Univest joins effort to establish fund for surviving children of tragedy

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Published news reports said Bradley William Stone, a suspect in the murder of his ex-wife and five former in-laws, was found dead near his Pennsburg home Tuesday.

The local organizations are raising funds to help the Stone daughters and Anthony Flick, surviving children who lost their parents and sibling in the tragedy. Univest Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization staffed on a volunteer basis by employees from Univest Corp. of Pennsylvania in Souderton, partnered with Word FM, a Sellersville faith-based radio station, and the Souderton-Telford Rotary to establish the Stone & Flick Children Fund.

Univest Corp. donated $3,000 to the fund, while Word FM and Souderton-Telford Rotary each contributed $1,000.

So far, support for the fund has been pouring in, from sources both near and far.

“It’s very encouraging, especially just the outpouring of caring from the community,” said Joe Blair, executive director of Univest Foundation. “Not all of the calls are local.”

Blair told Lehigh Valley Business that with social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter, a wider range of people is showing an interest in making donations.

Blair, also senior vice president of Univest Corp. of Pennsylvania, said he suspects the $5,000 in donations announced so far will be much higher.

Univest Foundation decided to get involved in this partnership out of a need to do something to help.

“We are located in and closely involved with all of the communities where these tragic events were happening,” Blair said.

It was from these discussions with various people that the organization decided the fund would be an ideal way to carry out a mission to help those directly affected.

Blair said the Univest Foundation was established as a separate nonprofit institution that serves as a bridge between individual donors and charitable causes.

Donations are tax-deductible. Individuals who are interested in donating can do so in the following ways:

• Online at WordFM.org to make a general fund donation.

• Through regular mail, with checks payable to Univest Foundation and the designation “Stone & Flick Children Fund” in the memo line. Mail to Univest Foundation, 14 N. Main St., P.O. Box 559, Souderton, PA 18964.

• For direct funds to one of the children, include the child’s name in the check memo line.