Lancaster County: A community that gives

These events are an important part of our fundraising for a couple reasons. First, they require minimal staff time or resources from us. We help promote. We might provide some marketing materials. But they cost us almost nothing.

Second, the sheer number of them is testament to the high regard Schreiber is held across Lancaster County. They happen throughout the year, from the Lititz Chocolate Walk in October and the Italian Day Dinner in January to the various give-back nights at local restaurants that dot the calendar. When people are thinking about community groups to support, we are clearly top of mind.

Right now, for example, we have a handful of community groups raising money on our behalf. This weekend, the Clark Foundation is hosting its third annual Derby Day, a party to celebrate the Kentucky Derby and raise money for Schreiber and the Conestoga Valley Education Foundation. It should be a fun time that will help two organizations serving children in the community.

On the night of May 12, Isaac’s will donate 25 percent of its food and beverage sales to Schreiber’s Helping Hands Campaign.

We even have youngsters putting their time and talents to work on our behalf. Laurie Fellenbaum’s second-grade class at Schaeffer Elementary School has organized two events. On May 11, they will work with Rita’s in Lititz, hosting face painting and other fun as Rita’s donates a portion of the sales that night to Schreiber. Then on May 29, the students are organizing the Fellenbaum Fun Fair, complete with games, raffle baskets and T-shirt sales, at the school’s Spring Fling. They even made a video of their pitch to the school’s PTO.

Maybe the most important thing about all these fundraisers: They add up. Each year, the combined total amounts to significant dollars, as much as 10 percent of our total revenue. And given the recent decision by the United Way to eliminate funding for Schreiber for the next three years, this kind of support will likely become even more important to us.

So if you are a local group, and you’re looking to do some community fundraising, Schreiber would be more than happy to talk to you.

And for those groups who have generously raised money on our behalf in the past, we say, again, “Thank you. And hope to see you again soon.”
Second graders from Schaeffer Elementary School make their Schreiber pitch to the school’s PTO.

– Video courtesy of Jon Hill, Schreiber board member and father of Charlie, a student in Mrs. Fellenbaum’s class