GIVING BACK
Pandemic changes methods but not commitment to help others
As the coronavirus pandemic continues and we await widespread vaccine distribution — individuals are contributing to or organizing fundraisers to help their neighbors in need.
For businesses, philanthropic endeavors are part of doing business. With restrictions and closures of businesses due to the pandemic, the need for assistance to the community has increased this year.
Businesses looking to help those in need have pivoted how they do their fundraising this year — to follow guidelines on gatherings and social distancing. Some of the fundraising efforts this holiday season are outlined below.
The Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board held its annual Valley Forge Freedom From Hunger campaign in September.
This year a total of $4,658.77 was collected during the drive. At a rate of .23 cents per pound, that’s the equivalent of 20,256 pounds of food — surpassing the agency’s goal of collecting 15,000
pounds of food.
“Our neighbors need us now more than ever. We can’t let this virus stop us. We must rally, and work together to fight COVID, and hunger,” Mike Bowman, president & CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board said.
The agency partnered again with the MontCo AntiHunger Network (MAHN), a coalition of hunger relief organizations working together to keep families stable with food assistance.
Hoover Financial Advisors in East Whiteland adopted Chester County Food Bank as its charity of record in 2012. This year’s annual Funds for Food campaign, held in October, set a record — with $35,500 donated — surpassing the company’s goal of $25,000.
“We are thrilled by the generosity of our employees, clients and business associates. This year has been like none other for any of us, and so many people were eager to reach out and help those in need,” said Pete Hoover, CEO, Hoover Financial Advisors. Over the past seven years, more than $100,000 has been contributed to the effort.
When Mid Penn Bank kicked off its fifth annual No Shave November initiative,
the company set an aggressive fundraising target — $100,000. No Shave November is a national campaign designed to raise awareness about prostate health/cancer. Mid Penn’s annual initiative raises money for Penn State Cancer Institute’s Urology division, led by Dr. Jay Raman.
By the end of the month, Mid Penn Bank had met its goal — surpassing last year’s result by $40,000.
“Based on the work Dr. Raman and other urologists are doing, prostate cancer is curable if you get it early enough, pay attention to the warning signs and get treatment. The money we raise is really meaningful for Dr. Raman and his associates,” Ritrievi said.
In November, Jersey Mike’s Subs joined forces again with Feeding America, to raise funds to address the increased need for food assistance. On Saturday Nov. 21 and Sunday Nov. 22, Jersey Mike’s Subs donated 20% of its sales to Feeding America.
Jersey Mike’s had pledged at least $1 million to help Feeding America’s network of 200 food banks, including Philabundance, which has Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties in its service area and Helping Harvest in Berks County.
By the end of the weekend, $2.5 million had been raised — enough to provide 25 million meals for those in need. The 26 Jersey Mike’s locations
in the Greater Philadelphia area raised $42,875.
Univest Financial is accepting nominations for its annual Caring for Community giveaway event. It’s the ninth year, the event awards a $5,000 donation to a local nonprofit organization. Nominations are being accepted through Dec. 31.
To nominate an organization, individuals can submit the name of the nonprofit in the comment section of the post promoting the Caring for Community Giveaway on Univest’s Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn or tweet the name of a nonprofit @ UnivestCorp using #CaringForCommunity.
Last year, 8,100 entries were received on behalf of
200 organizations.
For a three-week period, ending just before Thanksgiving, Coldwell Banker Cares in Central Pennsylvania and the Greater Philadelphia region held a virtual charity drive to benefit four Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Affiliated agents from across both regions used social media to reach out to the public — raising $45,765 in support of four RMHCs.
The effort incorporated games and weekly challenges as part of a CB REALympics competition. Teams in the Blue Bell, Haddonfield, N.J., and Camp Hill offices topping the fundraising leaderboard.
In October, Ardent Credit Union held a Halloweenthemed fundraiser to benefit Martha’s Choice Marketplace, Phoenixville Area Community Services Inc., The Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission and the Wayne Food Pantry. The effort raised $4,000, which was donated to the agencies to help provide meals to local families.
“As a community organization, we want to continue our efforts to give back, and we hope to take a little bit of stress off of families in need especially during the upcoming holiday season,” said Rob Werner, president & CEO of Ardent Credit Union.
American Heritage Credit Union collected 12,600 pounds of food during its annual Spirit of Giving Food Drive in October and November.
Donations collected at the credit union’s 35 branch locations were distributed to 14 food banks in Montgomery, Philadelphia and Bucks counties in Pennsylvania, and Camden County in New Jersey. In addition, American Heritage made donations totaling $20,000 to the 14 recipients.
Montgomery County recipients included:
• Manna on Main Street
• Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard
• Martha’s Choice Marketplace
• Bethel Community Church of Pottstown
• Seeds of Hope Community Food Pantry
• Daily Bread Community Food Pantry
In November, Tompkins VIST Bank donated $15,000 to several food pantries in its southeastern Pennsylvania marketplace, calling the initiative “Banksgiving.”
“As a community bank, we’re close to our customers, so we’ve seen first-hand the pandemic’s impact on individuals and businesses,” said Scott Gruber, president andCEO.
The Giant Company donated 10,000 turkeys to 28 food banks across its geographic footprint. It is an annual tradition for the grocery chain, but this year’s turkey donation ahead of Thanksgiving was a record number.
Among the food banks receiving donations in the Greater Philadelphia region were:
• Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank (Reading)
• Lord’s Pantry of Downingtown (Exton)
• Manna on Main Street (North Wales)
• Philabundance (Philadelphia)
• Project Outreach (Royersford)
• Salvation Army Reading (Reading)
• Upper Darby Food Covert (Wynnewood)
• West Chester Food Cupboard (West Chester)