Supporting Access, Building Pride: Scholarships & Swag Powering CAAP Events
At CAAP, we believe participation should never be out of reach. That’s why we were proud to award 41 scholarships to help professionals from across Pennsylvania attend the 2025 CAAP Conference, covering conference registration, Boot Camps, travel, and hotel costs so recipients could fully participate without financial strain.
This year’s scholarship cycle saw overwhelming interest: 51 applications from 30 agencies representing counties all across the state. These included Allegheny, Bucks, Cambria, Clarion, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Lawrence, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lycoming, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Somerset, Susquehanna, Warren, and Westmoreland.
These scholarships were made possible thanks to generous support from Penn State Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), whose partnership helped expand access and opportunity for agencies statewide.
Awardees ranged from frontline case managers to executive directors, all united by a commitment to learning, connection, and community change.
🎓 In total, $26,707.20 in scholarships was awarded, removing financial barriers and creating space for growth, dialogue, and collaboration.
19 of the scholarship recipients attended both the Boot Camps and the full conference, immersing themselves in the experience and bringing back new insights to share with their teams.
👉 Keep an eye out: Scholarship applications for next fall will open in Spring 2026!
Introducing: The CAAP Online Store
One way we’re sustaining this work year-round? By launching a new initiative created directly from your feedback.
🛍️ The CAAP Online Store is now live!
Members told us they wanted a simple way to purchase Community Action gear, so we built one. Now you can show your CAAP pride and support a great cause at the same time.
The store features branded items like insulated tumblers, performance pullovers, cooking aprons, cozy travel blankets, even a Walking Pet Dragon 🐉 (yes, really) and MUCH MORE.
✨ Every purchase helps fund scholarships and conference programming. That means your new sweatshirt or sticker isn’t just stylish, it’s an investment in access and opportunity.
🆕 New Items launched at the Fall Conference include:
Thinking CAAP Podcast T-shirts (blue or grey) – $15
PA Huggy Heart Sticker – $10
Screwdriver Set – $10
Coaster Set – $5
🛒 Shop the store anytime here:
https://members.thecaap.org/store/
📦 Want to place a bulk order (notebooks, pens, etc.) for your agency? We can help with that, too, just email us at info@thecaap.org.
A Full-Circle Moment
From scholarships to sweatshirts, it all connects. These efforts reflect the same goal: making Community Action visible, valued, and accessible for everyone.
We’re grateful to everyone who applied, donated, shopped, and showed up. Together, you’re not only moving the mission forward, you’re making sure no one gets left behind on the path to progress.