Hazleton Integration Project(HIP), Inc

The Hazleton Integration Project’s (HIP) mission is to provide educational, cultural, and athletic opportunities for economically underserved children and their families. For the past thirteen years, HIP has operated the Hazleton One Community Center with programming designed to engage our children in wholesome activities while fostering trust and respect among all of our region’s ethnic cultures. 

Understanding that the United States been a country strengthened by the contributions of diverse cultures, HIP has endeavored to help create and maintain an atmosphere that has served to unify the varied cultures within greater Hazleton, PA, and keep our area vibrant and relevant. Since opening in June 2013, the HIP Coexperience has quickly become a gathering place for the area’s residents and a safe haven for children. Thanks to the hard work of a dedicated staff and many volunteers, the Community Center is open seven days a week. 

In just thirteen years, the HIP organization has become a vital resource in the Hazleton area. Our Time to Learn Pre-K and our HIP After School Scholars programs are fully licensed by the PA Department of Human Services. Additionally, both programs have earned Keystone STARS recognition, joining Head Start in achieving this distinction. Since its founding, HIP has continued to expand its services, offering programs that support new immigrants as they adjust to life in our community while also helping longtime residents understand and celebrate our cultural diversity. Our most recent programs have focused on food insecurity, and HIP has now become the largest food distribution center in our city. The HIP community center serves more than 1.000 of our area’s residents every week of the year.

For our efforts, HIP was awarded the Pennsylvania State Education Association’s “Human & Civil Rights Award,” the PA Governor’s Advisory Council’s “History of Serving America” Award, and the 2021 Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce’s “Charitable Organization of the Year.” In 2018, HIP was selected from over 3,000 organizations nationally to receive Atlantic Magazine’s “Renewal Award” for our sustainable contributions to our community. In June of 2017, HIP was the feature story on Dateline NBC with Harry Smith, highlighting our work with immigrant families. Recently, the co-founders of HIP, Bob & Elaine Curry, were honored with the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission’s Humanitarian Award.