Greater Pike lauds end-of-year giving by Petersheim and Kontizas funds

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Those words, from Helen Keller, underscore the benefit of charitable giving in a community.

The Greater Pike Community Foundation is highlighting its end-of-year giving from the Petersheim Fund and The Kontizas Fund.

“From these two donor-advised funds, eight nonprofit organizations received a total of $10,500,” said Greater Pike Executive Director Jenni Hamill. “A donor-advised fund is a perfect way to make an end-of-year gift.”

The Petersheim Fund, established by Chuck Petersheim, supports local entities across the nonprofit, religious, and community-building spectrum. Gifts were made this year to A Single Bite Fund of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan, Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County, Farm Arts Collective, GAIT and the Kyle J. Pascoe Memorial Scholarship Fund of Greater Pike.

Chuck Petersheim said he selected organizations that he knows first-hand are run by “dedicated hard working people with stamina” and “have a commitment that’s hard to deny.” This is Petersheim’s third year of gifting from his fund at Greater Pike.

“When I gave on my own, it felt like another bill as opposed to being in a community of giving,” he said.

Petersheim, who designs and builds homes inspired by Americana architecture, has donated more than $150,000 over the last 15 years—but he said giving through Greater Pike “is the perfect conduit...It’s not just a check.”

Karen Kontizas selected the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County, Pike County Humane Society and the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) for gifts from The Kontizas Fund. The fund supports a wide range of nonprofits, three of which include Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Milford, animal welfare, and environmental stewardship/education.

The Kontizas Fund was created in 2018 in memory of Karen’s husband, Tom, a firefighter who died that year from a 911-related illness. Initial donations totaled $10,000 for which Kontizas said she greatly appreciates. With her help and that of generous donors, the fund continues to grow.

“The money is being used to help great organizations,” Kontizas said.

Like Chuck Petersheim, Karen Kontizas is personally familiar with the work of the nonprofits her fund was able to help.

“The animal shelter is close to my heart, as it was to Tom’s,” she said. “PEEC does great things for young people and for nature, and the volunteers at the Good Shepherd food pantry work their hearts out.”

Kontizas also gave a nod to the help from Greater Pike Community Foundation staff and board, whom she said “were amazing. They all have their hearts in really good places.”

Online donations to the Petersheim Fund and to the Kontizas Fund at Greater Pike Community Foundation can be made at greaterpike.org/our-funds (scroll down to the name of the fund and click on the link for making a donation).

Greater Pike helps individuals, families and local businesses to provide a permanent and personal way to give back to the community. For more information contact Jenni Hamill, executive director, at 570-832-4686, jennihamill@greaterpike.org, or visit greaterpike.org and Facebook.com/GreaterPike.