Wagman Community Fund: Building More Than Bridges
For nearly 125 years, the Wagman family has quite literally helped build the infrastructure that connects communities. As a fourth-generation family-owned construction company, Wagman Corporation has left its mark on bridges, buildings, and major construction projects throughout the region and beyond. Yet one of the family’s most enduring contributions may be their investment in the York County community – a community that has helped make their success possible.
It’s been 20 years since members of the third and fourth generations of the Wagman family (Rich, Joe, Lisa, and her husband Mike) established the Wagman Community Fund at the York County Community Foundation. What began as a way to organize the company’s charitable giving has grown into a lasting vehicle for community impact, reflecting the family’s deeply held belief that success carries a responsibility to serve others.
Mike Glezer, CEO of Wagman Inc. and current chair of YCCF’s Board of Directors, along with his wife Lisa Wagman Glezer, President of Wagman, say philanthropy is woven into the company’s culture and identity.
“Community involvement is not separate from our business, it’s part of who we are,” explained Mike.
The Wagman family’s commitment to philanthropy was passed down through previous generations and continued under the leadership of Lisa’s Uncle Joe and her parents Rich & Carol, all of whom dedicated their time, talents, and resources to strengthening the community. The family’s legacy of service to others is also reflected in her great-grandfather George A. Wagman’s memoirs in which he wrote:
“A man is not a man until he can manage his business, his own affairs, and then help someone less fortunate.”
This philosophy continues to guide the family and remains embedded in the company’s core value of prioritizing community. One way is through donation matching programs to support causes that matter to Wagman team members. Another is by offering volunteer opportunities during company time. Community service is not simply encouraged at Wagman—it is expected and celebrated.
When the family created the Wagman Community Fund, they saw an opportunity to bring greater intention and sustainability to their giving. They also noticed that as the company grew, the needs of the community continued to grow.
“We’ve always believed in finding a way to give back each year,” shared Lisa. “This fund allowed us to create a more organized approach to support the people and places that have supported our business for so many years.”
An important part of that vision was to create a self-sustaining source of charitable support. Through long-term investment growth and careful stewardship, the fund has continued to grow, allowing the family to continuously make grants for over two decades.
Today, the family focuses its giving on mission-driven organizations with which they share meaningful connections and opportunities for engagement. Many of the organizations they support also benefit from the volunteer service of Wagman employees and their family members.
Mike and Lisa feel the partnership with the York County Community Foundation helped make that work simple and effective. They appreciate the Foundation’s guidance, stewardship, and expertise, allowing them to focus their energy on evaluating community needs and supporting organizations making a difference.
“The Foundation makes the process easy to navigate,” Mike said. “We spend a couple of hours each month reviewing opportunities to help the community, while YCCF provides the investment management, oversight, and expertise that allows the fund to grow and thrive.”
Over the years, they have also come to value the Foundation’s broader role in bringing together community leaders, donors, nonprofits, and partners to address important challenges facing York County.
For the Wagman family, the true measure of the fund’s success is not found only in the dollars granted, but in the legacy it represents. Future advisors to the fund will be family members who are actively involved in the business and connected to the community, ensuring the values that inspired the fund continue for generations to come.
When asked to describe the family’s legacy in just a few words, their answer was simple: generational stewardship.
It is a fitting description for a family that has spent more than a century building structures that stand the test of time—and investing in a community they hope will do the same.
