Board of Associates | LVCF
The Board of Associates are members of an important group of foundation donors, professional advisors, government representatives, nonprofit leaders, corporate executives, and community volunteers who share an interest in the work of the Foundation.
Next Meeting | Tuesday, June 11, 2024 (see below)
Members of LVCF’s Board of Associates…
- Gather semi-annually to learn about Foundation initiatives and important community issues, with the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback;
- Meet and network with other like-minded community members;
- Act as our advocates in the community, helping to increase awareness of our impact;
- Be invited to join the Foundation on periodic nonprofit “visits.”
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation (LVCF) formed a Board of Associates in March of 2018 to engage a broad range of influential community members in a dialogue in order to better serve the Lehigh Valley. With more than 150 members, the LVCF Board of Associates is a non-incorporated association of individuals, that meet twice annually to discuss issues important to the Foundation and the Lehigh Valley. Members of the Board of Associates will serve as ambassadors and advocates for LVCF through dialogue and interaction in the community.
The Foundation believes it is critical that representatives from government, education, business and industry, community leaders, and nonprofit leaders, all have opportunity to provide input and serve on the BOA. The Foundation’s goal is to foster a wider community understanding of the Community Foundation, further develop relationships with key community leaders, and maintain ongoing relationships with former governors of the Community Foundation.
The Board of Associates is led by an executive committee as of 7/2024 (see below)
Linda Sheftel, Chair
Justin Sheftel Memorial Fund
Alan Abraham
Retired (Concannon Miller)
Patricia Beldon
Community Representative
Kathryn Brown
Morton Brown Family Wealth
Dawn Godshall
Community Action Lehigh Valley
Michael Tukeva
Pocono Mountains United Way
BOA MEMBERS ONLY
Board of Associates Membership Directory | Password Projected PDF
Board of Associates Member Information Update Form
Fall 2024 Meeting
Building Brighter Futures: Addressing the Early Childhood Crisis
The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, and Early Childhood Education Action Committee partnered to hold a breakfast meeting and panel discussion with community leaders on pressing early childcare issues. Key stakeholders from the business sector, legislative bodies, community organizations, and parents will explore collaborative strategies to address the early childhood crisis. Speakers included: Megan Briggs – Vice President of Community Investments, Lehigh Valley Community Foundation; Charles Dinofrio, M.Ed. – President & CEO, Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers; Dr. Gregory James Edwards – Senior Pastor, Resurrected Life United Church of Christ, President, Resurrected Community Development Corporation, Inc.; Melinda Saunders-Wood – Parent Representative; Peter Schweyer– State Representative District 134
Majority Chairman of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee; Matt Tuerk – Mayor, City of Allentown; Congresswoman Susan Wild – U.S. Representative
Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. The event was held on September 13th, 2024 at Homewood Suites in Center Valley, Pa. See all the photos on LVCF’s Flickr Page.
Thank you to our sponsors: PNC, PennAEYC Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children; Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital: and Advanced Cleaning Solutions
Spring 2024 Meeting | LVCF Philanthropy Awards
The Spring 2024 Meeting of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation’s Board of Associates, was held on June 11 at Lehigh Country Club, followed by a networking reception with refreshments, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres.
At the meeting, LVCF presented the Vision in Philanthropy Award to The Century Fund for their diligent work in sunsetting a legacy foundation, while continuing the legacy of Donald Miller and believing in the power of endowment for the arts.
In addition, LVCF presented the Lifetime Service to Philanthropy to Judith A. Harris, Esq., Norris McLaughlin, P.A. for her many years of partnership with the Community Foundation, stewarding philanthropic activities and thoughtfully building impactful connections.
Past Meetings | Spring 2023
The spring 2023 meeting of the LVCF Board of Associates was held on May 18. Cindy Lambert, Chair, LVCF Board of Associates, presided over her last meeting as chair and welcomed the group of over 60 people. Erika Riddle Petrozelli, CPA, CAP®, LVCF President and CEO provided an update on LVCF activities in support of the Foundation’s strategic plan. Bryan Clontz PhD, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®, AEP®, RICP®, CBP, ChSNC®, Founder & President, Charitable Solutions, LLC presented, “Top 10 Charitable Trends Everyone Should Know in 2023”
Bryan Clontz is the founder and president of Charitable Solutions, LLC, specializing in non-cash asset receipt and liquidation, gift annuity reinsurance brokerage, actuarial gift annuity risk management consulting, emergency assistance funds, as well as virtual currency and life insurance appraisals/audits. He also serves as Senior Partner of Ekstrom Alley Clontz & Associates—a community foundation consulting firm in Tuscon, Arizona.
Thank you to our meeting sponsor:
Plants Alive Inc. provides interior plants and interior plant design, maintenance and plant sales for your business office or commercial environment.
A locally veteran-owned business, Plants Alive Inc. has served Lehigh Valley, Allentown, Easton, Bethlehem, and Poconos, Schuylkill County, Southeastern Pa. and other areas of Pennsylvania for over 30 years.
