MILFORD, PA ― Over the past few years, the Pike County Commissioners have been actively working toward expanding and improving both ambulance services and EMS, as well as urgent care services within the county. In continuing this work, the commissioners allocated $50,000 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to endow the Pike County Emergency Services Initiative Fund (PCESI). Its mission is to provide adequate funding to qualified Pike County emergency services agencies and other nonprofit emergency response organizations to advance the cause of emergency medical services in the county through support of, and access to training programs.

Begun in 2019 by the commissioners and the county’s public safety department, and initially funded with private donations, PCESI is administered by the Greater Pike Community Foundation (GPCF). Endowing the fund will ensure sustainability by creating a permanent income stream that will also facilitate fund growth, the commissioners said.

As she received the funds at the commisioners’ meeting on October 5, GPCF executive director Jennifer Hamill said, “I think the most important part is seeing all aspects of our community working together—residents, business owners and government officials working with Greater Pike to solve this problem. The temporary fund has been able to give over $35,000. The generous endowment from the county and the commissioners is going to help make the fund a permanent one. It is a huge step for... safety and welfare in Pike County.”

“The PCESI is a great program that we are pleased to support,” commissioner Matt Osterberg said. “We hope that other community members share our feelings about this being a great initiative, and donate to help continue the progress towards creating a safer Pike County for our residents and visitors.”

To accomplish that, the commissioners issued a community challenge. “To kick off this challenge, myself, commissioners Schmalzle and Waldron, solicitor Farley, and chief clerk Gromalski have donated $500 of our own funds to the PCESI.”

The fund’s first donations were received from the law firm of Weinstein, Zimmerman & Ohliger; William Lovejoy; and individuals who generously supported the NEPA Gives day of philanthropy. Lovejoy has announced that he will contribute an additional $2,500 to PCESI as part of the community challenge.

Since its implementation, the fund has:

• Saved local EMS agencies $35,260 in EMT course fees
• Supported five classes at the Pike County Training Center, with one ongoing
• Produced 20 new EMTs from the program, 17 of whom are serving Pike County

10-for-10 initiative

In addition to the $50,000 endowment check, PCESI was chosen as one of the GPCF’s 10-for-10 Initiative recipients. This was announced at the GPCF annual dinner on October 6.

For the foundation’s 10-year anniversary, the GPCF is running a 10-for-10 promotion, challenging up to 10 local nonprofits to open an organizational endowment fund by the end of the year. The approved 10 funds will receive a one-time $1,000 gift in matching funds.

The GPCF provides an opportunity for generous individuals, families and local businesses to maximize their charitable support through organized, targeted, long-term community philanthropy.

Donations to PCESI can be made online at www.greaterpike.org, or checks can be made payable to GPCF/PCESI and mailed to PO Box 992, Milford, PA 18337.