center takes a “housing-first” approach that includes providing shelter and a pathway to independence and stability.

• $25,000 for ACT in Faith of Greater West Chester for Homelessness Prevention Services. ACT in Faith provides services to the un- and under-employed to address issues that hinder self-sustainability and household stability, including support for Housing Stabilization rent, utilities, security deposits, and fuel) and Employment Support programs (transportation costs).

• $80,000 for Home of the Sparrow to help Chester County women reenter the community from the criminal justice system by providing intensive case management services and rapid access to subleased apartments that offer a safe living environment on a sliding scale. The organization also offers wrap-around services to help women find jobs, become financially literate, address health and addiction issues, and reunite with children.

• $90,000 for Home of the Sparrow to provide financial aid and case management to help prevent homelessness, keep women and children out of the costly, overburdened shelter system, and avoid the traumatic experience of homelessness and its long-term, devastating consequences.

• $150,000 for Safe Harbor of Chester County’s Pathways to Stability Initiative. The program provides temporary shelter, meals, case management, housing placement, structured day programming, and post-exit support for individuals experiencing homelessness. The funding will help Safe Harbor expand services, address rapid re-housing and trauma-informed care, and support vulnerable populations across Chester County.

• $350,000 for Safe Harbor to construct a second building above the existing parking lot to meet the growing demand for shelter and support services. The two-story facility will feature day programming spaces and administrative offices, connected to the main building by an enclosed walkway. This expansion will increase capacity by 20 units, improve operations, and provide essential resources for individuals experiencing homelessness in Chester County.

• $250,000 for the Housing Authority of Chester County’s (HACC) Recruitment, Recovery, and Retention Program, which provides clients with security deposit assistance and rental assistance. HACC also offers additional support through its Landlord Risk Reduction Program, which promotes landlord recruitment and retention by covering damages and unexpected vacancies.

• $150,000 for the Housing Authority of Chester County to renovate 10 vacant units at Oxford Terrace, a low-income property for seniors and disabled individuals in Oxford. This program will target homelessness and scarcity specifically for vulnerable groups, such as seniors and individuals with disabilities. Renovating affordable housing aims to enhance diversity and accessibility, fostering a more inclusive community.

• $100,000 for the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center to provide case management for participants, information and referral services, and assistance with essential needs such as rent payments, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and prescription costs. Frequently, the short-term assistance offered by this program can prevent homelessness, forestall the loss of heat or electricity, and ensure that participants can continue to work and remain self-sufficient.

• $50,000 for Good Neighbors Home Repair to provide no-cost home repairs for 10 families, including fixing leaky roofs, broken furnaces, and unsafe steps, as well as installing wheelchair ramps and making other critical repairs. Good Neighbors has been repairing homes for low-income homeowners at no cost for over 30 years. In 2023, the program served 58 families in Chester and Lancaster counties combined.

Funding for the Chester County projects comes as part of $73 million in total PHARE funding for fiscal year 2024-25 awarded to 387 housing and community development initiatives statewide.

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Comitta, Lawmakers Join Arts Educators and Students to Call for State Budget Investments

May 13, 2025

Harrisburg, Pa (May 13, 2025) – Arts educators and students from across Pennsylvania recently converged on the steps of the state Capitol in Harrisburg to highlight the value of arts education programs and call for continued investments in this year’s state budget.

“Music, theatre, dance, and arts education programs are essential. We know because study after study confirms that arts education programs significantly benefit student growth and development. And we know because we can see firsthand. We can see it in their progress and in the eyes of the students joining us today,” said Comitta, a former public-school teacher who serves on the Senate Education Committee.

In celebrating Arts Advocacy Day in the Commonwealth, Comitta was joined by state Representative R. Lee James, state Representative Eddie Day Pashinski, and members of the Pennsylvania Arts Education Leadership Coalition.

With threats and cuts to funding at the federal level, they emphasized the importance of fully funding arts education programs in this year’s state budget.

Pashinski, who taught music and directed choir for nearly four decades, spoke of the need to prioritize arts education funding for all schools, warning: “When we do not have enough money in our school budget, what is the first thing they cut? The arts. And the arts are important, and that is why we are here today.” 

Kiara Braswell, a former University of the Arts student and current student at Drexel University studying dance, shared her experience as an arts student after the University of the Arts closed last year.

“I know what it feels like when the beauty of the arts community is stripped away because of a lack of support and care,” she said. “Every child in Pennsylvania deserves the hope that the arts can bring to their future, so please take action and give us the resources we need.”  

