The High Foundation’s generous philanthropy through a decades-long partnership with Elizabethtown College can be seen across campus on namesake buildings and spaces, as well as through the vital programming and initiatives that benefit both Blue Jay students and the surrounding community.
Through the philanthropic spirit of esteemed alumnus and Chairman of High Foundation S. Dale High ’63 H’93 P’86 and the Foundation, the College has been empowered to offer students unique, enriched experiences.
“The Foundation’s commitment to provide systematic change to solve problems like poverty, improve cultural and economic vibrancy, and instill social innovation in our communities, makes the College proud to be an entrusted partner,” Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider said.
The partnership was highlighted during a recent High Foundation Board Meeting on Oct. 10, which was held in a fitting on-campus location – the High Library. Opened in the fall of 1990, the High Library was made possible in part thanks to a High Foundation pledge of $1.5 million toward the project – the largest-ever gift the College had received at the time.
The new library transformed the campus, replacing Zug Memorial Library and increasing the College’s capacity to house more than 250,000 volumes while offering resources and support for creative and critical inquiry. Since the library’s opening, the High Foundation has supported the renovations and beautification of the beloved library with an additional $1.3 million in support.
Additional student-focused spaces have also benefited from the Foundation’s generosity, including the Hoover Center’s Trostle Finance Lab and the High Wellness Wing of the dynamic Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-Being.
Through the High Foundation’s endowment funding, Etown’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives and programming have been strengthened and allowed the College to expand its reach beyond campus to provide resources and serve as leaders in Lancaster County.
The Foundation’s philanthropy at the College has also stretched into the surrounding community thanks to the support offered through the indispensable services of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business at Elizabethtown College for both family businesses and nonprofits.
Since its founding in 1995, the High Center has been dedicated to bringing the best available resources to families in businesses across south central Pennsylvania and beyond through Executive Peer Groups, Ownership Strategic Planning, and the Leadership Speaker Series. The High Center serves over 200 privately-held and family-owned businesses and has become a vital resource for Etown students.
Through the generosity of the High Foundation’s Non-profit endowment, the High Center for Nonprofits was launched in 2023 to provide personal and professional growth for regional nonprofit leaders and their teams through workshops, seminars, and peer-to-peer learning.
These high-impact activities reinforce sustainable practices and encourage collaboration and social innovation among the leadership of nonprofits whose missions are to address poverty and transform communities.