From left: Breidegam Family Foundation President Paula Barrett, Dan Miksiewicz, Katelyn Miksiewicz-Kline, Alvernia President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., Berks Community Health Center Chief Medical Officer Karen Wang, MD, Matt Miksiewicz, Alvernia University Vice President of Advancement and Government Affairs Thomas Minick ’98 MBA ‘10
Funding advances healthcare access and workforce development in downtown Reading
Alvernia University receives a significant gift from the Breidegam Family Foundation to support the renovation of the historic American House at Reading CollegeTowne, furthering the initiative’s goal of expanding healthcare access and experiential learning opportunities for Alvernia students in downtown Reading. This contribution will help advance Alvernia’s partnership with Berks Community Health Center (BCHC) to establish a state-of-the-art community health center serving Reading’s underserved populations.
"The generous support from the Breidegam Foundation is pivotal in transforming our vision for the American House at Reading CollegeTowne into reality,” said Alvernia University President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. “This initiative strengthens Alvernia’s commitment to serving underserved communities and enhances experiential learning opportunities for our students across healthcare, social services, education, and other academic programs. We are deeply grateful for this investment in the well-being of our neighbors and the future of our region’s workforce and nonprofit sector.”
To recognize the Breidegam Family Foundation’s gift and commitment to healthcare and the community, the second floor of the American House will be named Helen and DeLight Breidegam Center at the American House. The significant gift comes as the university enters the final year of the five-year Partners in Progress comprehensive campaign to build stronger communities by redefining higher education.
“The Breidegam Family Foundation is proud to support this initiative, which will have a lasting impact on healthcare access in Reading,” said Paula Barrett, President of the Breidegam Family Foundation. “This project embodies the values of community service, innovation, education, and collaboration, all of which were deeply important to our founders.”
Alvernia acquired the 45,000-square-foot, four-story historic American House property at 354 Penn Street in 2022 as part of its Reading CollegeTowne initiative. The redevelopment of the building will create a multifaceted healthcare hub, featuring a new BCHC community health center which will host at least 50 annual clinical experiences for Alveria occupational therapy, physician associate, physical therapy, exercise science, athletic training, nursing, social work, and addictions and mental health treatment students.
The project will directly respond to the city’s urgent need for accessible healthcare. With 27% of Reading residents living below the poverty line and a growing demand for primary care services, BCHC identified downtown Reading as a priority location for expansion. The new community health center will enable BCHC to serve 2,000 additional patients annually, ensuring that individuals and families have access to primary care, mental health, addiction counseling, and other services—regardless of their ability to pay.
“This project will greatly impact the healthcare needs of the residents of the City of Reading,” said Mary Kargbo, president and CEO of Berks Community Health Center. “By adding this location in the heart of downtown, we are increasing access to care in our quest for a healthier community while also strengthening the pipeline of future healthcare professionals."
Partnering with other local nonprofits and healthcare providers has been a signature piece of this project. In late 2024, Alvernia’s O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship announced workforce development initiatives with the John Paul II Center for Special Learning, aimed at strengthening regional employment pipelines through the establishment of a student-run retail operation that will be housed in the American House.
The development of the American House is the latest milestone in Alvernia’s CollegeTowne initiative, a model for economic redevelopment and community impact in downtown Reading.
Alvernia and its partner organization continue to seek philanthropic support to complete the $17 million renovation of the American House so construction can begin in 2025.