Studies show that arts education programs benefit students by boosting academic achievement, reducing stress, improving behavior, and enhancing concentration, self-confidence, and critical-thinking skills.  

Brett Keith, President of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, stressed the economic contributions of arts and cultural programs.

“The impact of the arts does not stop at the classroom door…In Pennsylvania, the arts and culture sectors are a major economic engine. In the Greater Philadelphia region, nonprofit arts and culture organizations generate $1.9 billion in economic activity annually,” he said.

James echoed the economic importance of the arts and culture sector in the Commonwealth, adding that “the sector is responsible for employing 176,000 people.” 

Comitta noted that Pennsylvania is in the process of updating its Arts and Humanities Educational Standards for the first time since 2002. This spring, the State Board of Education approved the nominees to serve on the academic standards review committee.

In addition, the group expressed their support for expanding student teacher stipends, increasing investments in basic education funding, and restoring at least one full-time fine arts and humanities advisor at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. 

The press conference also featured performances from the Exeter Township Senior High School Marching Band and dance students from the Capital Area School for the Arts.

The Pennsylvania Arts Education Leadership Coalition is composed of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, the Pennsylvania Art Education Association, the Pennsylvania Dance Education Organization, the Educational Theatre Association of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Association for Media Arts Education.

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Comitta: Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program Application Now Open

May 13, 2025

West Chester, Pa (May 12, 2025) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta is reminding eligible Chester County seniors that they can now apply to receive coupons for free locally grown fruits and vegetables through the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. 

“As the weather warms up and fresh, locally grown produce becomes more readily available, the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program is here to help area seniors access nutritious food options,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. “I encourage all eligible residents to apply to this program, support our local farmers, and take advantage of the fresh Pennsylvania produce available at farmers’ markets in Chester County. 

Each eligible senior may receive five $5 checks that can be used to purchase fresh Pennsylvania-grown fruits and vegetables at approved farmer’s markets. Checks may be redeemed between June 1 and November 30, 2025. 

To qualify you must be aged 60 years or older (or turn 60 by 12/31/2025) and meet household income eligibility guidelines. For a one-person household, total income cannot exceed $28,953. For a two-person household, total income cannot exceed $39,128. 

Applications can be found on the Chester County Department of Aging Services website at chesco.org/5537/Farmers-Market-Program or by calling Senator Comitta’s district office at 610-692-2112. 

Completed applications can be emailed to mwebb@chesco.org or mailed to Chester County Department of Aging Services 601 Westtown Road, Suite 320, West Chester, PA 19380. 

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PA’s First Lady Lori Shapiro, Sen. Carolyn Comitta & Acting Secretary for the PA Dept. of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe Visit WCU

May 6, 2025

West Chester, Pa (May 2, 2025) — Pennsylvania’s First Lady Lori Shapiro, Senator Carolyn Comitta ’74, and Acting Secretary for the PA Department of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe recently visited West Chester University (WCU) to have an in-depth discussion with students about the many ways that WCU prioritizes students’ basic needs in and out of the classroom. Serving-up success to its undergraduate and graduate students, the University’s Resource Pantry, which first opened in 2016 and later added multifaceted services by aligning with the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact, offers one-stop shopping for non-perishable food, fresh produce, toiletries, and school supplies. 

WCU Resource Pantry Provides Basic Needs
“No student should have to miss out on higher education and the future career opportunities that come with it because of food or basic needs insecurity,” said Sen. Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “While student hunger is a growing issue on campuses across the nation, I’m proud of the work being done at West Chester University and across Pennsylvania to ensure that students have the nutrition and resources they need to learn and thrive. I thank the First Lady, Governor Shapiro, and the University for their leadership and support of this important partnership.”

Since the launch of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Hunger-Free Campus program in January of 2023, West Chester University has been among those selected to receive funding at colleges, universities, and private licensed schools; $60,000 was awarded to WCU in 2025 and 2024, and $54,399 was awarded in 2023. Thanks to the much-needed financial support, the Center has been able to expand pantry services available to students at its West Chester campus through on-line ordering; increase options for students to access food during evening and weekend hours via on-line order pickup; increase access to healthy and allergy-friendly food; support the expansion of the Resource Pantry at the Philadelphia location; build upon resources to support students in applying for benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and increase students’ access to off-campus resources. 

