Posted on April 2, 2026
Champions turn everyday moments into powerful reasons for others to give.
By Tina Chan Sweenie
Penn-Mar Associate Director of Development and Volunteer and Donor Engagement
Give Local York is coming up, and this is one of the easiest ways to make an impact in just one day. Hundreds of local non-profits have raised millions and advanced their impact through the Give Local York (GLY) 24-hours of community-driven giving.
The 2025 campaign alone involved nearly 13,000 people from across south central Pennsylvania who, in only 24-hours, raised $5.58 million for local causes that strengthen the community.
Penn-Mar will be participating in the 2026 event for the eighth consecutive year. This year’s event is held from 7 pm on April 30 to 7 pm on May 1.
We’re looking for Champions to help share Penn-Mar’s mission during Give Local York. As a Champion, your job will be to spread the word about Penn-Mar by creating your own Penn-Mar/Give Local York fundraising page with photos and a fundraising goal and connecting with 10 or more people from your networks to share what Penn-Mar means to you. Don’t worry if you don’t have any fundraising experience — we’ll equip you with everything you need!
By sharing your story, you will help others understand the difference Penn-Mar makes every day to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and why it matters so much to give back.
You’ll get the chance to work with Penn-Mar’s corporate Champions, individual supporters, and all of the employees at Nexterus, a New Freedom company that has selected Penn-Mar Human Services as its Charity of the Year.
To inspire you to become a Champion, here are a few reasons why our current Champions have already signed up:
“What inspires me about Penn-Mar is their purpose and dedication to provide every type of support to their residents. I chose to become a Champion to be involved in supporting Penn-Mar and their mission to be there for their residents.”
— Lesley Redmond, Bank of America
“Working directly with the individuals we support has shown me how powerful it is when people are given the opportunity to live courageously, pursue their goals, and be valued as full members of their communities. When our community invests in Penn-Mar, they’re investing directly in people — people with dreams, talents, and stories worth celebrating, just like you and me. Being a Champion lets me amplify that message and share the pride I feel in the mission we all work toward”
— Alexa Wheeler, Penn-Mar team member
“Becoming a Champion for Penn-Mar represents an opportunity to support a respected local organization driven by a genuine passion for service and dedication to its clients and the broader community. The organization embodies a “small-town,” family-oriented spirit that fosters a welcoming and safe environment, empowering clients and their families to build confidence, independence, and a true sense of belonging.”
— Jorgen Post, Post Supply
“I chose to become a Champion because Penn-Mar’s mission reflects the kind of community I want to be part of — one where everyone has the opportunity and is empowered to live their best lives. Their commitment to helping individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities build independence, meaningful relationships, and fulfilling lives is inspiring.”
— Charmaine Nyman, Barley Snyder
“When it came time to choose our Charity of the Year, we realized it didn’t get much more “local” than our neighbors on Far Hills Drive. We first met Bill and Ashley while visiting a coffee truck in the Nexterus parking lot; hearing Bill’s story quickly inspired many members of our team. That connection ultimately led us to select Penn-Mar as our adopted charity for 2026. As a Champion supporter, we’re proud to partner with Penn-Mar in empowering individuals to live courageously and pursue their best lives.”
—Nexterus
We’d be thrilled to have more Champions on board for the Give Local York campaign. To get started, please send tinachansweenie@penn-mar.org your answers to the following questions so we can highlight your involvement on our social media channels and in our newsletters: