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Before Grantmaking, Let’s Understand Community Foundations 

Community foundations pool resources from individuals, families, and businesses to support nonprofits within their communities. It all starts with a donor or donors working with us to establish a fund to support their charitable goals. We currently manage nearly 400 different funds totaling approximately $140 million. Most of those funds are restricted to support specific organizations or areas of interest. 

Our Grantmaking Process 

1. Identifying Community Needs: Our team of program officers, each of whom is an expert in her area of focus, starts by identifying the most pressing needs within the community and managing their related portfolio of funds. This involves engaging with local stakeholders and analyzing data to understand where support is most needed.  

2. Establishing Grant Programs: Based on identified needs, our team established five areas of focus: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment & Energy, Health & Human Services, and Neighborhood Vitality. 

3. Endowments: To support our grantmaking activities, the Community Foundation relies on donations from the public. Most of the funds that we manage are endowed funds, which are invested to generate income for long-term grantmaking. This ensures a sustainable source of funding for future grants. 

4. Grant Application and Review: Nonprofit organizations seeking funding submit grant applications detailing their projects and how they align with the foundation’s priorities. Applications are reviewed by a committee and/or foundation staff to assess their potential impact and feasibility. Committee members are selected because they have a connection to the fund or expertise in the area it supports. 

5. Awarding Grants: Once the review process is complete, the foundation awards grants to selected nonprofits. These grants can be unrestricted, allowing organizations to use the funds as needed, or restricted to specific projects or programs. 

6. Monitoring and Evaluation: After grants are awarded, our program officers monitor the progress of funded projects. This involves regular reporting from grantees and site visits to ensure that the funds are being used effectively and that the projects are achieving their intended outcomes. 
7. Community Engagement and Feedback: Continuous engagement with the community is crucial. Foundation staff often holds meetings, site visits, and forums to gather feedback and ensure that our grantmaking strategies remain aligned with community needs and our mission.

Our grantmaking is made possible by the funds that have been established over our 31-year history. Each fund was established based on the interests and passions of the donor(s), and it is our honor and obligation to abide by the parameters set forth by our fund holders. 

There are different types of funds that donors can establish with the Community Foundation:

1. Undesignated: Want to meet the most pressing needs in Berks County? Grants from undesignated funds are determined by our board of directors to address ever-changing community needs. This type of fund supports initiative work such as our support of Spotlight PA, student retention work, rural initiatives, and new arts funding. We strategize to use unrestricted funding to create systemic change and address big issues. 

2. Designated: Support a specific organization year after year, even after you are gone. Organizations benefit from consistent support, and you can be confident the money in your fund is professionally managed. 

3. Field of Interest: Whatever your cause, our team of program experts will do the legwork to ensure grants from your fund make a difference for your cause now and for years to come. 

4. Donor Advised: Make decisions about where grants from your fund go each year while you are alive, with the option to name a successor advisor after you are gone. 

5. Scholarships: Help students pay for their education through a scholarship fund. Or use a designated fund or more flexible field-of-interest fund to support a specific school or area of education. 

6. Giving Circle: The Power of the Purse (POP) committee is a women’s giving circle. The dedicated group of women meets several times a year to learn about barriers women and girls face in Berks County. They visit local organizations, listen to expert speakers, and make thoughtful decisions about how best to help, using their pooled resources. 

The vision for the Program Team is to:  

• Move the needle in priority areas where donors and/or the community have asked us to shine a light.  

• Develop deep expertise in these priority areas and make strategic investments of time, effort, and money to improve the quality of life in Berks County in those areas.  

• Be impeccable in the stewarding of grants to ensure donor intent is met and data and feedback are collected and put to good use. 

I lead the team of expert program officers, ensuring their grantmaking work and management align with donor intent. Together, we seek local and national partnerships and opportunities to amplify the impact of our programs.    

The mission of Berks County Community Foundation is to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. We play a pivotal role by providing financial support to various nonprofit organizations and individuals in need through our grantmaking. If you have questions, please email me at monicar@bccf.org. To learn more about myself and the team at Berks County Community Foundation, visit the Our Team page.

