Tony DaCosta was introduced to Indian Creek Foundation by his former colleague, Brad Bishop. Brad and Tony each have a son with special needs, and Brad felt that Tony’s personal and professional experience would be a great benefit to the organization. Tony was interested in learning more, and he eventually pursued a Board position in 2021.
The Executive Managing Director of Colleges and Universities at Univest, Tony lives in Quakertown with his wife and adult son who has Cerebral Palsy. Tony and his wife are the primary caregivers for their son, so he fully understands the demands and challenges families face in trying to be the best support system for a loved one with special needs. Tony was drawn to the Indian Creek Board because he wanted to be part of an organization that facilitates that support for families and individuals.
Tony joined the Board in 2021 while COVID-19 protocols were still in place, which means he was introduced to everyone and everything through Zoom. Board meetings were taking place on their normal schedule, but all meetings were held online rather than in the Board room of our Cowpath Road campus. What impressed him about this format is that the Board was actively maintaining momentum and making things work in the best possible way for all of the residents, consumers, and staff. Tony saw from the beginning of his term that the ICF Board and Leadership team were at their best during crisis and adversity.
As a member of the Development Committee, Tony’s role is to contribute to strategies to increase funds coming into the programs. He is heavily involved in the Roll Stroll & Run, our biggest annual fundraiser. Tony also invested additional time into the Mission to Serve Every ONE, a $2 million campaign to raise funds and awareness for our programs. He is committed to further developing strategies that grow our influence and advocacy in the region.
Tony is especially supportive of the role of our staff in the overall mission of ICF. He takes every opportunity he gets to highlight our amazing staff for the heart they put into this very important work. He views the current economic climate from the perspective of our employees and wants to raise awareness about ensuring they have excellent compensation and benefits for the value they provide. They bring a lot to the table that sets Indian Creek Foundation apart from many other organizations, and they deserve appreciation and competitive pay for their role.
When asked what he wishes everyone could know about Indian Creek, Tony said, “I want the local community to see that the heart for our work is just tremendous. We pour all of our funds directly into the people we serve. From our programs to resident lifestyle and compensation for our staff, every dollar donated to the organization is used to support people who need and deserve it.” Tony recognizes the uncertainty of federal funding and greatly appreciates just how much financial support for ICF comes directly from our friends and neighbors.
Tony’s prioritization of staffing retention is at the heart of his goals on the Development Committee. He feels that when our staff has excellent job satisfaction, our programming keeps getting better. He wants to amplify the appeal of working here – for the work being done, the positive professional culture, and proper compensation – so that we attract more great people. He also wants to pull on the community’s heartstrings toward that effort, because when people really get close to ICF and pour into it with their time and money, they see just how much we are really doing for so many local families.
Supporting families is one other way that serving on the Board fits into Tony’s personal mission. As someone who understands the needs that families have for caregiving and mental health support, he is a champion for the full range of services ICF offers. Learning about the importance of mental health services at ICF has helped Tony and his wife pay closer attention to this aspect in their own and their son’s experience. They can see the elevated quality of life that comes from providing for these needs along with physical and medical care. When he visits the Day Program, he loves seeing the smiles on so many faces. What stands out to him is that it is truly a mentally healthy space where everyone is welcome to be exactly who they are without hesitation. The joy, friendship, and purpose pouring out of the Day Program is inspirational and encouraging every single time he sees it.
Tony looks forward to welcoming new Board members as some of the longer tenured members begin to retire. He believes that someone with a big heart who is compassionate, creative, willing to sacrifice and advocate, and who wants to grow the story of Indian Creek Foundation would make a great fit on the Board. He also notes that one must have time and capacity to serve on this active Board. The individuals on the Board understand that their job is to be responsive to the Leadership Team, working in relationship with them to always do what is best for the organization. He finds the collaboration to be rooted in kindness and respect, making it an organization that he is extremely proud to support.