The Community Foundation highlighted regionwide projects and progress—made possible by more than 6,000 donors over the past year—at the foundation’s annual Founders’ Day event on Wednesday. This year, the sold-out event featured City of Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace as guest speaker.

“Together with our donors at the Community Foundation, we count ourselves among those who believe in our region and the bright future we’re all working to build,” CFA President Mike Kane said. “Mayor Sorace’s leadership and emphasis on community-building, inclusivity, and placemaking continues to elevate the City of Lancaster. We thought it was important to share a new perspective on the value of embracing the positive momentum that we see unfolding in our region.”

Recognized for success in rebuilding communities and neighborhoods “block-by-block” in Lancaster, Mayor Sorace shared insight into how community engagement creates progress—and how to acknowledge challenges without losing sight of the vision.

“I’m honored to join in celebrating Founders’ Day, in my mother’s hometown, with so many people who are doing the work of community engagement. It isn’t always easy, but the dividends are exponential,” said Mayor Sorace.

The Community Foundation highlighted the work of the Foundation’s fundholders, such as the Johnstown Walk of Hope which again broke its own fundraising record this year, and its donors, who are reshaping the region by supporting the work of Vision Together 2025; funding blight eradication, beautification work, and placemaking projects; addressing a critical need to improve access to early childhood care and education; and more. Kane also announced that donors have invested more than $20 million in the region through the Community Foundation over the past year, including more than $5 million to endowments, which are established to support the community in perpetuity.