On March 29, 2025, approximately 145 guests gathered at the Berkshire Country Club to honor Ramona Turner Turpin with the 2025 Thun Award. The Thun Award was created in 1988 to honor Louis R. Thun and Ferdinand K. Thun, local industrialists and philanthropists, in recognition of their long-standing record of civic and community service. The award is presented to Berks County residents whose commitment of time, leadership, and philanthropy exhibits the enduring sense of community reflected by the high ideals of the Thun family.  

Fulton Bank and Berks County Community Foundation proudly presented the 2025 Thun Award to Ramona Turner Turpin for her extraordinary community contributions, engagement, and philanthropy in Berks County. Ramona is an Instructor at the Literacy Council of Reading-Berks. Early in her career, Ramona was employed by Berks County Intermediate Unit – first as a teacher, then as an early childhood education coordinator. She served as the Dean of Leadership and Director of Funds Development for the I-LEAD Charter School in Reading. Ramona’s banking career began as the Community Reinvestment Act Director for Bank of Pennsylvania before she was named Community Relations manager for Sovereign Bank in 1999, a position she held for almost ten years. In addition, she held the role of Small Business Specialist for three years.  

Ramona has served on numerous boards, including Berks County Community Foundation, Reading Musical Foundation, Olivet Boys and Girls Club, BCTV and United Way of Berks County. She has volunteered her time with Berks Intercultural Alliance. Ramona is a long-time member of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church where she has shared her time and talents as a teacher, choir member, and Christian education director; she presently sits on the steward board. Ramona has received numerous awards, including the Athena Award, the Outstanding Woman award from Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, the Amiga Award from the Latina Gathering, and the NAACP Image Award. 

Previous Recipients of the Thun Award:  

Thun Award recipients are community advocates who are leaders in commerce and industry. This year’s award recipient embodies the passion for and investment in this community, qualities that are found in all the recipients of the Thun Award. 

Berks County Community Foundation established the Thun Award Fund from which honorees recommend grants to organizations of their choice. Ramona selected The Sisterhood of Reading to receive this year’s grant. The Sisterhood of Reading strives to foster a kindred and caring spirit among African American women. Their goal is to mentor young women for the betterment of our community. 

Click here to view event photos from the Celebration of Giving and Thun Award presentation. To view the video which highlights Ramona’s contributions to the community, visit our YouTube page here. For more information about the Thun Award, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, Berks County Community Foundation now manages nearly 400 funds totaling over $140 million. Since we were founded in 1994, donors have worked with us to establish these funds to support the causes and organizations that are most important to them. Are you interested in giving back to your community? Sparking change in Berks County starts with defining your charitable goals. We can help you achieve those goals, no matter the cause or motivation. Let us help make a difference to what matters most to you. 

One way to spark change is to determine how you want to support the community. What causes interest you most? We have created a short questionnaire to set your journey of generosity in motion. The questionnaire starts by asking, “What do you hope to achieve with your fund?” 

Different funds fulfill different charitable goals. When you create a fund with Berks County Community Foundation, do you want grants from your fund to support: 

• A variety of community needs as determined by the Community Foundation 

• A specific organization (or multiple organizations)  

• A cause I care about, not a specific organization 

• Different nonprofits that I select each year 

• Individuals seeking an education 

• Individuals who excel at something 

Once you’ve narrowed down your goals, it’s time to talk to us. We will work with you to draft a fund agreement which details your wishes and eligibility parameters for future grant recipients from your fund.

In this three-part series, we will explore endowment funds, sparking change, and grantmaking. At Berks County Community Foundation, we do all three. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or community advocate, this series will provide insight into how strategic funding can shape a better future. 

If you have questions, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org or call 610-685-2223. I look forward to hearing more about you and how you would like to spark change in our community.  

