In 2020 and 2021, more than 95,000 York County families were able to keep food on their tables, a roof over their heads, and ensure their children’s educational needs were met through the York County COVID-19 Response Fund. The story of this fund is just one great example of how the York County Community Foundation (YCCF) responds to our community in a time of need.
Community foundations are uniquely situated to improve their regions by supporting innovative solutions and creating powerful partnerships. From November 12 to 18, we celebrate Community Foundation Week, a time when we share and reflect on our impact over the last year and the hundreds of donors who created a permanent grant fund to support our community. Though some of you may not know about the York County Community Foundation, it is likely that you have felt its impact.
In addition to the COVID-19 Response Fund, YCCF awarded a total of $7.4 million in 2020 to support education, workforce development and revitalization efforts through programs such as First 10 in school districts in York County, expanded access to workforce trainings through grants to CASA and New Hope Ministries, and ensured our neighbors had homes through a grant to York Habitat for Humanity’s Chestnut Street project.
This is only a small part of the work being done in our community, none of which would be possible without generous gifts from people just like you. These grants demonstrate the important role that community foundations play in this country.
YCCF is comprised of hundreds of different funds created by various donors. These donors believe in the power of endowment to continue to support the causes they care about beyond their lifetimes. It is a legacy that gives their lives lasting impact and meaning.
Because of these gifts to YCCF, we make grants that impact the community not just today, but for future generations.
As we enter the giving season, millions of people from every background will be looking for ways to give back to the communities they love. They will want their heartfelt giving to have the most impact. It is for this reason that so many of them will choose to give to a community foundation like YCCF.
A gift to YCCF is an investment in the future of our shared community.
York County Community Foundation recognizes that we have the opportunity and the responsibility to use our resources to address the root causes of the challenges facing our community. We know that we must work to make our systems more equitable for all. We believe that by working across sectors, we can lower rates of poverty, increase the number of households that are financially secure, and ensure more children thrive, no matter the neighborhood they live in.
This may seem like a daunting task, but it is possible when we all work together. During Community Foundation Week, I hope you will join us in celebrating our collective impact and the difference we make together.
To learn more about making an impact through your local community foundation, visit www.yccf.org.
To read the full op-ed published in the York Daily Record, click here.
Mary Kay Bernosky, Esq.
Vice President of Development
York County Community Foundation
