NEWS 2021

October 25, 2021

Milford…. “Our community is our home. If we don’t take care of our home, we can’t expect others to do it for us.”  Those are the words of the late Richard L. (Dick) Snyder, a community benefactor and conservationist.  He knew that Pike County residents are blessed to be surrounded by pristine woodlands and waterways, and hoped future generations would benefit from them.   

Attorney John “Duke” Schneider is helping to fulfil Snyder’s legacy.  He wants students in the Delaware Valley School District to make good use of land given to the school district by Snyder. To make that happen, he has established the Richard L. Snyder Chair of Conservation Studies Fund to create a curriculum at DV schools. 

The fund is maintained by Greater Pike Community Foundation.  Duke Schneider was active as a founding member of Greater Pike and currently serves on the Board of Directors.  

“Representing Dick for thirty years,” Schneider explained, “I saw all the good he did for other people and I want to do something in his honor, and do it in a manner that meets the philosophy that Dick had in respect to land use.” 

The land donated by Snyder is river frontage behind Milford Landing and Walmart that he hoped could be the basis of programs such as those instituted by Professor John Crow, PH.D.  Crow is familiar with the site, having used it for teaching and research at Rutgers University. Delaware Valley School District Superintendent, Dr. John Bell, said a curriculum which will make good use of the land is being developed for students studying environmental science at the high school.  

Schneider seeded the fund with a generous donation and it now totals $50,000, which will allow for a yearly stipend to the school district to help create and maintain the program.  It is Schneider’s hope that those who remember Dick and those who share his reverence for the land will donate to the fund and help it grow. 

“The program should focus on conservation studies and land use,” said Schneider.  “It is essential that land be used in an environmentally sound way, much like the philosophy of sustainable use espoused by Gifford Pinchot.”   Schneider added, “Richard took great pride in the fact that Milford is known as the birthplace of the Conservation Movement in America.  He chose to be an example to all of what we can do to promote proper land use to benefit the general public.” 

To make an online donation to The Richard L. Snyder Chair of Conservation Studies Fund, go to https://greaterpike.org/our-funds/ and scroll down to the fund name and click on the link. You can also mail a check made payable to Greater Pike Community Foundation with “Conservation Chair Fund” in the memo portion. Mail to: Greater Pike Community Foundation, PO Box 992, Milford, PA 18337 

Greater Pike Community Foundation was created to enable generous individuals, families and local businesses to maximize their charitable support through organized, targeted, long-term community philanthropy.  

For more information about establishing a fund in memory of a loved one, or to discuss how to realize your charitable goals for the future, please contact Jenni Hamill, Executive Director, at (570) 832-4686, jennihamill@greaterpike.org, or visit www.greaterpike.org and Facebook.com/GreaterPike.