There are many ways to support nonprofit organizations. You may make a one-time gift to support an event or program. You may give annually to your favorite organization. Perhaps you volunteer your time and talent to offset costs for a charity that is important to you. You could also establish an endowment fund. An endowment is a fund or group of funds that provides long-term support for a cause or organization. It is established with the intention to live on forever. Establishing an endowment fund with Berks County Community Foundation is a long-term way to support the organizations and causes that matter most to you. The endowed fund is invested, and a portion is given out each year for grantmaking to fulfill the charitable intent set forth by the donor(s). As the invested balance grows, more is available for distribution over time.  

How does it work? 

• An individual, group, or organization completes a fund agreement to specify the details of the fund and the charitable intent of the donor(s) and makes a gift to establish a fund with Berks County Community Foundation. 

• Berks County Community Foundation manages and invests the fund to grow the balance.  

• Each year, a portion of the fund (4.5%) is distributed based on the charitable goals set forth in the fund agreement.  

• The remaining funds are kept in the endowment to grow over time.  

Why is it important?  

• Endowments provide an ongoing source of funding for charitable causes. 

• Endowments can help nonprofit organizations that the donor selects expand their support and develop new programs. 

• Endowments can help those organizations weather economic downturns. 

How can I contribute? 

• You can donate cash, stocks, real estate, or other assets to an endowment.  

• You can receive tax benefits for your donation in the year you give.  

• You can create a legacy of support by establishing an endowment.  

• Others may give to existing endowments to increase their grantmaking dollars. 

Berks County Community Foundation assesses management fees on the charitable funds it administers. These fees support costs for grant processing, contribution acknowledgment, audits, tax filings, and personnel. These fees are crucial to allowing us to fulfill our mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County.  

Effective stewardship of philanthropic assets is key to our mission. The endowment funds we manage will live forever, and so will Berks County Community Foundation. We will never leave the area or go out of business, so we will always be here making the community a better place to live.  

In this three-part series, we will explore endowment funds, sparking change, and grantmaking. At Berks County Community Foundation, we do all three. Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, philanthropist, or community advocate, this series will provide insight into how strategic funding can shape a better future. 

To learn more about establishing an endowed fund with Berks County Community Foundation, please download our Giving Guide and feel free to email me at mollyr@bccf.org.  

Over the past 30 years, we have built strong relationships that form our network of donors, fundholders, grantee organizations, supporters, and community leaders. That network is essential to our ability to operate and fulfill our mission to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. To better serve the community, we want to understand what matters most to our constituents and supporters.   

With that in mind, we created a short survey to gather insights into the interests of our community. We asked: 

• What is your relationship with Berks County Community Foundation? 

• Berks County Community Foundation supports the community based on the philanthropic priorities of our donors. What topics interest you most for your potential philanthropic support in our community AND/OR an opportunity to learn about local issues? In other words, to what areas are you most likely to give and/or about which topics would you most like to learn? 

• How would you like to learn more about topics that interest you? 

• Please select your age range. 

A total of 72 community members completed the survey. The results revealed a wide range of interests as well as an appetite to learn more about those topics through various communication channels and events. The most popular topics aligned with areas of focus prioritized by our team of program officers. 

We will use the results of the survey to plan future communications and events, including targeted outreach to our constituents to invite them to participate in discussions, lunch & learn events, and other opportunities to engage with us and learn more about the topics that interest them most.  

If you would like to participate in the survey, please email mollyr@bccf.org, and I will send you the link. This information will help shine a light on the things that matter to help spark change in your community.   

The Community Foundation expanded its team in recent years to include expert program officers who manage grantmaking in each of our community initiatives. Cindy Milian is the Health and Human Services Program Officer. Cindy oversees grants for individuals, public health initiatives, and human services initiatives. Cindy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and over 25 years of experience in roles related to family support and intervention. Before joining the Community Foundation, she worked at Berks County Children and Youth Services for two decades. As a first-generation American-born Latina with a diverse life experience and a strong background in community involvement, Cindy is well-equipped for her work in health and human services.   

