(West Chester, PA – October 31, 2024): The Chester County Community Foundation proudly presented attorney Denise M. Antonelli with the Foundation’s prestigious 2024 Door Opener Award at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center in West Chester on Monday night. This award is given to professional advisors who advocate for and encourage legacy philanthropy, playing a pivotal role in expanding the Chester County Community Foundation’s philanthropic mission.
As the first woman to receive the Door Opener Award, Antonelli has made a significant impact as an attorney who has assisted clients with estate planning, estate administration and trust administration for more than 30 years. Her dedication to integrating philanthropy into her clients’ estate planning has earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor in the community. Her recognition coincides with Gawthrop Greenwood’s 120th anniversary of serving the community, underscoring a long-standing tradition of trust and legacy building.
“Long-standing relationships are the cornerstone of both the Foundation and Gawthrop Greenwood, so it’s a particular honor to be recognized in this way and at this time,” said Antonelli. “Gawthrop Greenwood has long been a supporter of, and been supported by, the Foundation. I am honored to be just the latest in a line Gawthrop Greenwood lawyers to serve on the Foundation Board. As such, I share this award with my Gawthrop Greenwood colleagues. But, more importantly, I share it with the individual who established such a generous legacy fund with the Foundation, and the hundreds of other donors who have chosen the Foundation as the vehicle to help realize their charitable goals. It is a community that I am proud to be a part of.”
Antonelli’s efforts recently culminated in assisting a long-term client in establishing a charitable fund through the Chester County Community Foundation. Her work with this client, whom she has served for over 25 years, reflects her deep understanding of charitable giving and her commitment to ensuring that philanthropy remains an integral part of estate planning.
“I’ve witnessed the Chester County Community Foundation’s 30-year track record as a trusted steward, diligently reviewing nonprofit prospects and prudently investing funds to endow the charitable sector for perpetuity. The Foundation’s reputation is earned each day, as it follows the wishes of its legacy donors, forever,” Antonelli said.
The Chester County Community Foundation is grateful for the ongoing support of advisors like Antonelli, who open doors to legacy philanthropy. Her role in this process highlights the crucial collaboration between attorneys, accountants, investment managers, and other financial professionals in helping clients make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Left Photo: Denise M. Antonelli, Esq. with Board Chair Zebulun Davenport Ed.D.
Right Photo: (left to right) Gawthrop Greenwood attorneys John Rafferty, Jennifer Simons, Kevin Holleran, Kristen Bennett and Door Opener Award Recipient Denise Antonelli.
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About the Chester County Community Foundation
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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 $100 million in trust and annually awards $6+ million in grants and scholarships. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.chescocf.org.