FAQs • Centre County, PA • CivicEngage

What Is the Ethel Beaver Fund?: The Ethel Beaver fund helps pay for childhood expenses that many foster families cannot afford. One hundred percent of the money raised goes to the children. Money is given to foster parents or caseworkers so that each child can receive something they want, within monetary reason. The Fund relies on contributions from private citizens. The Centre County Office of Children and Youth Services Advisory Commission administers the Ethel Beaver Fund throughout the year to the County's foster children.

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Ethel Beaver Children's Fund

1. How can I make a donation?: Tax-deductible donations to the Ethel Beaver Fund may be sent to:
The Ethel Beaver Children's Fund
c/o Centre County Children and Youth Services
420 Holmes St., Willowbank Building
Bellefonte, PA 16823

Or donate online using your credit card.

2. What does the fund provide money for?: In addition to Christmas / holiday gifts, other things are funded such as: Little League registration, sports camps, music and drama lessons, class trips, prom expenses, graduation expenses, summer camp and day camp, equipment for sports and many other scholarships to high school graduates so that their children have a chance to a better future.

3. Who is Ethel Beaver?: Ethel Beaver started the fund in 1948 as the director of Child Welfare Services (the predecessor to Children and Youth Services). Known as "Mother Beaver" to many, Beaver was concerned that the children of Centre County needed more than just the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter, so the "Fun Fund" was created to provide money to the county's foster children for expenses that foster families would not normally be able to afford.

4. What is the history of the fund?: Originally, people hung their monetary donations on a Christmas tree outside of the Register of Wills Office in the Centre County Courthouse. Eventually, more traditional ways of raising funds were established: the Children and Youth Services Advisory Commission was asked to oversee the Fund. The Fund was also renamed the Ethel Beaver Fund, in honor of Beaver's 24 years of service to the children and youth of Centre County.

5. What Is the Ethel Beaver Fund?: The Ethel Beaver fund helps pay for childhood expenses that many foster families cannot afford. One hundred percent of the money raised goes to the children. Money is given to foster parents or caseworkers so that each child can receive something they want, within monetary reason. The Fund relies on contributions from private citizens. The Centre County Office of Children and Youth Services Advisory Commission administers the Ethel Beaver Fund throughout the year to the County's foster children.