RGS Associates’ Commitment to Community Support and Giving Back

When RGS Associates decided a few years ago to redirect the holiday client gift budget toward charitable giving, we received an unexpected response from our clients—overwhelming support and appreciation.

That decision, which led to a significant partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, is emblematic of our approach to community involvement: thoughtful, impactful, and focused on making a difference.

“We were looking at how our client base had grown and how much more we were spending on holiday gifts,” said Joel Snyder, Managing Principal at RGS Associates. “We stepped back and said, ‘There’s got to be a better use for this budget than sending clients a cheese and meat board or a basket of cookies.’ It’s a nice gesture for the holiday season, but we wanted to make an impact.”

While RGS had been making significant contributions to charitable organizations from the very beginning, that “better use” now translates into thousands of dollars of meaningful support each holiday season for numerous organizations across Central Pennsylvania.

And the impact is tangible: This year’s $10,000 contribution to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, one of RGS’ key charitable partners, will transform thousands of lives by alleviating food insecurity across our region.

“A $10,000 gift from RGS – that’s 40,000 fresh, healthy, nutritious meals,” said Central Pennsylvania Food Bank Senior Development Manager David Carl. “We could not do what we do without partners like RGS.”

The timing of such support couldn’t be more critical. According to David, the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank serves 27 counties through three healthy food hubs in Harrisburg, Williamsport, and Hollidaysburg and is currently experiencing its highest demand in years. Working with 1,200 local agencies and programs, the Food Bank is now serving over 253,000 individuals monthly, the demand has even exceeded what the Food Bank experienced during the height of the pandemic, David said.

“Corporate partnerships are one of the key to our success as a food bank to serve our neighbors,” he said. “Those financial gifts allow us to purchase food that’s not donated to us from some of our bigger grocery partners–that’s meat, dairy, cheese, vegetables and fruit. It allows us to get those fresh, healthy, nutritious meals out to people in need.”

But RGS’s community involvement extends far beyond a single organization. Over the years, our charitable giving strategy has evolved organically, encompassing three main areas: long-standing relationships with senior living communities, support for causes championed by clients and employees, and broader community initiatives.

“We’ve had certain initiatives that came from employees passionate about specific nonprofits or charitable organizations,” Joel said. This employee-driven approach has led to support for various causes, from youth sports teams to local dance studios, creating a giving program that reflects the diverse interests and connections of the RGS team.

RGS also supports employees’ personal charitable interests and provides flexibility for community involvement.

“We try to be very flexible with their schedules and allow our staff to fulfill their own personal interests,” Joel said. “We’ve had folks who coached high school or junior high teams, even when their own kids didn’t play for the team. These people were just passionate about that sport and the kids’ need for positive role models willing to give of their time. We’ve always supported that level of involvement in the community, and we always will.”

This approach ensures authenticity in our community support.

“It’s employee-driven, not company-driven,” Joel said. “And it has led to organic involvement in various initiatives over the years, from Habitat for Humanity build days to maintenance work at the YMCA’s Camp Rocky Creek.

While the impact of these contributions is difficult to measure in its entirety, it is evident in individual stories and community feedback.

“All we can hope is that it helps somebody,” Joel said. “Whether it’s the food bank where families are getting the food they need, or charitable or nonprofits providing support for medical care or research that matters to an individual–it’s gratifying to be part of the missions of these amazing organizations.”

For the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, the partnership with RGS, now in its ninth year, represents more than just financial support.

“Corporate partnerships–like the one we have with RGS–make a huge difference in our community,” David says. “We couldn’t do this without companies like RGS. Together, we’re making a difference.”

This spirit of collaboration and community support continues to drive RGS’s charitable giving efforts. Joel said RGS carefully considers how to maximize its impact while maintaining sustainable business practices.

“We are still a small business,” Joel said. “But we believe partnering with these programs is important. Not only do these organizations support the community; they also reflect the values and culture here at RGS. At the end of the day, impactful community involvement is about commitment and choosing to make a difference where you can.”

The impact of RGS’s charitable contributions extends throughout Central Pennsylvania, supporting organizations that provide essential services, enhance community life, and help those in need. RGS is committed to playing a vital role in building stronger, more resilient communities through our partnership with many charitable organizations, including:

Retirement Community Benevolent Care Funds

• Calvary Homes
• Fairmount Homes
• Frederick Living
• Garden Spot Communities
• Homestead Village
• Landis Communities
• Kendal Crossland Communities
• Mennonite Home Communities
• Messiah Lifeways
• Moravian Manor Communities
• Peter Becker Community
• Pleasant View Communities
• Tel Hai Retirement Community
• United Zion Retirement Community

Local Service Organizations

• The Camphill School
• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank
• The Jeff Musser Foundation
• JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes
• Luthercare
• Million Dollar Bike Ride
• Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House
• Pink Power
• Timothy F. Pasch Family Foundation
• VisionCorps
• Vista Autism Services
• York Opioid Collaborative

National and International Organizations

• Hope International
• Mennonite Disaster Service
• Rotary International

Professional Organizations

• Building Industry Association
• Capital Region Chamber of Commerce
• Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
• Lancaster Chamber of Commerce
• Lancaster County Association of Realtors
• Tri-County Regional Planning Commission
• ULI Philadelphia

Local Community Organizations

• Brandywine Youth Baseball Association
• Emerge Dance and Twirl
• Farmers Market in Hershey
• Lancaster Conservancy
• One Broadway Dance Academy