Piper Legacy

Clinton County Community Foundation to sustain

Piper Family legacy of giving

Lock Haven, Pa., - The Clinton County Community Foundation (CCCF) is pleased to announce the melding of the Piper Foundation into its group of contributors, thus sustaining the Piper Family’s legacy of giving.

Founded in 1955 as the charitable arm of the Piper Aircraft Corp., The Piper Foundation has been granting college scholarships, as well as monetary gifts to various local organizations, for more than 65 years.

Initially directed by William T. Piper, Sr., the founder of Piper Aircraft, and his three sons, Bill Piper Jr., Tony Piper, and Howard ‘Pug,’ Piper, The Piper Foundation for the last 35 years has been guided by Mr. Piper Sr.’s granddaughters, Pat Piper-Smyer, Betsy Harford Barrett and Anne Harford Bert, with eight other family members also serving on the board.

Because the fourth generation of Piper cousins is so scattered about the country, the family decided to turn over the reins—and the assets—to the community foundation. The dissolution of the Piper Foundation and the transfer of assets was recently approved by Clinton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Salisbury, acting in the Orphans Court.

The Piper Foundation’s assets are valued at approximately $1.3 million, boosting the community foundation’s assets to over $13 million.

Upon the transfer – and in partnership with the Piper family descendants - the CCCF will create two separate funds as follows: The Piper Family Scholarship Fund and The Piper Family Fund.

The Piper Family Scholarship Fund will continue to award four-year scholarships to college-bound graduating seniors from the Keystone Central School District based on need, academic achievement and extracurricular activities.

A committee consisting of those appointed by the Keystone Central School District, along with designated Piper Foundation appointees, will continue to choose the scholarship recipients annually.

Current scholarship recipients include Rachel Glossner, Alexis Ahearn, Cameron Steele, Andrea Waddell and Melissa Clymer.

Meanwhile, proceeds from the Piper Family Fund will continue to be distributed annually to the following organizations:

• Community Nursing Service of Clinton County
• Clinton County Women’s Shelter-Roads to Peace
• Piper Aviation Museum
• Annie Halenbake Ross Library
• Millbrook Playhouse
• Lock Haven YMCA
• Lock Haven Childcare Center
• Infant Development Center
• The New Love Center

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office approved the petition to transfer the assets last December.

The board of directors of the Clinton County Community Foundation take over administration and fund distribution of the Piper Foundation via the two, newly established funds.

Current officers of the Piper Foundation are Mrs. Piper-Smyer, president, Mrs. Barrett, vice president and secretary, and Mrs. Bert, treasurer.

“It has been my honor and privilege to act as the treasurer for the Piper Foundation for the past 20 years to help support Clinton County, the non-profit organizations that contribute so much to the community and most of all to support the Piper Scholars who continue to amaze me with their drive, ingenuity and success,” said Anne Bert.

“I am very excited about our new relationship with the Clinton County Community Foundation, and I am confident they are the right organization to continue our work and continue the work in the community that my grandfather and my uncles began,” added Anne, whose mother, Elizabeth “Betty” Piper, was the youngest of the Piper kids.

 

Piper History

The Piper Aircraft Corp. was founded in Lock Haven in 1937.

From then until the late 1960s, the company manufactured an array of airplanes - from the world-famous, tail-dragger Cub to a variety of low-wing, single- and twin-engine models such as the Cherokee, Comanche and Aztec.

In 1969, the company was the target of a hostile takeover, and the new owners moved the corporate headquarters of the company to a satellite facility in Vero Beach, Fla.

By 1984, they had moved all manufacturing to the Florida plant and left Lock Haven.

But the Piper Foundation continued to stay in town, with Bill Jr. in charge. In 1987, he enlisted the help of his nieces, Pat Piper-Smyer and Betsy Barrett, who later brought in Anne Bert and the other family members.

Upon Bill Jr.’s death in 2007, his widow, Beth Talley Piper, also joined the board.

 

CCCF History

“The Clinton County Community Foundation is honored to be recipient of the Piper Foundation funds, but importantly, to partner with members of the family to continue Piper’s legacy of giving,” CCCF board President Dennis Trout said.

“As someone who has first-hand experience with the Piper Foundation Scholarship, I can attest to the difference it makes to a student’s life. I am happy that the Clinton County Community Foundation will continue the Piper family’s legacy and mission here in Clinton County,” said Trout, whose son was a recipient of a Piper Foundation scholarship.

The Clinton County Community Foundation is celebrating its 55^th year after having been born from a $43,000 gift from Jean Sharp Rempe Hendrich. A 1934 graduate of Lock Haven High School, Jean embodied the spirit of giving.

Fast forward to 2024 and the Foundation today is governed by an 11-member board whose members represent various geographical regions of the county, but also include an at-large member, a county-appointed member and a member named by the county president judge.

Through the benevolence of people like Lee and Maddie Phillips, Mary Elizabeth Clark, Jean Blesh, Loudon and Kathryn Kyle, Gerald Gummo, Sam and Ellen Williams, Frederick Webber, Geraldine English, Charlotte Elder, Norval Remick, Allan W. and Ruth J. Lugg, Giosue Carducci Lodge 146-Sons and Daughters of Italy, Thomas and Barbara Theil, Lewis Wilson, Anna Garth, Bertha Clendenen, Isadore Lipez, George McCormick, John F. Lugg, Donald C. Lugg, Edward McCloskey, Marjorie Deitrick, John and Marylou Brandt, Mary Groce, C. Grant Miller, William R. and Caroline Diack Eisemann, Elizabeth Wenrick, S. Katie Hefferon, Eugene Horil, Sara Ricker, Wesley Pedlow and so many more, the foundation has grown its assets to the level of annually providing more than a half-million dollars in grants to numerous nonprofits, charities, service clubs, institutions, and governmental entities to help others and improve the quality of life for county residents.

 

Local attorney A. W. Lugg Sr. of Flemington, past president of the community foundation and an original board member, said the new partnership, “For many decades, the Piper Family has played a positive part in our community. With the Piper Foundation uniting with the Clinton County Community Foundation, that influence will now continue for generations.”

A list of donors can be found on the Foundation’s web site at www.clintoncountyfoundation.org.

Indeed, the Clinton County Community Foundation is now in its fifth decade of service, thanks to its donors but also to the countless individuals who have served on the board of directors since its inception.

The Community Foundation board of directors include Trout; Don Grant, secretary; Rick Riccardo, treasurer; board members Elizabeth Arnold; Michael Frank; Stuart Hall; Robert Lugg; Lynn Maggs; Doug Miller; Michele Terry and Mark Weaver.

Over the years, the local Foundation has granted millions of dollars to nonprofits, institutions and municipalities for services and projects designed to enhance the quality of life and well-being of Clinton County residents.

It is in the process of disbursing over $550,000 in 2024 grants and designated donor gifts to a multitude of parties.

To learn more about how to support the Clinton County Community Foundation, visit www.clintoncountyfoundation.org, send an email to cccf@clintoncountyfoundation.org, or call 570.220.1038.