One man’s accidental love story with Crawford County and why he chooses to invest in the community he never planned to call home.
In September of 1966, a young man from New York City arrived in Meadville, Pennsylvania to start his freshman year at Allegheny College. He had no reason to think he’d ever come back.
He graduated in 1970 and moved on. But four years later, he returned for what was supposed to be just a long weekend, a visit to a friend who had taken a teaching position at Allegheny College. That weekend turned into a week. That week turned into a decision. And that decision turned into more than fifty years of life in Crawford County.
| “This is where I live, where we raised our children, where I will likely end my life. So why not make it a better place?”
-Richard A. Friedberg
Since the mid-1980s, he has been deeply woven into the fabric of this community. He served as campaign chair for United Way in 1988, held board and officer positions at multiple nonprofits, and went on to serve three terms as Mayor of the City of Meadville. Today, he remains actively involved in the work of building a stronger Crawford County.
His approach to giving is rooted in something simple: a belief that the place where you live deserves your investment. Growing up, he watched his parents live modestly and give generously, not out of obligation, but out of conviction. That example never left him.
When strong returns on his investments created an opportunity to give at a larger scale, he established a donor-advised fund through the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation. The structure made sense, a way to support his community while making the most of available tax benefits. But the motivation was never about the numbers.
| “I have always been happy to give back to make the place where I live better.”
– Richard A. Friedberg
Through his fund, Mr. Friedberg regularly directs grants to organizations across Crawford County, seeking out nonprofits that align with his values and put donations to work wisely and efficiently. Most recently, he directed a $10,000 grant from his donor-advised fund to Common Roots, helping grow their Buy and Build Fund, an initiative designed to create permanently affordable homes that build lasting wealth and security for local families.
The impact was immediate. With the flexibility that local funding provides, Common Roots was able to move quickly to purchase two duplexes, now home to families who were previously experiencing housing insecurity. It is exactly the kind of result Mr. Friedberg looks for when he gives.
| “Without local flexible funding, free of red tape, like the funding that Richard continues to provide through the Crawford Heritage Community Foundation, Common Roots would not be able to move forward in this housing market.”
– Julie Wilson, Common Roots
Mr. Friedberg is not someone who dwells on the emotional weight of giving. He is practical, deliberate, and clear-eyed about what he wants his philanthropy to accomplish. When asked what he hopes his giving achieves, his answer is straightforward: to make his community better by making it stronger.
For a man who arrived here by accident, that feels like the most intentional thing of all.