Greater Hershey Area ALSO SERVING HUMMELSTOWN AND MIDDLETOWN
townlively.com
SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXVI • NO 11
FIA receives recognition, plans banquets riends In Action International (FIA), a faith-based nonprofit organization in Middletown, recently received multiple recognitions. The organization exists to assist missionaries serving in areas of limited infrastructure by using construction projects to help them share the Gospel with unreached people groups. The organization recently received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of nonprofits. Only one-quarter of the 1.5 million charities rated have achieved this status. The four-star rating is the highest rating offered by Charity Navigator and verifies that FIA demonstrates strong financial health and a commitment to accountability and transparency. A detailed review of financial documents, such as the organization’s Form 990, audited financials, and key policies, indicated that FIA adheres to sector best practices and financially executes its mission efficiently. In addition, FIA was listed as a 2023 top-rated organization by
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A group of singers from Lebanon Valley Bible Church formed a surprise flash mob and sung “Blessed Assurance” to kick off FIA’s banquet last year.
GreatNonProfits.org after accumulating over 60 five-star reviews from supporters. As part of the process to select the winner, volunteers, donors, and people served by nonprofits are asked to share stories of inspiration, express appreciation, and rate charity service. FIA also received the platinum rating - the highest rating available from GuideStar, an online watchdog site that presents mission, legitimacy,
impact, financial, programming, transparency, and governance information about every IRS-registered nonprofit organization. “Friends In Action is humbled to receive these recognitions, but any success must be shared with our faithful supporters and volunteers,” said Andy Bachert, the organization’s chief operating officer. Bachert was referring to the more than 50 travelers who volunteer on
one of 10 projects in six remote locations - Africa, Bolivia, Papua New Guinea, Nicaragua, Vanuatu, and Mexico - each year, as well as the more than 2,000 individuals on their mailing list who consistently pray or give to empower their support of frontline Gospel mission work. Readers who would like to learn more about Friends In Action International can attend the organization’s annual awareness banquet.
The event will be offered at two locations. On Friday, Oct. 27, a banquet will take place at Community Bible Church, 331 Anderson Ferry Road, Marietta, at 6 p.m. The second event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, 4650 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, at 5 p.m. Attendees at both locations will enjoy a dinner buffet complete with a dessert bar. The keynote speaker each evening will be FIA’s executive director, Matt Durkee, who will share stories from his eight-week visit serving the NiVan people of Vanuatu earlier this year. Guests will learn more about an upcoming Water And Sanitation Health (WASH) initiative planned by FIA to bring clean water to more than 3,500 villagers through a gravity-fed water system. In addition, missionaries James and Morgan Tumwesiigye will share how FIA has helped their work among Ugandan women through their ministry at the Milandila Family Center. The banquet will also include a show of appreciation for supporters, along with games, prizes and giveaways, See FIA pg 2
The Hershey Symphony has announced that its youth orchestra, Festival Strings, will return to its full-year format this month for the first time since 2020. New director Andrew Kurtz, who is also an orchestra teacher in the Palmyra Area School District, says that this is an excellent playing opportunity for young string musicians looking for a challenge beyond their school ensembles. “There will be a variety of music that exposes students to a mix of styles and techniques that they can bring back to their own ensembles,” he said. “I’m very excited to being working with everyone and making
incredible music.” Violin, viola, cello and bass players in grades six through nine who have some mastery of their instrument are invited to join the group without audition, provided they have a recommendation from their school director or private music teacher. Details on the skills required can be found at www.HersheySymphony.org under “Hershey Symphony Festival Strings.” There are also select openings for students in grades 10 through 12 to serve as rehearsal assistants. In addition to performing its own concert on Thursday, Nov. 16, Festival Strings will share the stage
Andrew Kurtz
with the Hershey Symphony on Friday, April 26, 2024, in the concert “Treasured and Timeless,” to be held at the Hershey Theatre.
Middletown announces Hall of Fame inductees The Middletown Area Alumni Association Hall of Fame Committee recently announced the selections for the 2023 homecoming induction into the Middletown Athletic Hall of Fame. The homecoming banquet will take place on Friday, Oct. 6, at Middletown Area High School beginning with dinner at 6 p.m. Alumni and former athletes are encouraged to attend. The alumni meeting and induction ceremony will take place in the auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Registration is available from the alumni newsletter at www.raiderweb.org under For Community and Alumni
Association or by emailing eandbbright@comcast.net. The eight-member committee selected seven new inductees and one team. The honorees are Earl Bright III, Class of 1965; Seymour Cohen, Class of 1937; Terry Eberly, Class of 1961; Bob Heusser, boys’ basketball coach; Terry Martin, Class of 1992; Pam Steckroat, Class of 1974; Casper Voithofer, boys’ basketball coach; and the 1971 football team. Bright, a member of the first Middletown wrestling team with a four-year varsity record of 56-14-4, was a PIAA wrestling official and a See Hall of Fame pg 2 R098509
See Youth orchestra pg 2
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