Dedicated to Your Financial Success
Our Mission
The Credit Counseling Center’s (CCC) mission is to provide the highest quality community based services to individuals and families who are in need of financial literacy through various programs designed to improve money management skills for lifelong independence.
Our Leadership Team
Joan Reading, MSW, President & Founder
Joan founded the CCC in 1994. Since then she’s led a dedicated team that acts as a catalyst for economic mobility for every individual and family it serves.
She is a graduate of Rutgers University, where she gained her M.S.W. (Masters of Social Work).
In 1989, five years prior to establishing the CCC, Joan started the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley. An active leader in the Bucks County community, Joan donates her time and leadership to various social service organizations including serving on the Housing Continuum of Care Bucks County, Reentry Coalition, Bucks-Montgomery Collaborative, Direct Services Coalition and is proud to collaborate and support United Way of Bucks County and our member agencies.
Paula Powers-Watts, Executive Director
In 2021, Paula was named Executive Director of CCC. She joined the organization in 2008 as a Credit Counselor and was quickly promoted to Director of Housing Counseling in 2009. Paula is a firm believer that each and every client is a representation of a family whose lives, financial challenges, and needs are important.
She developed and led the Center’s Foreclosure Prevention; and has partnered with the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Foreclosure Diversion Program.
Previously, Paula served 21 years as an Active Duty Air Force recruiter, leading to the position of Flight Chief. Highly decorated, she has received awards from the Air Force and the Department of Defense.
Board of Directors
Ryan Fuller, Chairman of the Board
GMG Insurance Agency
Langhorne, PA
Anne Berlin, CPA, Treasurer
Consultant
Langhorne, PA
David Breidinger
Breidinger & Associates
Newtown, PA
Bradford Connard
Second Avenue Thrift Stores
Doylestown, PA
Lisa Folks
PNC Bank
Camden, NJ
Andrew Griffin
Curtin & Heefner, Attorneys at Law
Morrisville, PA
Larry Grant – CPA
Aurum Consultants
Newtown, PA
Aret Kalayjian
Univest
Doylestown, PA
Thomas Maclin
C&N Bank
Doylestown, PA
Terri Reif
Penn Community Bank
Doylestown, PA
Anne Slifer, SHRM-SCP
HRCI-SPHR
Ottsville, PA
Michael C. Sullivan, Jr.
Fulton Bank, N.A.
Yardley, PA
Robert Szwajkos
Curtin & Heefner, Attorneys at Law
Morrisville, PA
CCC in the News
Credit Counseling Center’s Fundraising Gala & Silent Auction on May 19 Will Honor Founder Joan Reading, MSW
The Credit Counseling Center (CCC) will hold a Fundraising Gala & Silent Auction on Thursday May 19 at Spring Mill Country Club, in Ivyland, PA, honoring Founder and President Joan Reading as she enters retirement after 28 years of service. Reading has led CCC’s...
Fundraising Gala and Silent Auction
Honoring Joan Reading's retirement & 28 years of service to the center Please join us for our fundraising gala & silent auction honoring Founder and President Joan Reading as she enters retirement to enjoy more time with her family. Joan has spent the past 28...
Longed-for pandemic mortgage assistance program launches in Pa.
The Pennsylvania Homeowners Assistance Fund, (PAHAF) pandemic-related financial help for homeowners through the American Rescue Plan Act, launched Feb. 1. The fund aims to support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic who are falling behind on their property taxes,...
28 years of history in Bucks County and beyond
Notable Milestones
1994 | The non-profit Credit Counseling Center founded in Richboro, PA.
2002 | CCC became member agency of United Way of Bucks County
2002 | CCC became accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA) and continues to maintain accreditation.
2004 | CCC is approved by Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency to provide housing counseling services including Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program.
2005 | CCC is approved by the Bucks County Department of Community & Business Development to provide homebuyer education and assistance program.
2005 | CCC is approved by the Executive Office for United States Trustees (EOUST) to provide pre-filing bankruptcy counseling and pre-discharge education in compliance with the Bankruptcy Code in all 50 states.
2007 | CCC is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to deliver housing counseling services, including Foreclosure Prevention and homebuyer education.
2009 | CCC partners with the Courts of Common Pleas for the County of Bucks, Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program to provide Foreclosure Prevention.
2014 | CCC named Best Agency by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
2020 | CCC contracted with the Bucks County Department of Housing and Community Development to provide Cares Foreclosure Prevention Services.
2022 | CCC approved by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) to assist Pennsylvania homeowners facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CCC is a nonprofit community service organization which serves families and individuals regardless of race, creed, sex, color or income level. 501(c)(3) 23-2754268
76% of the client we serve are low/moderate income. We collect from our intake forms, documenting address, income, paystubs, credit reports, tax returns, child support, social security, etc. using the HUD Area medium income data for Bucks County, PA to determine LMI.
CCC is not a lending institution. We are guided by a volunteer board from various businesses and professions