Nelsons give back to EC nonprofits
EVANS CITY — The Nelson Charitable Foundation has quietly shored up the nonprofits in the borough for 17 years.
Jim and Patti Nelson, owners of Nelson Financial Services, founded the organization 17 years ago after a client-appreciation golf outing raised a significant amount of money.
“So we established a 501(c)3 nonprofit and elected a board of directors,” Jim Nelson said. “We decided we were going to support the nonprofits of the ZIP code 16033.”
Since then, the annual golf outing has raised a total of $210,000 for the organizations that make Evans City a great place to live, Nelson said.
After the benefactors of the outing are chosen, the Nelsons invite representatives from all the benefactors to their home for dinner, drinks and a social time before handing over the checks.
This year, the EDCO Park Authority, Salvation Army, Evans City Community Food Cupboard and Evans City Public Library each received $3,700.
The St. John’s Quilters, Evans City Historical Society, the local Cub Scout pack, plus the Rotary and Lions clubs each were given $750.
He said all of the recipients work hard to make life better for the borough’s residents.
“They have a lot of great volunteers, but sometimes they don’t have the financial resources,” Nelson said. “So if we can help them out, even better.”
Although Nelson grew up in Pittsburgh, he moved to Evans City 29 years ago and started up his financial services company.
“I’ve been very blessed and have done very well, and to me, it’s very important to give back to the community,” Nelson said.
Nelson said the golf outing is each year on the third Friday of August at Oakview Country Club. He said $125 gets golfers 18 holes, a cart, a prize, various contests and raffles, and a buffet after the 18th hole. The event is open to all golfers.
EDCO Park board member Cindy Caldwell said that a few years back, the donation from the Nelson Charitable Foundation paid the entire salary of the park’s program director.
She added the Nelsons sponsored the fireworks at Oktoberfest for the past two years without any expectation of accolades.
“Jim is very humble and doesn’t expect recognition,” Caldwell said. “We appreciate all they do.”
Nelson said his grown son and daughter have adopted his penchant for giving back, and his son flies home from San Diego each year for the golf outing.
“I don’t want somebody to want for something just because they can’t afford it,” Nelson said. “I truly believe that in this country, no one should go to bed hungry.”
