Chester County Community Foundation Announces Dave Elderkin, Technology Advocate As 2021 Door Opener Winner


(WEST CHESTER, PA – August 19, 2021): The Chester County Community Foundation is pleased to highlight David Elderkin as this year’s Door Opener for his role in strengthening and expanding the Foundation’s online presence. He will be recognized at the Community Foundation’s 27th Annual Meeting taking place October 25th at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester. 

CEO Karen Simmons explains, “The Community Foundation typically grants the Door Opener Award to a professional advisor who brings legacy philanthropy to the attention of their clients and colleagues. This year is a little different as we found another crucial philanthropy connection – technology. Throughout his time as a friend, fund advisor, and former board member of the Community Foundation, Dave has constantly prodded us to get more tech-savvy. And during this COVID year, all the doors he has opened to technology paid off big-time.”     

David is a retired Information Technology (IT) professional who serves on the boards of several IT companies and nonprofit organizations.  He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and taught IT Networking and Project Management at Penn State Brandywine. Dave has served on the board and/or developed IT software solutions for Art-Reach, CultureWorks Greater Philadelphia, Fleisher Art Memorial, Kennett Symphony, and Settlement Music School.  For over a decade he has volunteered as a tutor at the KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy, a public charter school in West Philadelphia.

Always a cheerleader for the Community Foundation’s technology enhancements, Dave has pushed for various hardware, software, reporting system, and IT training upgrades over the years. Most recently, Dave kickstarted an initiative at the Foundation to better understand and utilize website analytics. With Dave’s support, the Community Foundation’s website hits have expanded in the thousands and continue to grow each month. 

Dave will be honored at the Community Foundation’s 27th Annual Meeting. The meeting is open to all community members. RSVP by October 15th to (610) 696-8211 or events@chescocf.org to reserve a spot in person at Uptown. Or, stream the meeting live on YouTube at www.chescocf.org/events/ann-mtg.

Photo captions: Dave Elderkin

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About the Chester County Community Foundation

Headquartered in West Chester’s Lincoln Building, the Chester County Community Foundation connects people who care with causes that matter so their legacy philanthropy makes a difference now and forever. The Community Foundation holds nearly $90 million in trust and annually awards $4.5 million in grants and scholarships. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.chescocf.org.   

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For further information, contact: 

Beth Krallis, Marketing & Communications Officer

Chester County Community Foundation

bethk@chescocf.org (484) 887-0467