York has suffered a great loss with the passing of Josephine “Jody” Schmidt Davidson Appell at the amazing age of 100. Her leadership, steadfast support, and kind spirit will be greatly missed, not only by the York County Community Foundation (YCCF) but by the many people she helped through her giving of time, talent, and treasure.
Jody was integral to the growth of YCCF, serving several roles from 1975 to 1989, including board member, secretary, vice president, and president of the board of directors. Her intelligent, insightful, and calm guidance during those years laid the groundwork for the thriving Community Foundation as we know it today.
Jody had a lifelong curiosity about what was happening in York County. She asked thoughtful questions about the state of our community and, along with her family, invested in transformational projects that moved us forward. Her family, the Smalls, were founders of institutions such as the York Collegiate Institute, York Hospital, and The Children’s Home of York. At a young age, she started going door-to-door collecting money for the Visiting Nurse Association and throughout her life, dedicated many volunteer hours to help organizations succeed including the Princess Street Babies Clinic, Martin Library, YWCA York and YCCF, to name a few.
Jody’s generosity and impact will last beyond her lifetime through multiple endowed funds Jody created at YCCF. We are honored to continue her legacy of philanthropy, her generous spirit, and her belief that the people of York are the County’s greatest asset.
Thank you, Jody. You have inspired us all with your gracious leadership and our community is so much brighter because of your light.
We are asking members of the community to honor Jody’s incredible philanthropic spirit with an Appell Act of Kindness.
Engage in an act of kindness – donate to your favorite charity, volunteer, or do something nice for someone in need, pay it forward. Share your Appell Act of Kindness – or your favorite memory of Jody – @YCCFYork on Twitter or facebook.com/YorkCountyCommunityFoundation
Please remember to use the hashtags #ThankYouJodyAppell and #InspiringWomenofYork
