NEWS 2024

November 18, 2024

MILFORD, PA ― A generous donor has offered Green Trees Early Learning Center, Pike County’s oldest licensed day care center, a fundraising challenge. The anonymous donor recently pledged $25,000 to support the center’s operations, structuring the gift as a matching challenge intended to motivate other donors to help Green Trees raise an additional $25,000 by the end of the year.

“That means that every gift given to the Green Trees Strong Roots Fund at Greater Pike Community Foundation by December 31 will have double the value and will be matched dollar-for-dollar,” said Susie Lyddon, Green Trees’ new Director. Green Trees will use the income for classroom supplies, building repairs, equipment purchases, and scholarship support for needy families.

Green Trees, a nonprofit day care center, got its start in 1985 at the Good Shepherd Church in Milford, with a mission to provide safe, high-quality childcare to children of all backgrounds and income levels. In 2017, the center moved to its current home in the historic Muir House. The state rates Green Trees as a Keystone STAR Four Center, the highest designation for early-learning centers in Pennsylvania.

“Serving children 10 hours a day and 12 months a year means peace of mind for our working parents,” said Ms. Lyddon. “They know that their children are in a safe and engaging learning environment while they are working hard to make a better life for themselves and their families. We educate more than 100 children each year from ages 6 weeks through 12 years old.”

More than 60 percent of Green Trees families take part in programs that provide free or low-cost care for income-eligible participants, Ms. Lyddon said. Moreover, “All of our children are enrolled in the federal food program (CACFP) and are provided free daily meals, including a free nutritious breakfast and lunch and daily snacks.”

“For nearly 40 years, Green Trees has been an integral part of the Pike County community, providing critical educational services for thousands of local students and families,” said Rick Little, Greater Pike’s Executive Director. “We hope the opportunity presented by this matching-gift challenge will help ensure Green Trees is here for another 40 years.”

The center is seeking contributions to its fund at Greater Pike. Online donations can be made via www.greaterpike.org/funds. Click the Funds or Scholarships link on that page and then scroll to the Green Trees Strong Roots Fund.

Greater Pike offers individuals, families, and local businesses an opportunity to provide a permanent and personal way to give back to the community. For more information about opening a fund or contributing to an existing fund, contact Rick Little, Executive Director, at (570) 832-4686, ricklittle@greaterpike.org, or visit www.greaterpike.org, Facebook.com/GreaterPike, or Instagram.com/GreaterPikeCF.