Mission & History
Raising the House (RTH) is a 501(c)3 volunteer-operated nonprofit located in Palmerton, PA. RTH was established in memory of Blaine R. House, beloved father, school teacher, mentor, and friend.
Blaine taught and coached football with the Palmerton Area School District for almost 30 years before passing away in 2013. A man full of life and love, Blaine lived his life with the goal of exiting this world better than he entered it. He dedicated his time and energy to inspiring, supporting, and encouraging his family, students, and community. As a way to honor his memory and continue his passion, Raising the House was established.
In March of 2014, Raising the House held its first annual 5K walk/run to honor Blaine's memory and raise funds for new playground equipment at Towamensing Elementary. On June 14, 2014, RTH unveiled the new playground equipment and dedicated it to Mr. House.
Following the success of the first 5K, RTH elected to expand our mission and work to support families in the Palmerton Area School District, while keeping Blaine's memory alive.
A scholarship fund and a financial assistance program were established in order to better meet the needs of families in the community. Each year, the Raising the House scholarship is awarded to a Palmerton High School senior that will be able to use the funds to advance their education. The Family Assistance Program allows RTH to aid families during financial hardships by granting funds to applicants who meet the criteria established by the executive board.
Through the years, Raising the House has continued to grow and evolve to meet the needs of the community by adding more programs and funding opportunities. The Blaine House Backpack Program, established in 2020, provides food to food-insecure children at the Palmerton Jr. High and High School in order to supplement their weekly nutrition.
The Educational Advancement Fund, established in 2022, gives educators and staff in the Palmerton Area School District the opportunity to receive additional funding for classroom and extracurricular projects through an accessible grant program.
And in addition to our annual 5K, in 2021 RTH launched Lights at the Lake, a drive-through holiday light show at Mauch Chunk Lake Park. This event allows us to host a festive, family-friendly event for the community while also raising funds for our programs.