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Disrupting the Cycle of Poverty in Lancaster and Beyond

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We choose to focus our philanthropy on systemic change, where possible, seeking opportunities that lead to collective impact for the benefit of the community – bringing people together in an intentional and structured way, with a common agenda, to achieve positive social change."

Suzanne M. High, Vice Chair

We Work for Equity

A world in which all people have access to opportunity is the world we want to help build. Our investments and initiatives further the goal of embracing diversity, promoting mutual respect, and broadening opportunity for everyone.

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Legacy of Investment

Since 1980, the High Family has been giving back to the Lancaster community through its charitable organization, High Foundation, which is dedicated to eliminating poverty and revitalizing the Lancaster community and other places where High coworkers live and work. This generous philanthropy has enabled the Foundation to invest millions in grants to other charitable organizations who envision and advance equality, sustainability, vibrancy, and growth.

Board of Trustees and Officers

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S. Dale High

Chairman of the Board

Steven D. High
Steven D. High

Suzanne M. High
Suzanne M. High

Vice-Chair

Michael W. Van Belle
Michael W. Van Belle

Treasurer

Jordan S. Steffy
Jordan S. Steffy

Gene P. Otto
Gene P. Otto

Carl J. Strikwerda
Carl J. Strikwerda

Thomas T. Baldrige
Thomas T. Baldrige

Hilda Shirk
Hilda Shirk

Robin D. Stauffer
Robin D. Stauffer

Executive Director

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Christina J. Snyder

Grants Manager

Building the Bridge

The Foundation’s core areas of giving are inspired by the call to extend ourselves for the common good by creating paths or Bridges to Opportunity.


Through grant programs, the Foundation engages with community groups and stakeholders to help alleviate and resolve problems in areas including education, housing, transportation, healthcare, financial literacy, childcare, nutrition and more.

Each year, the Foundation contributes more than $5 million toward eliminating the issues that contribute to the cycle of poverty.


As a bridge builder, High Foundation provides the leadership, forums, and resources to connect community organizations to the people who will benefit from them. The Foundation seeks to effect collaborative, innovative, sustainable change in the community, operating on the core principle that all people are created equal and that we need to help shape a diverse and inclusive world for the next generation.

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High Foundation’s support puts equity front and center of our City’s next Comprehensive Plan and future by enabling us to hire a professional facilitator to provide Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion training and help guide our decision-making process."

— Douglas Smith, Chief Planner, City of Lancaster

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We deeply cherish our decades-long partnership with High Foundation. We are grateful for the Foundation’s meaningful generosity and interest in sustaining our library as a vibrant center of innovation and learning in our community.”

– Sarah Penniman, Director of the High Library, Elizabethtown College

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This has been a year of transformation at High Foundation. Our commitment to building a bridge to opportunity has been emboldened and solidified for generations to come. See all that has transpired, and the impacts we celebrate in our Annual Impact Report. View Impact Report