Having grown up in Telford, Brad Bishop had always been aware of Indian Creek Foundation as an organization in his community. In fact, he remembers going sledding behind our Souderton campus, which was still Penn View Christian School then. It was not until Brad worked at Univest after college, however, that he really began to understand what we really do here.
It was Univest’s sponsorship of our Roll & Stroll event that introduced Brad to our mission and to the people we serve. After participating in the fundraiser and spending more time around our staff and volunteers, he gained an appreciation for the size and reach of ICF.
Brad’s true connection with ICF came along after his 9-year-old son was born with Down Syndrome. By then, he was a financial advisor in Harleysville, and he was asked to join the Board to serve on the finance committee.
Now that his family was part of the special needs community, Brad was grateful for the opportunity to serve. Following his term on the finance committee, he moved into the Vice Chair position, then Board Chair. Brad will step down from the Board in July 2026 and is looking forward to a smooth transition to his successor.
What Brad appreciates most about ICF is that it is filled with remarkable people. From the leadership team to the whole staff and the individuals we serve, everyone moves through their day with joy and passion. He also wants others to know just how big a part of our community ICF is and how many lives it touches. Brad once delivered a meal to one of our residential homes only a few blocks from his own house and was thrilled to learn that he was neighbors with the people we serve. One of our chief goals is to integrate so well into our neighborhoods that we are just a regular part of them.
A few notable Board accomplishments that Brad is proud to have been a part of include navigating COVID-19 with a high-risk population and successfully hiring our new CEO, Tim Barksdale. Leadership changes can be a significant challenge for a Board of Directors, but the group approached it with diligence and identified Tim as a perfect fit.
The biggest impact ICF has had on Brad personally is that it has taught him how to be intentional about how he uses his resources. He is proud of how the Board is directly involved with the day-to-day work of the organization. ICF runs well because of the people who come to work every day ready to serve with heart, and that has a huge influence on the Board. They rely on the leaders and staff to keep things functioning well so that they can govern for continued success. The Board has great confidence in the future of ICF because all the people within the organization are already aligned in pursuing daily improvement.
If you are considering serving on our Board, Brad’s advice is to come in prepared to be active in the organization. “Indian Creek is already remarkable. The Board is here to support that and find ways to maximize the impact of what we’re able to do in the community. We just continue helping Indian Creek get better every day.”
An ideal candidate for the ICF Board is a servant leader who is curious and wants to directly participate in the activities and initiatives of the organization. This Board is passionate, vocal, and decisive because they have made themselves part of the culture. And it’s a great culture! Indian Creek is a fulfilling and rewarding place to work and to serve. Anyone who serves on this Board should complete their time knowing that they have been part of something incredibly special.