Some of Cindy’s initiative work includes support for rural communities in Berks County. The United Way’s ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) shows that 41% of Berks County households are one paycheck away from a financial crisis. In analyzing the data further, Cindy found that 49% of households in the Hamburg Area School District met the ALICE report’s criteria for living in poverty. This information led her to reach out to community leaders in the Hamburg School District Area to discuss the needs in the community. Many leaders noted the lack of social services in rural communities like Hamburg. These conversations, along with supporting data from the United Way’s ALICE Report, led to Cindy’s new initiative work. This work will focus on helping community leaders work together to develop a strategic plan with action steps to meet the community’s needs. 

To help us build a collective strategy of and by the community, the Foundation will work with Dianne Russell from the Institute for Conservation Leadership (ICL). During ICL’s 30-year history, they have assisted organizations with community building and community engagement, specializing in building coalitions, alliances, partnerships, and strengthening communities. Community leaders who would like to participate but have not yet connected with Cindy are encouraged to contact her.

To learn more about Cindy, view the video below.

For more information about Cindy’s grantmaking and initiative work, please reach out to her directly: cindym@bccf.org. 

Who is Berks County Community Foundation? 

Berks County Community Foundation was founded in 1994 to help individuals, families, organizations, and businesses achieve their charitable objectives. Our mission is to promote philanthropy and improve the quality of life for the residents of Berks County. The Community Foundation is a nonprofit corporation that serves as a civic leader for our region by developing, managing, and distributing funds to meet existing and emerging community needs. The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors and is run by professional staff with expertise in identifying the community’s needs. Today, more than 900 community foundations serve towns, cities, and geographic regions across the United States.  

Berks County Community Foundation currently manages nearly $142 million in charitable assets, which provided more than $6 million in grants and scholarships in our last fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Our program officers specialize in their areas of focus and oversee our grantmaking, ensuring that the grants we award meet the needs of the community while honoring the intentions of the donors who established funds with the Community Foundation.   

What do we do?  

We help Berks Countians structure their charitable giving. The Community Foundation helps individuals, families, and their professional advisors determine the best way to meet their charitable goals. This often includes honoring the memory of a loved one or supporting a cause about which the individual or family cares deeply. In either case, a member of the Community Foundation’s staff works with the people involved to determine the best way to meet their charitable objectives.  

We professionally manage charitable dollars.  

The Community Foundation manages the money in the charitable funds. Funds are created after a simple fund agreement is completed and an initial donation is received. The money is then pooled with the foundation’s other funds and professionally invested to ensure grants or scholarships – and the  individual’s or family’s legacy – continue in perpetuity.  

We distribute grants and scholarships and measure their results.  

Our program officers are experts in their fields. The program team conducts site visits and researches pressing issues not only at the county level, but also regionally, nationally, and internationally to ensure grants and scholarships are improving the quality of life in Berks County.   

Though donor-driven, much of our grantmaking falls within the following areas of expertise:  

Arts, Culture, and Humanities  

Our funds and programs celebrate the humanities and connect residents to the many artistic and  

cultural activities that take place in our community.  

Environment and Energy  

Our funds support projects and programs that recognize the value of climate resiliency, which include  

promoting energy efficiency, caring for farmland and open space, and reducing our impact on the planet.  

Health and Human Services  

We work to ensure our community members have access to the health information and quality of life services they need to function at their best.  

Lifelong Learning  

We are here to help build a community of life-long learners through a variety of professional development programs and scholarships.  

Neighborhoods and Economic Development  

We manage funds to enhance the places people care about in Berks County.  

Types of Charitable Funds  

Berks County Community Foundation helps people determine the type of fund that best suits their charitable goals. Nearly all our funds are customized in some way to help our donors achieve their philanthropic vision.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we distribute millions of dollars in grants and scholarships each year to nonprofits and individuals in our community. If you are interested in learning more about starting a fund with the Community Foundation, please reach out to give@bccf.org. 

January is “National Thank You Month”— a time to embrace the power of gratitude. Originally established to encourage appreciation after the holiday season, it reminds us to reflect on the kindness and support we receive throughout the year. At Berks County Community Foundation, we don’t really need reminders to be grateful for the support we receive from members of the community – we see examples of this support every day, year-round.  

