Amount raised: $7,500,000 / $7,500,000
Progress towards goal: 100% / 100%
THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT, WE DID IT!
At the Penn-Mar Gala on March 4th, we raised over $530K in our Special Appeal alone, which put us over the finish line for our Building Bold Futures goal! Thank you to everyone who supported the Campaign, the Appeal, or the Gala!
As we all know too well, government funding alone does not allow human service organizations like Penn-Mar to go above and beyond.
In order to:
We need resources beyond the funding we receive from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the Federal government.
If you prefer a quick summary:
1. Enhancing Service Delivery – $1,500,000
2. Growing the Michael James Pitts Endowment – $2,500,000
3. Growing the General Endowment – $1,000,000
This endowment provides innovative funding that can be used wherever it’s needed most, allowing us to implement new methods of support as better approaches are discovered.
4. Completing Construction at the Far Hills Site – $2,500,000
Centralize Pennsylvania operations and reduce the expenses and challenges associated with running multiple locations.
55% of Penn-Mar’s operating expenses go towards DSP pay. Direct Support Professionals are critical to our mission.
Due to inadequate government funding, DSPs nationwide only earn 70 cents for every $1 earned by the average U.S. worker.
People with disabilities and organizations that support them receive only 3% of funds distributed from charitable foundations.
My daughter, Abbie, has lived in her home at Penn-Mar for 14 years. Abbie’s DSPs help her to live her best life 
and ensure her safety while providing medication, transportation, behavioral supports, and much more. Our family wants to ensure that Penn-Mar will be around through Abbie’s lifetime to provide these necessary supports. This campaign gives my family and yours the opportunity to secure Penn-Mar’s support of the full lives of our family members now and in the future. I have supported this campaign and look forward to talking with you as we Build Bold Futures.
– Claudia Summerson
It started with 12 Families
Penn-Mar’s mission has always been grounded in courage.
Prior to 1981, a group of concerned parents from Maryland and Pennsylvania met in a church basement. They did not have access to service agencies that could provide their adult children with disabilities the support they needed after their school years. These parents took it upon themselves to enhance their children’s lives. In our first year, Penn-Mar supported 12 people on a budget of just $2,000.
Celebrating more than 40 years of Living Courageously
Our vision is to be a model for providing the best possible supports to people with disabilities.
We now support nearly 400 people daily, as well as another 1,000+ individuals throughout the year. We are a nationally recognized leader among disability-providers, pioneering new levels of support to people with disabilities and opportunities for Direct Support Professionals.
To a large extent, Scott is the embodiment of Penn-Mar’s mission. Not only is he a person with intellectual disabilities who has always lived his life courageously and independently, he is one of the very first people supported by Penn-Mar. His late parents, Shirley and Charles, were among Penn-Mar’s founding visionary families that teamed up in 1981 to help their adult children unlock new opportunities for independence and community inclusion.
“I’m one of the originals,” Scott said proudly. “We started with three houses, and then we just grew and grew!”
Indeed, that’s not the only thing that’s grown in Scott’s time at Penn-Mar. Scott himself has honed several talents, from playing the violin, building elaborate dioramas and puppets, developing an extensive model train collection, undertaking numerous home renovation projects, and creating a cat condo for a resident. Beyond his personal hobbies, Scott is also an extremely dedicated employee, working two different jobs. “I just like to be busy and whatever I do, I want to make sure I do it right,” says Scott.
On November 18th, 2021, Dave Peak donned his Giant uniform for the last time. His final shift at the supermarket in Westminster, Maryland, was bittersweet for the 46-year-old Carroll County native. On one hand he was excited to be retiring after 25 years, and on the other, he was sad to be leaving his coworkers and customers whom he was going to miss, and who were going to miss him, his warm smile, and good-naturedness.
At Dave’s side throughout his long and fruitful career has been the love of his life, Natalie. Married 15 years, the couple live independently just around the corner from Dave’s mom, Bunny, with their three guinea pigs. Natalie, who also receives personal supports from Penn-Mar, works at the Carroll Hospital Center, and when she comes home from work, Dave has dinner ready on the table. “We’re there for one another. We help each other out,” said Dave.
When Bobbi Leckrone’s best friend and housemate passed away from Alzheimer’s disease, she found a way to honor her friend’s legacy, raise funds for Alzheimer’s research, and achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a published author. With the support of Bobbi’s Direct Support Professionals, “Simply Delicious Recipes – Bon Appétit by Bobbi,” was born.
Lisa, the Residential Supervisor at Bobbi’s home, credits Penn-Mar’s Career Ladders program for giving her the confidence, tools and leadership skills to independently initiate the project and get the ball rolling in helping Bobbi make her dream of being an author come true.
Bobbi’s book has sold hundreds of copies and raised thousands for Alzheimer’s research. She has hosted book signings, appeared on a local cooking show, been recognized by Good Housekeeping, and kicked off the 2019 Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s in York, PA. And she’s just getting started.
While we are incredibly grateful for each and every donor who has supported this campaign, please note that this list includes those who’ve donated $1,000 and above. Bolded names indicate donors who have contributed a Leadership Gift ($100,000) or above.
