John and Ann Snyder Outdoor Fund
This fund has been established in honor of John and Ann Snyder. John and Ann enjoyed the outdoors and were avid tent campers (along with their four children) in rustic campgrounds, primarily Poe Paddy State Park in Woodward, PA. They both fished for trout in the famous Penn’s Creek that runs through the park. Many family hikes were taken on the dirt roads and trails surrounding the campground, including crossing an abandoned railroad trestle and through the 250 foot long Paddy Mountain Railroad Tunnel. John passed away suddenly in 2003 at the age of seventy-four. Ann battled various cancers for many years but took every opportunity to continue tent camping on her own through May of 2002 at the age of eighty-four.
John had camped and fished at Poe Paddy since he was a young boy and to honor that distinction, the State named a trail that runs along the creek the “John L. Snyder Trail,” that is in the process of officially becoming the “John L. and Ann F. Snyder Trail.”
Son John presented the idea of establishing a fund to his siblings to promote the love of the outdoors. With the help of the foundation (which Ann had volunteered at for many years) a fund was set up. COVID restrictions were in place and Zoom meetings were taking place. Ann was very surprised when two of her children (Sue and Mark) appeared on the screen in front of her as part of the business meeting. Her daughter Ann was visiting her and was able to capture her surprise on camera and John was unfortunately detained at work, but arrived soon after the announcement.
The fund is available to qualifying organizations which conduct or will conduct programs or activities in the Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, community promoting education concerning and/or the enjoyment of nature and the outdoors. The Foundation shall determine what organizations, programs and activities qualify to receive grants through its annual grantmaking process.