Learn more at: https://www.plantsaliveinc.com/
Past BOA Meetings
Spring 2022 Board of Associates Meeting | Nurturing Place-based Philanthropy
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation held its Spring 2022 Board of Associates meeting on June 2. After welcoming remarks by Cindy Lambert Durham, Chair of LVCF’s Board of Associates, Erika Riddle Petrozelli, LVCF President and CEO, provided an update on the Community Foundation’s strategic plan and introduced the topics for the meeting. R. Nicholas Nanovic, Esq., Partner and Chair of Trusts & Estates, Gross McGinley, LLP, and a member of the Community Foundation’s Board of Governors, presented The Great Wealth Transfer. He was followed by Carrie Krug Nedick, LVCF’s Director of Donor Services, who presented New Tools for Charitable Giving.
Watch the video on YouTube | See the photos on Flickr | Download the PowerPoint PDF
Read the Cause Connection June 2022
Fall 2022 Meeting Recap
The Fall 2022 meeting, titled Integrating a Trust-Based Approach to Philanthropy was held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at Homewood Suites in Center Valley, Pa. Cindy Lambert, Chair, LVCF Board of Associates welcomed the group. She was followed by Erika Riddle Petrozelli, President and CEO, who provided an update on LVCF activities.
With a core set of values rooted in advancing equity, shifting power, and building mutually accountable relationships, trust-based philanthropy seeks to demonstrate humility and collaboration in what we do and how we show-up in all aspects of our work as grantmakers.
During the program, LVCF’s Megan Briggs and Monique Moreno moderated a panel discussion that provided both a national and local perspective on this trend in grantmaking. The panel included:
• Molly Schultz Hafid, Executive Director, Butler Family Fund;
• Marc Rittle, Executive Director, New Bethany Ministries; and
• Yamelisa Taveras, Founder; Unidos, Inc.
LVCF has been integrating trust-based philanthropy for the past few years and we see transformational change occurring in our community. We want our partners, friends, and leaders in this work, to understand the impact of this shift and have conversations with us about trust-based philanthropy.
See the photos on LVCF’s Flickr page
Thank you to our meeting sponsor: Client 1st Financial | Learn More
Fall 2021 Board of Associates Meeting | Stories of Philanthropy
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation honored the tenure of Bernie Story who served as President and CEO from 2012 to 2021 during the Fall Board of Associates meeting held on September 23, 2021, at Saucon Valley Country Club.
Cindy Lambert, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board of Associates, welcomed the group of over 100 people to the program. Erika Riddle Petrozelli, LVCF President & CEO, provided an update on LVCF activities and announced a new fund at the foundation.
“It is clear that cultivating the next generation of leaders is near and dear to Bernie’s heart,” Erika said. “For that reason, we are very happy to announce that LVCF established the Bernard J. Story Fund for Professional Development to honor Bernie and his passion for improvement. Bernie believes that a professional and successful organization supports growth opportunities for its staff. The Board has approved a $10,000 transfer into the Bernard J. Story Fund for Professional Development to honor Bernie’s vision and his impact on our Foundation.”
The program “Stories of Philanthropy” was a celebration of growth, philanthropy, and a bright future for the foundation and our region. It highlighted the focus, relationships, and vision of Bernie Story. LVCF invited five speakers to share their stories of how they have worked or partnered with LVCF.
The speakers included Charlie Marcon, former LVCF Board member and current fundholder; Judy Harris & Dolores Laputka of Norris McLaughlin, trusted advisors to LVCF and many philanthropists in the Lehigh Valley; Anne Reid, current Vice Chair of the LVCF Board and current fundholder; Shelley Brown of Easton’s State Theatre, current nonprofit leader and former LVCF Board member; and Trisha Higgins, current LVCF Vice President & CFO.
Click here to see the photos from the event on LVCF’s Flickr page.
Before the presentation of the Vision in Philanthropy Award, there was an appearance from “Kernac the Magnificent” Ellen Kern who roasted Bernie with a routine inspired the Johnny Carson character the Amazing Carnac.
See the video of Ellen Kern as Kernac the Magnificent
At the conclusion of the “Kernac’ routine, Ellen presented Bernie with a proclamation from Pennsylvania Senator Pat Browne congratulating him for his successful tenure as President and CEO of the Community Foundation.
Vision in Philanthropy Award | Bernard J. Story
Erika Riddle Petrozelli was then joined by Sandra L. Bodnyk, Chair of the LVCF Board of Governors, and Award Sponsor David Osborn, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley to present the Vision in Philanthropy Award to Bernie.
While presenting the award, Erika noted, “Bernie Story’s distinguished tenure as President and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation from 2012 to 2021 has been marked by his wisdom, insight, and leadership, during key times of growth, transition, and community need. Bernie, for all you’ve done in service to the Community Foundation to improve the lives of those in the Lehigh Valley, on behalf of the Staff and Board of Governors, I present to you—the Vision in Philanthropy Award.”
See the Video of the Award Presentation and Bernie’s remarks.
The event concluded with a reception | See the photos on LVCF’s Flickr page
The Community Foundation has created the Bernard J. Story Fund that will support professional development for LVCF staff. If you’d like to donate to the fund in recognition of Bernie’s impact on philanthropy in the Lehigh Valley click on the button.