Anonymous
Aaron Enterprises, Inc.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Bryan & Karen Adams
Anita Alvare
John & Karen Arnold
Dr. James & Donna Ball
Sharron & Herbert Bank
Diane Barker
Robert & Marriah Barnett
Barley Snyder Attorneys at Law
Bruce Bartels & Romana Li
William B. and Mary A. Beazley
Max Blumenthal & Dr. Brenda Brandon
Anthony & Stefanie Campisi
Randy Carper
Judith Carroll
Jerry Caslow & Jane Sutton
Timothy & Carol Chase
Clear Meadow Farm, Inc.
Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co., Inc.
Christy Cohen
Commonwealth Equipment
Kris & Joe Crosswhite
Capt. Joe DiPaola & Nancy DiPaola
Deric & Felicia Emry
Mark & Pam Figley
Foundation for Children with Intellectual
and Developmental Disabilities
In Memory of Pam Foster, a Penn-Mar founding mom, by Mary Foster Boeh
Anthony & Wendy Gallo
Gary & Karen Gilbert
Susan Gordes
Glatfelter Insurance Group
Jill & Steve Golueke
Stephen & Alma Golueke
Graham Capital Company
Mike & Ann Hankin
The Harrington Family
David & Teresa Hebel
Olivia Herbert
Dr. David Hilbert & Jan Casadei
Rose Hilbert
Jennifer Hobbs
The Terrence and Monna Hormel Charitable Fund
Julia & John Huggins
The Kahlert Foundation, Inc.
David & Melissa Kelly
Jim Kennedy
Jonathan & Pam Kinsley
Kinsley Family Foundation
KS Tooling
Robert & Christina Kuntz
Donald Litrenta
Scott & Holly Litrenta
Dylan & Stacie Lissette
Mike, Marge, & John Loban
Mike & Amy Lopez
M & T Bank and M & T Charitable
Foundation
McConkey Insurance & Benefits
Kathleen McMahon & Ed Cozzolino
Jennifer Mettrick
The Children of Harvey M. and Lyn P.
Meyerhoff Philanthropic Fund
Gregory & Terri Miller
Dr. Jim & Jeanie Miller
Sam Miller
Matthew Muench
New Standard Corporation
John Nussle
Fran Nussle
Colton O’Donoghue
J. Perry Offutt
James & Bardelle Offutt
OSS Health
John & Christine Otto
Renee Page
Penn-Mar Team Member United Way Designations
PeoplesBank, a Codorus Valley Company
Jim & Kay Pitts
Elizabeth Pitts-Madonna & Carlo Madonna
PNC Bank
John & Maria Polli
Powder Mill Foundation
Richard & Bertha Jane Price
Robert & Donna Pullo
Michael & Jane Rice
Robert B. & Maryann Rice
Rutter’s Children’s Charities
Douglas & Lisa Rein
RG Group
Rhona’s Place
Kathy Rogers
George & Cindy Rusu Family Foundation
Sageworth Trust Company
Paul Schiavone
Paul & Cindy Shifrin
Shipley Energy
The Shipley Family Foundation
Michael & Marty Shriver
Teresa & Ronald Simms
Jennifer Skelly
Carol & Gordon Smith
Ken & Deborah Snyder
David & Robin Stang
Jackie & Scott Stevens
The Stewart Foundation
Stewart Companies
Chrysta & Shawn Stine
Michael & Jackie Summers
Kevin & Claudia Summerson
Matthew & Jaime Superczynski
Margaret Swartz
Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Taggert
Jennifer & Stephen Tansey
In Honor of Pamela Taylor from her Loving Family
Traditions Bank
Transamerica
Travelers
Sean & Sara Tyszko
Senator Scott & Tracy Wagner
Claudette R. Wheeler
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
J. William Warehime Foundation
The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc
WellSpan Health
Bill & Kim Yanavitch
York County Community Foundation
The York Water Company
Timothy Zeigler
Mike & Dawn Zgorski
J G and A S Zimmerman Foundation
The Building Bold Futures Campaign would not be possible without the dedication of our incredible Campaign Executive Committee:
CAMPAIGN CHAIRS
Jon Kinsley*
Beth Pitts-Maddona
PENN-MAR LEADERSHIP
Gregory T. Miller
Kathy Rogers
HONORARY CHAIRS
Tony Campisi
David Kelly
AD-HOC ADVISOR
Dr. James Ball
CEO’S CABINET
Dr. James Ball
Timothy Chase
Anthony Gallo
Gary Gilbert II
David Kelly
Jon Kinsley*
Beth Pitts-Madonna
Perry J. Offutt
Dough Rein
Linda Ryan
Claudette Wheeler
William Yanavitch
DIVISION CHAIRS
Jes Blais
Tina Chan Sweenie
Tim Chase
Joe DiPaola
Anthony Gallo
Gary Gilbert II
Jill Golueke
Perry Offutt
Linda Ryan
Michael Shriver
Jackie Summers
Claudia Summerson
William Yanavitch
*In Memoriam