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!
@saca_lancaster | #lancasterpa #lancastercountypa
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'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!
@saca_lancaster | #lancasterpa #lancastercountypa
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!
#thaddeusstevens #lancasterpa #lancastercountypa #lancasterhistory
On May 2, we celebrate S. Dale High Day! It is Dale's birthday and a mayoral proclamation in 2024 made "S. Dale High Day" official.
Dale continues to inspire us. Our guiding principle are his words: "We are on this earth for a purpose that is larger than our own self-interests, and we must strive to make the world a better place."
Dale, thank you for your leadership, vision, and deep sense of purpose. Please join us in wishing him the happiest of birthdays.
Grantee Spotlight: @unioncommunitycare
High Foundation was pleased to join in celebrating the recent opening of Union Community Care’s new West End site!
This new location represents a major expansion of access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare for individuals and families in our community. The West End site is now positioned to serve 10,000 patients annually.
“Union Community Care is profoundly grateful for the transformative support of the High Foundation, whose generous grants over the past two years were instrumental in making our new West End site a reality. High Foundation’s belief in equitable opportunity and community vitality has had a truly catalytic impact on our organization and the community we serve.” - Alisa Maria Jones, M.P.H., President & CEO, Union Community Care.
Robin Stauffer, High Foundation President/CEO, was delighted to join the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking this milestone.
Marshall Snively has always been passionate about how places come together. 🌆
For Marshall, what started as an interest in architecture evolved into a career in urban planning beginning first with shaping Baltimore’s downtown. Nearly 20 years ago, he brought that expertise to Lancaster, where he serves as president of Lancaster City Alliance—helping drive the city’s growth and vibrancy alongside a dedicated community.
🔗 Learn more about Marshall and his story at the link in the bio.
This Reach High feature is sponsored by High Foundation, celebrating nonprofit leaders who are thoughtfully innovating with a spirit of servant leadership.
Chestnut Housing works toward a future where everyone has the opportunity to live in a safe, beautiful, and affordable home.
To celebrate our 2024-2025 Grantees, we created a video series highlighting the impact organizations like Chestnut Housing are making through passionate dedication to their mission.
@chestnuthousing #LancasterPA #LancasterCountyPA #housing
Housing is top of mind for so many in Lancaster County. Diana Martin, Director of High Impact for High Foundation, recently spoke at the Lancaster Chamber’s State of the County about how Lancaster Housing Works is helping to provide affordable workforce housing. She also touched on the many ways we can all be housing champions like advocating for zoning reform, supporting housing efforts across the continuum from homelessness services to home-ownership, and getting involved with Lancaster’s Coalition for Sustainable Housing.
@lancasterhousingworks is working to ensure the people who power our county can afford to live here by increasing the supply of rental housing they can afford.
#LancasterPA #LancasterCountyPA @lancchamber
High Foundation is hiring a new leadership role, the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, who will manage our "High Impact" portfolio focused on affordable housing and the environment, and serve as Executive Director of Lancaster Housing Works, an emerging organization focused on affordable workforce housing.
Join us in building bridges to opportunity and carrying forward High Foundation's values-based mission and legacy.
Learn more and apply with Tristarr (link in bio).
Grantee Spotlight: @milagrohouse
Milagro House delivers an innovative, comprehensive approach to long-term poverty alleviation for women with children in Lancaster and surrounding communities. At the heart of their work is a commitment to educational access, a critical factor in enabling women to overcome systemic barriers, secure family‑sustaining employment, and break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their children.
A former Milagro House participant noted: “Milagro House empowered me as a woman and a mother… my time there was transformative.”
“High Foundation is a champion for the work we do at Milagro House. The Foundation’s support of—and belief in—our mission results in life‑changing programs for the women and children we serve. Funding from the Foundation gives us the capacity to provide women with educational opportunities that empower them to obtain jobs at a family‑sustaining wage and move from ‘just surviving’ to thriving,” said Christina C. Duncan, Executive Director, Milagro House.
#LancasterPA #lancastercountypa
High Foundation’s giving is guided by a commitment to serve the common good by creating pathways—Bridges to Opportunity—that help individuals and communities thrive.
Grantee Spotlight: @archstreetcenter
Arch Street Center is dedicated to supporting the recovery of adults living with serious mental illness.
Thanks to the support of High Foundation, Arch Street Center has completed several essential upgrades that improve their ability to serve its members, including commercial‑grade ovens to replace units that frequently failed, updated kitchen utensils and cookware, and a replacement water heater to ensure uninterrupted meal service. They also began work on a new member storage area by removing outdated water coolers, marking the first step toward providing a secure space for personal belongings.
High Foundation was pleased to respond to the urgent needs at Arch Street Center, helping them focus on projects that support the well‑being and dignity of their members.
#LancasterPA | #lancastercountypa
