By Douglas May
COBYS Family Services held its 25th annual Bike & Hike on Sunday, Sept. 12. The popular event and the beautiful day brought out more than 325 walkers, bicyclists, and motorcyclists to raise critical funding to support the organization’s ministries of foster care, adoption, counseling and family life education.
More than $160,000 was raised this year, making it the highest grossing Bike & Hike to date, topping the previous high of $148,000 in 2018.
COBYS is affiliated with Atlantic Northeast District of the Church of the Brethren. Motivated by Christian faith, it educates, supports, and empowers children and adults to reach their full potential. Located in Lancaster County, Pa., COBYS Family Services provides a range of foster care, adoption, permanency, family life education, and counseling services throughout the region.
“We are amazed at this fundraising effort by hundreds of COBYS supporters along with their friends and family in the local community and across the country,” said Anne Stokes, director of development. “While the dollar amount certainly is an achievement, what we are most pleased about is that those who donated recognize the importance of our services to the community and trust COBYS to provide quality care with compassion, dignity and hope.”
The top three fundraisers were Don Fitzkee and Lancaster Church of the Brethren with $11,050, Floy Fitzkee of Manheim with $9,070, and Londa Brandt of Manheim raising $8,525. Additional gratitude goes to Mari Cunningham and the Cunningham family of Lancaster for raising more than $20,000 for the adults, children, and families served by COBYS.
COBYS is grateful to all participants and those who sponsored them, our corporate partners, and individual donors. A special thanks is offered to Lititz Church of the Brethren for again graciously hosting the event and to other congregations for raising significant funds for COBYS, recognizing the value of our agency. Individual, congregational, and business philanthropy offer foundational support to our ministries, allowing us to continue providing our essential services as we have been doing for more than 40 years.
–– Douglas May is communications and development manager for COBYS Family Services.
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