Community Programs

FDA is deeply committed to the communities throughout Pennsylvania in which our members serve. In various activities, PFDA members are making a difference year round helping with raising funds for charitable causes; providing critical, skilled training; and honoring the country's bravest.

Our community programs include:


The Highmark Caring Place Golf Classic

PFDA hosts the annual Golf Classic in Hershey to benefit the Highmark Caring Place, an agency that helps grieving children, adolescents and their families with the loss of a loved one.

PFDA Supports Highmark Caring Place

PFDA has been a longtime supporter of Highmark Caring Place, which provides free grief support services to children and their families.

Each year we host the PFDA Golf Classic to raise funds for the organization.Since 2004, the event has raised over $138,000 for specialized services and programs provided at the Caring Place. All funds raised by the PFDA Golf Classic are matched dollar-for-dollar by Highmark Blue Shield, which has increased the total donation from six PFDA benefit golf outings to over $270,000

Gelder Foundation 
The Gelder Foundation, directed by the PFDA in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Department of Homeland Security and others, was established to provide education and training for individuals, professionals and members of response teams who may have to deal with mass casualty incidents and disasters

Hearts of Steel 
Members of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association (PFDA) were recognized for helping to raise funds for a permanent memorial in Somerset County honoring the heroes of Flight 93, which crashed there on September 11, 2001.

National World War II Memorial 
PFDA was proud to coordinate the efforts of member funeral homes toward the nationwide campaign to build the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. The Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association was a top contributor toward this effort. PFDA members continue to offer numerous programs to benefit veterans in their communities.