NEWS 2024
Pike County Commissioners Establish New Fund Supporting Local Veterans at Greater Pike Community Foundation
November 08, 2024
MILFORD, PA ― The Pike County Commissioners, Pike County Veterans Affairs Office, Greater Pike Community Foundation and VetStock have banded together to establish the Pike County Veterans Support Fund (PCVSF), a new fund administered through Greater Pike to support local Veterans.
The PCVSF is designed to support the operation, services, and programs of the Pike County Veterans Affairs Office, for which it is exclusively established. Funds will be utilized by the Veterans Affairs Office to:
- Enhance or expand services and programs provided by the Pike County Veterans Affairs Office including but not limited to staff training, supplies, technology and equipment
- Assist with training and education programs and opportunities to aid Pike County Veterans in finding employment, working in conjunction with the Pike County Workforce Development Agency
“We are grateful for the creation of the Veterans Support Fund,” said Jesiah Schrader, Pike County Veterans Affairs Director. “With the influx of Veterans seeking benefits, my office wants to ensure that we do everything in our power to ensure our Veterans are being taken care of. The Veterans Support Fund will be essential in accomplishing this.”
The Pike County Veterans Affairs Office has been working to provide exceptional services to Pike County Veterans. Over the past two and a half years, more than 2,500 Veterans and family members have come through seeking information and resources. While the Office provides assistance to all Veterans, it currently represents 45% of Veterans receiving federal benefits in Pike County. This is a 33% growth over the last two and a half years, in addition to increasing monthly Veterans’ payments from $687,190.99 to $1,241,169.43.
Following the office’s relocation to the Shohola Business Center earlier this year, Pike’s two accredited Veterans Service Officers have seen a steady flow of patrons. They have assisted nearly 1,000 veterans since January, representing an increase in Pike’s Veteran representation by 3%.
In 2022, the office’s Year Award Closeout, monetary award payments to Veterans totaled $7,896,429. In 2024, it has increased to $13,147,654. For 2025, the office is on track to increase the yearly close out to $15M.
The Pike County Veterans Support Fund will become a permanent part of Greater Pike’s endowment and will be administered by Greater Pike’s Board of Directors, in partnership with the Fund’s Advisory Committee.
The Advisory Committee will comprise the three Pike County Commissioners and the Pike County Veterans Affairs Director. In addition, the Committee will appoint one community leader and two members from local Veterans’ service organizations.
“The sole purpose of the PCVSF is to honor local men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation by providing the greatest amount of benefits,” said Matthew Osterberg, Pike County Commissioner. “Our Veterans have supported their county. It is our time to thank, honor and support them by creating and contributing to this fund.”
The fund’s initial donation of $10,000 came from VetStock, a local Veteran support organization created more than a decade ago, dedicated to serving Veterans in the Greater Northeast Region of Pennsylvania. Their partnership with the PCVSF will further strengthen the Pike County’s Veterans Affairs Office. Founding members Thomas Ryan, President, Richard Diaz, Vice President, and Allan Schatz, Secretary, see this fund as a legacy providers can use to benefit for our County Veterans.
The Veterans Affairs Office is actively contacting all County Veteran Service organizations to garner additional support. The fund has received resounding support from County service organizations. These include the Milford Marsch-Kellogg American Legion Post 139, Newman Smith American Legion Post 514 of Bushkill, Matamoras and Milford Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Posts and the Gung Ho Marine Corp League.
“Greater Pike is honored to support those who have given so much to our country,” said Rick Little, Executive Director at Greater Pike. “This new fund is a meaningful way to honor the sacrifices our veterans have made and to increase the resources available to them in our community.”
Gifts to the fund can be made online at www.greaterpike.org/funds (click the Funds or Scholarships link on that page and scroll to the name of the fund) or by checks made payable to GPCF-PCVSF and mailed to Greater Pike Community Foundation: P.O. Box 992, Milford, PA 18337.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 and Instagram.com/GreaterPikeCF.