The staff in the Center for Civic Engagement & Social Impact, which manages the Resource Pantry, also worked with Cheyney University to secure their own Hunger-Free Campus Grant last year. In addition, staff members have also been working with Lincoln University to share information about pantry operations.

“Meeting students’ basic needs continues to be an imperative,” said Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “Pennsylvania is proud that the students, faculty, and staff at West Chester University have not only made this a priority but are modeling ways that others can do the same across the Commonwealth and throughout the nation. We continue to be quite proud of the way this University community has stepped-up to make an ongoing difference in the lives of students.” 

The Period Project Launches 

Meeting college students’ basic needs, however, is not a one-and-done undertaking. The University became aware of another challenge facing its students — accessing menstrual products due to financial constraints. The launch of the Period Project has helped change much of this by providing free menstrual products in highly frequented on-campus bathrooms.

“Period products are a basic hygiene necessity for students, yet too many young people across the Commonwealth face uncertainty about access during the school day or at college,” said First Lady Lori Shapiro. “I was grateful to visit West Chester University today to learn more about how they launched the Period Project to help provide free menstrual products in campus bathrooms and hear directly from students about how it’s impacting their lives. This program will help us move past stigma, provide essential health products, and give students the dignity and peace of mind they deserve.”

The Period Project was inspired in 2021 as the subject of a Global Studies minor capstone course taken by WCU alumna Katie Kerr ’22. Katie led the implementation of the project and chose to focus her senior capstone research around collecting data on the need for menstrual equity on WCU’s campus. From there, students and now WCU alumnae, Megan Harth ’24 and Lilly-Dawn Harkins ’25, committed themselves to helping their peers secure essential menstrual products at no-cost and on a consistent basis. The two were joined in their grass-roots efforts by The Resource Pantry, in partnership with the Center for Women and Gender Equity, the Center for Civic Engagement and Student Impact, and the Global Studies Minor. The collective work soon led to a collaboration with Aunt Flow, a nonprofit organization working to end period poverty by ensuring access to essential hygiene products, to mount dispensers with free menstruation products on the walls of the highest trafficked bathrooms on campus. 

University Provides Support

In spring 2024, Lilly-Dawn and Megan were invited to discuss the Period Project’s details at a cabinet meeting with senior leaders. The two students pitched the administrators about the need for the University to assume financial support for a more permanent network of dispensers. It was at an on-campus Honors College event in fall 2024 that next steps came about; Lilly-Dawn took the initiative to present a proposal to President Laurie Bernotsky. Understanding the project’s importance, President Bernotsky and the members of cabinet agreed without hesitation. Today, the University’s Facilities Department provides the inventory, distribution and maintenance of the dispensers on campus. 

“This was a brilliant idea that emanated from concerned students who saw a critical need, collaborated with others, and worked to make it happen,” said President Bernotsky. “We were eager to assist and establish a process whereby the University could provide free menstrual products to students who need them. As advocates and defenders of all our students, we will do whatever we can at this University to remove barriers that impede their success. This has been a win-win for our students and our entire community of learners.” 

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Aunt Flow Dispenser

Following the student roundtable, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Sciences and Engineering Center & The Commons (SECC), where a new Aunt Flow dispenser had recently been installed in the second-floor women’s bathroom. The day of discussion and celebration culminated with a tour of WCU’s Resource Pantry in Commonwealth Hall. 

“The period project is near and dear to my heart, and I am so thankful for the work that Megan and Lilly-Dawn continued after my departure from West Chester University,” said Katie. “I applaud the administration for listening to the concerns of these student advocates and taking actionable steps to invest in a previously unmet need and broaching a topic that is often heavily stigmatized. The continuation of the Period Project ensures that no student needs to miss vital class time or carry the burden of basic need insecurity alone.” 

Suburban State Lawmakers, Business, and Transit Leaders Call for SEPTA Funding

May 5, 2025

Paoli, Pa (April 29, 2025) – Dozens of state lawmakers, regional business leaders, municipal officials, transit workers, and riders gathered outside the Paoli Train Station this week to call for the legislature to fully fund SEPTA in the upcoming state budget.

The press conference, led by state Senator Carolyn Comitta, highlighted the significant economic, traffic congestion, and quality-of-life impacts that would come with proposed cuts to the public transit system’s regional rail and bus service.

“SEPTA serves the suburbs. Cutting SEPTA won’t just hurt Philadelphia residents and businesses; it will negatively impact our entire region,” Comitta said. “People need to get to work, school, or important medical appointments for us to survive and thrive – as a community and as a Commonwealth. Let’s do what’s right and smart and fully fund SEPTA in the upcoming budget.”

