High Foundation

Join us in celebrating 10 years of Lancaster Conservancy's Water Week! High Foundation is delighted to be the Presenting Sponsor.

“Water Week is more than a celebration—it’s a powerful demonstration of what our community can achieve when we come together with purpose. In just one week, dozens of activities and organizations bring people together around a shared vision to protect and restore our waterways. High Foundation is honored to support Water Week on its tenth anniversary," said Robin Stauffer, President/CEO, High Foundation.

Water Week seeks to educate and empower our community to care for the 1,400 miles of streams and rivers in Lancaster County. Join in for over 60 events as we paddle, explore, volunteer, and take action for the streams and rivers of Lancaster County!

Learn more and see event details at www.lancasterwaterweek.org

Grantee Spotlight: Step Up Suncoast

Step Up Suncoast in Sarasota, Florida, empowers families with education, support, and vital resources to help them achieve stability, long-term self-sufficiency, and contribute to their community.

Step Up Suncoast offers crucial services that guide families from crisis to stability and ultimately toward long-term self-sufficiency. Jovanna’s story illustrates this impact: after unexpectedly losing her housing, she received rent assistance to secure a new home, childcare for her son, and enrolled in English and financial education classes. Today, Jovanna is building a stronger, more independent future for her family.

High Foundation’s support is helping Step Up Suncoast establish permanent roots by purchasing the building they’ve leased for over a decade—ensuring long-term sustainability for the family resource hub so many rely on.
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Based in Lancaster, PA, High Foundation supports organizations in communities where the High companies provide economic investment and employment.

Optimism is one of High Foundation’s core values. It’s a powerful ingredient in making lasting change.

High Foundation believes that positive change is possible and we’re proud to support organizations who are leading the way with optimism and hope.

Grantee Spotlight: Lancaster EMS

Lancaster EMS provides lifesaving medical transport for over 275,000 Lancaster County residents.

Recently, High Foundation helped add a new ambulance to their fleet—already responding to over 100 emergency calls and helping ensure safe, reliable transport for patients and first responders alike.

“We respond to more than 30,000 9-1-1 calls annually, so our ambulances are used heavily every day. By adding this new vehicle to our fleet, we can keep more EMS personnel on the road, ensure our response times remain as fast as possible, and reduce repair costs. We are committed to providing the highest level of care for our community, and we are grateful for the High Foundation’s continued partnership in this endeavor.” — Bob May, Executive Director.

We’re honored to partner with Lancaster EMS to help keep their teams equipped, responsive, and ready.

Join us in celebrating High Foundation’s own Chris Snyder, Grants Manager, on her graduation from the Leadership Lancaster Core Class! Chris’s dedication to continuous learning and personal growth, along with her genuine compassion for the Lancaster community and the organizations she serves, inspire us every day. Congratulations, Chris!

📷: Brian Nguyen

The Essence of Humanity Award elevates the stories of individuals who exemplify the human spirit beyond the requirements of their work, demonstrating what it means to be a compassionate citizen. This year at SACA Pennsylvania’s Fiesta, High Foundation proudly recognized Juan Rivas.

For Juan Rivas, service is a way of life. For 25 years, he has been a devoted volunteer at WLCH Radio Centro, offering his time, energy, and heart without seeking recognition. Born and raised in Cidra, Puerto Rico, Juan moved to the States in the 1980s with his high school sweetheart, driven by the hope of building a better future. Guided by faith and perseverance, he has shaped a life defined by integrity, humility, and commitment to others.

From landscaper to arborist, Juan approaches every role with gratitude, calling the outdoors his “office.” He believes generosity is not measured by what you have, but by what you give. He instilled that belief in his daughters, teaching them that even in times of scarcity, there is always something to offer. Today, he continues to grow—advocating for education, personal responsibility, and health, while training for his first half-marathon alongside his daughter. Juan’s quiet leadership and lifelong service continue to inspire those around him.

Congrats, Juan!

📷 PhotOlé Photography

The Essence of Humanity Award elevates the stories of individuals who exemplify the human spirit beyond the requirements of their work, demonstrating what it means to be a compassionate citizen. This year at SACA Pennsylvania’s Fiesta, High Foundation proudly recognized Loida Esbri.

Loida Esbri exemplifies the true essence of a caregiver through her unwavering self-sacrifice, courage, and compassion. Faced with the challenge of preserving Puerto Rican culture locally within a diverse and evolving community, she did not step back; she stepped forward. For years, she has mentored youth and adults, creating safe, engaging spaces where culture, music, and dance serve as tools for healing, identity, and unity.

Despite limited resources and cultural barriers, Loida demonstrated remarkable determination and persistence. She built community partnerships, organized cultural programs, and ensured that younger generations remained positively engaged. Her efforts preserved heritage while transforming lives, inspiring young people to become leaders and teachers themselves.

Congrats, Loida!

📷 PhotOlé Photography

High Foundation is honored to support The Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History & Democracy, a landmark project with transformational significance for Lancaster and beyond.

The Stevens & Smith Center stands as a powerful success story of LancasterHistory’s mission in action, transforming a historic space in Lancaster into a dynamic hub for learning, dialogue, and civic engagement, and demonstrating how thoughtful preservation and bold interpretation can inspire our community today.

S. Dale High has been a longtime advocate for honoring the legacy of Thaddeus Stevens, and we are delighted to see both his and Lydia Hamilton Smith’s legacies celebrated so prominently in Lancaster.

Congratulations to LancasterHistory on the opening of the Stevens & Smith Center—a truly historic moment!