Blackford Ventures Helps HSH Reach its Million Pound Mark

Last week, a local private equity firm’s generous donation marked the 25^th anniversary of Hunters Sharing the Harvest, a charity that coordinates the processing and distribution of donated wild game to food banks across Pennsylvania.

In a private check presentation on May 23, Blackford Ventures, LLC Chairman Richard Welkowitz handed a $10,000 check to John Plowman, executive director of the charity.

“We were thrilled to help Hunters Sharing the Harvest celebrate its milestone anniversary last week,” said Welkowitz. “This small but mighty organization has coordinated the donation of more than one million pounds of healthy venison to hungry families, including 9,000 pounds to Lancaster residents last year alone! Truly, Blackford is honored to play a small part in this success.”

In Lancaster, the donated meat is given to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, which distributes it through its 27-county network of over 800 partner food pantries and soup kitchens. An average-sized deer will provide enough highly-nutritious, low-cholesterol meat for 200 meals.

“Without the generosity of donors like Richard Welkowitz and Blackford Ventures, Hunters Sharing the Harvest would just be a great idea shared by Pennsylvania sportsmen,” said John Plowman. “Instead, we are able to help pay participating butchers and coordinate meat deliveries to 4,000 local food assistance provider organizations around Pennsylvania.”

Blackford Ventures CEO Mike Brubaker has a long history of fighting hunger. Prior to taking the helm at Blackford, Brubaker served two terms in the Pennsylvania State Senate, including four years as chair of the Agriculture Committee, where he was the founding member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Hunger Caucus. He currently serves as chair of Hunger-Free Lancaster County, an innovative coalition of business, faith-based, non-profit and public sector organizations to ensure sustainable access to three healthy meals a day for all Lancaster residents by 2018.

For more information about Blackford Ventures, LLC, visit www.blackfordventures.com. For more information on Hunters Sharing the Harvest, visit www.sharedeer.org.

Blackford Ventures, LLC is a private equity firm based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Blackford invests in innovative solutions. The firm was founded by respected entrepreneur and philanthropist Richard Welkowitz and is complimented by a team of diverse and experienced professionals.

Hunters Sharing the Harvest is Pennsylvania’s charitable venison donation program for hunters who share their extra venison via a statewide network of participating butchers to food banks across Pennsylvania.

L-R :Joe Arthur, Exec, Dir. Central PA Food Bank; Rick Fetrow, Pres., Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH); Mike Brubaker, Blackford Ventures; Richard Welkowitz, Pres., Blackford Ventures, John Plowman, Exec. Dir. Hunters Sharing the Harvest Program (HSH), Keith Hite, Blackford Ventures and Craig Kauffman, HSH Board Member.