Due to a looming budget deficit, beginning July 1, SEPTA will be forced to increase fares by more than 20 percent and cut service by 45 percent, including eliminating 50 bus routes and five regional rail lines (including the Paoli-Thorndale regional rail line).

Joining Comitta were State Senator John Kane, State Senator Katie Muth, and State Representatives Melissa Shusterman, Chris Pielli, and Lisa Borowski.  

“SEPTA is more than just a service – it is a lifeline for so many of our constituents and residents across the Greater Philadelphia area who rely on these critical services so that they can continue to get to work, to school, and to their medical appointments,” Muth said. “Available, affordable, and reliable mass transit is essential to our residents and to our statewide economy. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to fight for adequate funding for SEPTA and to fight for mass transit when we return to Harrisburg.”

“SEPTA is vitally important to the lives of the residents of Chester County. Our economy depends on SEPTA’s regional rail line to attract and keep families and businesses in our community. Residents depend on SEPTA to travel to medical appointments, work, and entertainment events,” said Shusterman. “It’s unfathomable to think of life in our area without the Paoli-Thorndale line, and we must do absolutely everything we can to adequately fund SEPTA.”

“Over 800,000 people rely on SEPTA’s buses, trains, and trolleys every day to get to work and to go about their daily lives. The truth is that public transportation bolsters commerce which boosts tax revenue, not only in our region, but throughout the entire Commonwealth. Without SEPTA, economic activity in Southeastern Pennsylvania could grind to a halt, with many unable to get to and from work, go to school, or seek medical attention.  It’s time for the Republican-controlled Senate to stop playing games with working families and our economy, and properly fund SEPTA,” said Pielli.

The press conference also included comments from Chester County Commissioner and Vice-Chair of SEPTA Marian Moskowitz, Donald Hill, General Chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), and Tim Phelps, Executive Director of TMACC.

Moskowitz highlighted SEPTA’s success in cutting costs and enhancing efficiency.

“SEPTA is cleaner, safer, and more reliable than ever before. We are doing more with less, but we cannot continue this amazing progress without sustainable investment. This is about more than transit. It’s about the future of our communities, our economy, and our Commonwealth,” Moskowitz said. “Transit is not a cost. It’s an investment. One that multiplies every dollar into jobs, growth, and opportunity.”

“If these cuts go through, the impact on the economy would be severe,” Hill said. “SEPTA has also proposed a 20 percent reduction in workforce, representing well over 200 locomotive engineers and conductors – some of the most highly skilled crafts at SEPTA. It would be absurd to just throw that away.”

“Where strong transit exists, property values are stronger. Businesses grow, communities thrive, and in Chester County, the areas served by the Paoli-Thorndale line have some of the most attractive, fastest-growing neighborhoods in the region,” Phelps said. “When we invest in transit, we aren’t just moving people, we are moving opportunities. We are creating value. We are protecting what makes our region such a special place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“SEPTA plays a vital role in providing transportation for employees, patients and visitors to Paoli Hospital and healthcare facilities across the region. Cuts in funding to SEPTA would be incredibly harmful and threaten access to care in our local communities. We thank our elected officials for opposing cuts to SEPTA and strongly urge lawmakers to provide fair funding for public transportation,” said Yonathan Kebede, President of Paoli Hospital.

Comitta highlighted SEPTA’s important role in powering the economy of the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania region, which generates 38 percent (or $15.5 billion) of Pennsylvania’s General Fund tax revenues and accounts for 41 percent of the state’s economic activity.

Standing in support of SEPTA funding at the press conference were regional, municipal and business leaders including Chair of the Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell; David A. Byerman, Chief Executive Officer of Chester County; Rachel Cathell, Executive Director of the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce; Cheryl Kuhn, President & CEO of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce; Laura Manion, President & CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry; Laurie Ryan, President of the Exton Regional Chamber of Commerce; Katie Walker, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce; Nicole Whitaker, Borough Manager for Malvern; Jeff Smith, Borough Manager for Downingtown; Corinne Badman, Downingtown Assistant Borough Manager; KS Bhaskar, Supervisor for Tredyffrin Township; James Logan, City Manager for Coatesville; Linda Lavender Norris, Coatesville City Council President; Carmen Green, Coatesville  City Council Vice President; Tiniera Turner Green, Coatesville City Council Member; Rajesh Kumbhardare, Chair of the West Whiteland Board of Supervisors; and Brian Dunn, Vice Chair of the West Whiteland Board of Supervisors. 