In calendar year 2024, we received over 1,500 donations from 760 donors. In addition, seven new funds were established in 2024, each with specific charitable goals defined by the fund’s founders. Those donations and funds will contribute to the Foundation’s ability to distribute grants and scholarships for many years to come. 

To give an idea of the impact made by the donations we receive and the funds we manage, Berks County Community Foundation awarded $6,465,590 in grants to 563 organizations and individuals in calendar year 2024.  

Grants awarded are made possible by generous donors who give back to the community they love. Community members are invited to join the Foundation in sparking change. Here are two ways to get involved:  

1. Give to an Existing Fund: Your contributions can help sustain the important work of established funds addressing specific needs within Berks County.  

2. Create Your Own Fund: Whether you want to honor a loved one or support a particular cause or organization, the Foundation can help you to create a fund that reflects your passions and philanthropic goals.  

For more information on how to give or create a fund, please visit www.bccf.org, email Molly McCullough Robbins at mollyr@bccf.org, or call (610) 685-2223 

A beer distributor might not be the first business you would expect to make regular contributions to Berks County Community Foundation. Tom Derr’s family has owned West Lawn Beverage since 1951, and Tom is still working at age 93. Many years ago, he started organizing a golf tournament and gave the proceeds to various local charities. In 2020, Tom began directing those proceeds to the Cystic Fibrosis Fund of Berks County Community Foundation in honor of a long-time customer’s child, who suffered because of the disease. Distributions from this fund support cystic fibrosis research or the treatment and care of individuals and/or families impacted by cystic fibrosis. 

On Sunday, September 29^th, 124 golfers gathered at Manor Golf Course to participate in this year’s tournament. Tom called the Community Foundation in October to let us know that he had the check from this year’s proceeds, and he was proud to report that it was the biggest check to date – $4,667. Tom presented the check to Cindy Milian, Health & Human Services Program Officer, and posed for a photo. Cindy oversees grants for individuals, public health initiatives and human services initiatives.  

“This collaboration between a community member and a donor’s fund is a great example of what the foundation is all about, working together to improve the lives of our neighbors in Berks County,” Cindy said. “It all started with a family’s wish to honor a loved one who suffered from cystic fibrosis, leading to community members wanting to help and continuing to make a difference, years later.” Applications are now being accepted for both the treatment and care of individuals and families impacted by cystic fibrosis and research. To learn more about the fund, click here.  

Individuals or families, small businesses or large corporations – anyone can give to Berks County Community Foundation, either to an established fund as in Tom’s case, or by creating a fund of your own to meet your charitable goals. For more information on how to give, please email me at mollyr@bccf.org or 610-685-2223. 

“I decided that my career was built by the people of Berks County.  My memories were so fond of Reading High in the 1960s that I wanted to help someone else from Reading High.” – July 16, 2024 

The Chris A. Luppold Accounting Scholarship Fund of Berks County Community Foundation was established in 2000. Since inception, 21 students from Reading High School have received this scholarship.  

Luppold Family 

The Luppold family’s roots here in the United States began in 1862 when a group came over from Germany and made their way through Ellis Island right as the Civil War was happening. The Luppolds stayed in the Reading, Bern Township, and Bethel areas from that point on. 

Chris Luppold was born in 1950 at Reading Hospital. His grandfather started Luppold Heating under a company called France and Luppold in 1911. His father, Carl F. Luppold, was born and raised here and graduated from Reading High School in 1942.  After one year in college, he signed up for the war as part of the Army Air Forces.   

Luppold’s parents met in a chance encounter in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Chris’s mom, Charlene, and her two friends were driving her father’s car and picked up two hitchhikers – Chris’s dad and his Air Force buddy, who were trying to get to Alabama for pilot training.   

Chris’s dad came from a small family; he had one sister, and she didn’t have children of her own. Chris’s dad took over his father’s company, Charles F. Luppold Sheet Metal Contractors, one of as many as five companies owned by the family over time, including Luppold Heating. Chris has a sister, Sandra, two years his junior, who lives in Arizona. 

