The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Schuylkill River Heritage Center to honor Louis Beccaria
PHOENIXVILLE >> The Schuylkill River Heritage Center is honoring Louis J. Beccaria as the recipient of this year’s award at the 10th Annual Heritage Award Celebration.
Beccaria is being recognized for all that he has accomplished for the Greater Phoenixville region during his tenure as president and CEO of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation.
The event will take place at The Foundry on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Beccaria has a 21-year tenure at the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation that ended when he recently retired. During his many years of leadership and service, he has fostered a sense of community benevolence, involvement and support that is truly without equal.
Because of his leadership, passion and understanding of philanthropy, Beccaria has changed the lives of so many people. He also inspired the formation of a Community Health Leadership Academy to build the capacity of non-profit groups so that these organizations could be better prepared to fulfill their missions to meet the needs of the community.
Aside from those needing medical and quality of life help, the “social health” of the community has been part of his mission as well.
The historic Colonial Theater improvements and the restoration of the historic Foundry Building have both been enabled by the foundation’s approach to giving to organizations that nurture and celebrate Phoenixville’s special historic and cultural legacy.
Working with Phoenixville borough leaders, Beccaria also founded Phoenixville’s Beautification Advisory Commission.
The Beautification Advisory Commission was able raise the funds needed to sponsor the creation of a large mural in the lobby of the Phoenixville Borough building. Teresa Haag, an artist who lives in Phoenixville, painted the mural. It provides a unique view of Phoenixville for all visitors who enter the building.
Another commission initiative was the project to paint the utility boxes located in Phoenixville. Several local artists provided a wonderful array of designs that were approved by the commission and painted on the boxes.