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Twenty-Three Chester County High Schoolers Participate in Comitta’s Innovative Student Advisory Program

April 28, 2025

West Chester, Pa (April 28, 2025) – Twenty-three students from the West Chester Area, Tredyffrin-Easttown, and Oxford Area School Districts recently got a firsthand look at what it’s like to work in the Pennsylvania Senate as part of state Senator Carolyn Comitta’s Student Advisory Council.

The council, now in its third year, brought together high school juniors from across Chester County over 11 weeks to learn about state government and share their views, interests, and perspectives. Each week they learned about the operations of Senator Comitta’s office including constituent services, the budget process, crafting legislation, public policy, media and communications, the regulatory process, event planning, and more.

“One of my favorite things about being a State Senator is the opportunity to talk and interact with our young people,” said Comitta, a former public-school teacher who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “Their passion and advocacy on these issues was inspiring and thought-provoking. And I learned so much by hearing their perspectives on current events and discussing their hopes and dreams for the future.”

This spring, the council culminated in each student pitching their ideas for legislation: from expanding voter education to enhancing the understanding of our legal system to waste composting programs in public schools, the students made presentations on a wide variety of topics.

In addition, students participated activities including touring the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, volunteering at the West Chester Food Cupboard, meeting with a leading lobbyist to learn about effective advocacy, participating in a Senate Mock Policy Hearing, and advocating for legislation that they believe Senator Comitta should co-sponsor.

Lily Chen, of Conestoga High School and the Design Editor of the Conestoga school newspaper, stated “The Council provided a rare opportunity to engage with state-level policy discussions and learn from public service professionals who are deeply committed to their work for the Commonwealth. I greatly appreciated the chance to collaborate with other driven students interested in public policy and gain real-world insight into diverse aspects of the state legislative process. This was an incredibly formative experience that affirmed my passion for public service and policy.”

Jonah Ullman, a Oxford Area High School student and President of the Class of 2026, said “Senator Comitta’s Student Advisory Council taught me a lot about politics at the state level, more than my government class ever could. It was an eye-opening experience. There is so much that goes into state government that I was previously unaware of, and I’m so glad that I participated.”

Each year, Senator Comitta hosts the Student Advisory Council from January to April with applications opening in November. For more information, reach out to: senator.comitta@pasenate.com.

Comitta Secures New Funding for YMCA of Greater Brandywine Childcare and Early Learning Classrooms

April 23, 2025

WEST CHESTER, PA (April 23, 2025) – Improvements and upgrades are coming to the childcare and early learning facilities at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW), thanks to new state funding secured by state Senator Carolyn Comitta.

The $50,000 grant awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Education will support environmental upgrades at childcare and early learning classrooms at the Oscar Lasko YMCA in West Chester and the Upper Main Line YMCA in Berwyn.

“Having a strong and healthy start is important for every child. The YMCA of Greater Brandywine helps ensure that our young people are prepared for lifelong learning, opportunity, and success,” said Comitta, who serves on the Senate Education Committee. “I have personally seen the benefits of the YGBW’s programs for families across our community and I am proud to help this investment in childcare and early education.”

With the funding, YGBW will be able to increase the Keystone STARS rating at their facilities, a program of Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) that assesses the quality of early learning programs in the Commonwealth.

“At YGBW, we are committed to excellence in every program we offer—especially in our Childcare and Early Learning programs,” said Bertram L. Lawson II, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine. “This funding will empower our team to elevate our Keystone STARS ratings and ensure that every child in our community has access to safe, high-quality and enriching educational opportunities. We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Carolyn Comitta for her support in securing this funding. Her dedication to advocating for our community’s youngest learners is truly commendable – and we appreciate her continued commitment to their success.”

Keystone STARS (Standards, Training/Professional Development, Assistance, Resources, and Supports) is a quality rating system that promotes quality improvement in early learning and development programs and school-age childcare. Early learning programs participating in Keystone STARS can earn a quality rating score from a STAR 1 to a STAR 4. At each level, programs must meet certain quality standards in four key areas: staff education, learning environment, leadership/management, and family/community partnerships

The YMCA of Greater Brandywine is the largest provider of licensed childcare in Chester County, providing care and early learning programming to more than 5,000 children each year.

To learn more about YGBW go to ymcagbw.org

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