Chris’s Early Years 

Chris started in the family business at age 12, working for his grandfather. As he was growing up, he recalls his dad’s advice: “He said, ‘Chris, become a doctor, lawyer, or CPA.’  I had no idea what a CPA was. My uncle was a doctor in St. Louis. So, I knew what a doctor was. I knew what a lawyer was. I didn’t have any accounting classes in high school.” 

College Years 

After graduating from Reading High in 1968, Chris’s dad suggested that he stay close to home to go to college. “I started at Albright College in August of 1968 and went to school full-time, studying pre-med. That lasted two years. I had a low GPA. I failed history and was struggling with everything, even though I was studying all the time.” 

Against everyone’s advice, Chris dropped out after two years at Albright and got a job at Arrow in their products division. While an expeditor, he learned from some great mentors there, including Dan Herr. A plaque hung over Dan’s office that read “Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance”. Chris recalls, “I’ll never forget it.  I realized then that I needed a college degree to get anywhere. I didn’t know what degree, but I knew it had to be business.” 

Since dropping out of Albright, he decided to go to college and wanted to get out of Pennsylvania. “I found a little school called Richard Bland College which was part of the College of William and Mary. It’s a two-year college in South Petersburg, Virginia.” He was accepted and went there. 

Chris had some catching up to do. He had a lot of science credits from his pre-med days at Albright, but he needed business courses to complete his degree. He took Accounting 101 and 102 along with Economics and English – all requirements for a business administration degree. After a year at Richard Bland, he could matriculate to his choice of three schools: William and Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), or the University of Richmond. “I was doing very well in accounting, even though I’d never had an accounting class in my life. My Principles of Accounting teacher took me aside around the time of finals and said, ‘Do me a favor, change to an accounting degree. You’ll be surprised at what you’re able to do.’ She saw something in me.” 

Chris decided to attend VCU and changed his major two weeks before classes began. His wife got a new job in Richmond, and they moved on to this new chapter.  Chris excelled in his accounting courses, taking every elective offered. He finished in a year and a half. During that time, he helped start an Accounting Club and tutored underclassmen in accounting. “Every year, the Virginia Society of CPAs and the faculty of VCU selected a #1 student in that class, and I was the #1 student in the class of 1974. I was surprised when I got that letter. That’s why I got into accounting – I loved it.” 

Chris got job offers from some of the “Big 8”, the eight largest international accounting and consulting firms at the time, but he and his young wife decided to move back to the Reading area where he was hired by John A. Beard and Company. After working there for a year and a half, he got the itch to get his master’s degree. He used some of the small trust that his grandfather had left him to attend Lehigh University full-time.  

Juggling Work and School 

Chris promised his dad that he would give him three years of his life to work for him. “I worked part-time in the summers for my dad while at Lehigh. I’d go up to Lehigh for three days, and then come home to work for my dad.” Chris finished his MBA and contacted his neighbor, a gym teacher at Albright, to see if they were hiring part-time. Chris had tutored freshmen accounting students during his time at VCU and was inspired to teach. He found it a great experience and eventually took a part-time evening teaching position in 1976. In 1978, he decided to leave contracting and take a full-time teaching position at Albright College until 1980.  

At the end of 1980, Chris decided to open his own tax practice. I solicited everyone I could – Chamber meetings, lawyers’ offices, Rotary, and lots of networking. I became friends with an attorney who gave me a lot of work. I bought a tax practice in 1981, mostly individuals and partnerships. I left Albright in 1980 and took a job at Alvernia from 1981-85 to teach advanced accounting one night a week – I still had an inkling to teach.” Chris had a strong sense of entrepreneurship. “That’s how my career got started – from scratch.”  

