'Astonishing' legacy for the community Dick Snyder loved so well
By Anya Tikka
MILFORD — Dick Snyder has left a legacy that will benefit the community for generations to come.
The Greater Pike Community Foundation received a gift of approximately $2.3 million from the Richard L. Snyder Charitable Trust, named for the civic-minded co-owner of Hotel Fauchère who died suddenly last fall. The gift is believed to be the largest single gift ever made for the benefit of Pike County charitable and not-for-profit organizations.
“Dick was proud of the Hotel Fauchère and saw it as the centerpiece to the Milford renaissance which he so effectively led,” said Sean Strub, Snyder’s business partner and friend.
“This is a gift from Dick to the entire community, to its future, and it is consistent with Dick’s extraordinary long-term vision for what our community can be,” said Maryanne Monte, a member of the Greater Pike Community Foundation. She now occupies Snyder’s former position as chair of the Milford Enhancement Committee.
Snyder is locally famous for his work to improve Milford and Pike County.
“This is an astonishing act of generosity, but I am not surprised," said Davis R. Chant, a longtime friend of Snyder. "There has been no one more committed to Pike County’s future in recent years than Dick Snyder.”
The gift will be used to establish the Richard L. Snyder Endowment Fund at the Greater Pike Community Foundation. The income will be distributed annually to not-for-profit organizations within the scope of Snyder’s instructions.
Jim Pedranti, the foundation chair, said the amount available each year will vary but is expected to range between $20,000 and $100,000, starting next spring. Greater Pike’s website will post application instructions by Nov. 1.
Snyder appointed his longtime friend Ann Morey as trustee of his charitable trusts. Morey lives in San Diego, Calif., and has since the mid-1980s visited Milford several times a year. She’s joined the board of the Greater Pike Community Foundation.
“I was honored that Dick entrusted me with this responsibility, and I am honored and delighted that through my involvement with Greater Pike I will be able to continue my engagement in and support for the Milford community,” she said.
The Foundation’s slogan is “For Good. Forever.” It was established in 2012 to enable generous people, families, and businesses to maximize their charitable support through organized, targeted community philanthropy. Snyder’s gift is the largest to the Foundation to date.
Mini-grant winners announcedThe Greater Pike Community Foundation also announced the winners of five $1,000 ‘mini-grants’ for not-for-profit organizations in the greater Pike County area to the following organizations:
Safe Haven of Pike County: Innovative yoga program for trauma victims.
Gait: Collaborative program with the Pike County Library called “Pony Tails.”
Pike County Public Library: To provide transportation to nearest library branch to introduce first graders to the library, issue them a library card and participate in a story-time session.
Country Ark Farm: Sponsorship of special needs students to attend summer camp.
Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC): Construction of a GaGa ball pit that promotes physical activity and fair play for multiple audiences.
Online"Richard L. Snyder, co-owner of the Hotel Fauchère, dies at age 74": http://bit.ly/1GyZ0VD