Giving back to the community

At the Hershey Group, we strongly believe in the importance of supporting our local community. We invite you to explore the information below to learn more about our community involvement.

Christmas gifts for children

Each holiday season, the Hagerstown branch "adopts" a group of children from the Bester Community of Hope organization and buys presents from their wish lists for them to open on Christmas morning. The organization is an initiative of San Mar, which focuses on programs with place-based strategies for positive outcomes for children and families located in the Bester Elementary School neighborhood here in Hagerstown. In 2022, we supported the organization and brightened the children's holidays for the sixth year in a row.

Shred event

Since 2016, our branch has held an annual shredding event where we invite clients and the public to bring any unwanted papers to the Hagerstown Suns Stadium parking lot where we have a shredding truck available for their use. It is our way of giving back to our clients and the community. Our 2020 event was so popular that we had to schedule a second shred event as we filled the truck to capacity! 

Charitable donations

In recent years as part our annual Women, Wine and Wall Street client event, we held a trivia contest in which our team would make a donation to a charity selected by the winning team. Previous recipients include Brooke's House (pictured here), Washington County Historical Society, Girls, Inc. of Washington County, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Adopting a dog for Brooke's House

In 2019, John Hershey and his wife Erin assisted Brooke's House in adopting a puppy named Bella who will be a therapy dog for the residents. Brooke's House is located in Hagerstown and is a home for adult women recovering from alcohol and substance use disorders.

'Horsing around' at senior communities

During the COVID-19 pandemic, John Hershey's family brought their two horses, Silver and Charlie, out to bring some cheer to the residents at Fahrney-Keedy Senior Living Community and Diakon Senior Living in a time when visitation to both centers was limited. The horses walked around to greet the residents through the windows, while some residents made their way outside to learn more about the horses. Both of the visits were featured in The Herald Mail newspaper. View the articles here and here.

Therapy dog goes to court

John Hershey's dog, Abby, is a certified therapy dog and provides emotional support for victims and witnesses during the trial process for cases at the Washington County Circuit Court. In addition to her time at the courthouse, she also works with patients at Meritus Medical Center and with Hospice of Washington County grief-support groups. Her efforts were featured in a news article from The Herald Mail newspaper.

Local boards and committees

Team members from The Hershey Group are part of a number of local boards and committees, including the following:

Presently serving on boards and committees at:

•    Antietam Fly Anglers
•    Finance Board, Meritus Medical Center
•    Hagerstown Community College Foundation
•    Mental Health Association for Frederick County
•    Rose Hill Cemetery
•    Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Current members of:

•    The Greater Hagerstown Committee
•    The Rotary Club of Carroll Creek
•    Women's Giving Circle of Washington County

Previously served on boards and committees at:

•    The Arc of Washington County
•    Girls, Inc.
•    Hagerstown Jaycee's
•    Hagerstown Rotary Club
•    Hospice of Washington County
•    The Institute at Renfrew
•    The Rotary Club of Hagerstown-Sunrise Foundation, Inc.
•    San Mar Children's Home
•    Washington County Free Library

Sponsorships

Additionally, The Hershey Group supports the following local organizations and events through the contribution of financial dollars:

•    Brook Lane
•    Community Foundation of Washington County
•    Community Free Clinic
•    Fahrney Keedy Senior Living Community
•    Frederick Oktoberfest
•    Girls Inc of Washington County
•    Girls on the Run Mid & Western MD
•    Hagerstown Community College
•    Hagerstown Community Concert Association
•    Hagerstown YMCA
•    Hospice of Washington County
•    Humane Society of Washington County
•    Loch Moy Farm
•    Maryland Symphony Orchestra
•    Meritus Health
•    Rotary – Hagerstown Sunrise
•    United Way of Washington County
•    University System of Maryland at Hagerstown
•    W House
•    Washington County Arts Council
•    Washington County Chamber of Commerce
•    Washington County Historical Society
•    Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
•    Women's Club of Hagerstown
•    Women’s Giving Circle of Washington County