Chris merged his accounting practice with Herbert Gehrke in 1982. They had a small practice on Park Road in Wyomissing called Gehrke Luppold and Company, with four employees. In 1992, Luppold and Gehrke went their separate ways, and Chris approached Kurtz McNaney & Company to join their practice. “The greatest years of my life were from 1992 to 2001. Kurtz McNaney had a great family practice with 22 people, including 5 partners, and I was one of them. Jim Kurtz ran the business and was always honest, open, and trustworthy.” 

Chris is proud of the relationships he developed over his career and credits his diligence in maintaining those relationships to his success. “You build bonds, you build friendships, and you don’t burn bridges. You listen to your clients, and you get back to them within 24 hours.”   

Community Service and Giving Back 
Giving back has always been important to Chris. He has been a Rotarian since 1976 and is a past president and treasurer of the Northeast Reading Club, which closed in 2008. He joined the Spring Township Centennial Rotary Club, where he has also served as president, treasurer, and foundation chair. He is the treasurer of the Yocum Arts Institute for Arts Education and the endowment fund chair at his church.   

In late 1990, Chris helped his father set up a scholarship fund at Muhlenberg College, his father’s alma mater. 

After the family businesses were sold between 1998 and 2001, Chris approached Franki Aitken at Berks County Community Foundation to discuss establishing his own scholarship fund. “I decided that my career was built by the people of Berks County.  I grew up in Reading, and my memories are so fond of Reading High School in the 1960s that I want to help someone else from Reading High.” 

According to Chris, the fund started small, allowing for a scholarship award of $400 per year for four years. Eventually, he’d like to see it grow into bigger awards. “I’d like to get it to $500 per year, or even $500 per semester.” He recognizes that his fund isn’t the biggest, but it will help students going to college for an accounting degree or a business administration degree with an accounting concentration. He lives by Rotary’s mission, service above self. “I believe in giving something back to the community.” 

A Fresh Start 

In 1994, Chris met his best friend, Phyllis, who would later become his wife. He and Phyllis spent many years vacationing in Arizona, where they owned a home until 2023.  Chris works part-time for William Koch & Associates and can travel more now that his career has slowed down. They have explored Avalon and the Outer Banks and have enjoyed many Viking cruises. 

Scholarship Impact 

Chris is touched when he hears from his scholarship recipients. “I enjoy giving back.  For me, I feel rewarded and appreciated. And those thank you notes from students – to know there have been 21 recipients – I don’t know these people, I don’t need to be their friend – but with the cost of college, if this can help with a computer or books or something else, I’m happy to help.” 

Did you know that August is Make-a-Will month in the United States? While preparing a will might be a task that most dread, it is important for those left behind. A will is a document usually prepared by your attorney to ensure your final wishes are established. Preparing a will can provide peace of mind for you and for your family.  

Berks County Community Foundation can help to ensure that your charitable goals are met after you’re gone. Working with the Community Foundation offers a unique and powerful way for individuals to make a lasting impact in their community by creating a charitable fund through their will. 

For three decades, staff members of the Community Foundation have had the honor of meeting with individuals and families as they prepare their wills. Participating in these discussions includes learning about each person or family and the causes most important to them.    

An easy and meaningful way to support those causes and organizations that align with your values and passions is by establishing a fund with the foundation. This can be done by including a provision in the will that directs a specific asset or portion of your estate to the Community Foundation, which will be used to establish a named fund in your memory or in honor of a loved one. 

The process of creating a fund through a will is simple. You can work with your attorney to include language in your will that directs assets to the Community Foundation. You can also consult with our staff to determine the most appropriate type of fund for your charitable interests and goals. Once the will is executed, we will work with your executor or personal representative to establish the fund according to the instructions provided in the will. 

Creating a fund at the Community Foundation through your will not only provides a way for you to make a lasting impact in your community, but also offers a range of giving options. Funds may be established to respond to the most pressing needs in the community, to support a general field of interest, or to benefit a specific organization or multiple organizations.  

Knowing that you have a plan in place can provide significant peace of mind. Creating a fund ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes. It can also be a way for you to make a difference in the lives of others, even after you are gone.  

In honor of Make-a-Will month, feel free to contact us with any questions about your estate plans by emailing give@bccf.org.