Delaware County Community Foundations Names 2011 Officers

Carmen P. Belefonte, Esq

Radnor, PA – The Delaware County Community Foundation (DCCF) has elected 2011 officers of the DCCF Board of Directors.  They are: Carmen P. Belefonte, Esq., Chairman; Steve Carroll, Esq., Vice Chairman; Gwendolyn A. Smith, Secretary; and Leonard V. Santivasi, CPA, Treasurer.  DCCF has just celebrated its fifth anniversary as as a public charity to foster philanthropy in and for Delaware County.

Also serving as members of the 2011 DCCF  Executive Committee are Bruce M. Brown, former Vice Chair of the Board; David A. Stitely, Chair Emeritus and DCCF co-founder; and Joseph E. Lastowka, Jr., Esq., former DCCF Vice Chair and DCCF co-founder.

Mr. Belefonte is the managing attorney of the Media office of Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendensky, P.C. Mr. Carroll is a partner in the law firm Carroll & Karagelian in Media. Ms. Smith is President of Springfield Hospital and Vice President of the Crozer Keystone Health System; and Mr. Santivasi is a business consultant and retired president of Elko & Associates, Ltd. Mr. Brown is trustee of The HBE Foundation. Mr. Stitely is a retired Vice President of Rohm & Haas, Inc.. Mr. Lastowka is a partner at Abbott Lastowka & Overholt LLP in Media.


DCCF works closely with professional advisors, individuals and families, nonprofit organizations, corporations, and other foundations in creating funds that facilitate their philanthropic giving. Donors gain the advantages of professional donor services and fund management in conducting their philanthropy while assuring that their giving can continue in perpetuity. In its first five years DCCF has raised over $2.33 million, currently has over $1.2 million in assets-under-management, and has awarded more than $1.1 million in grants to 125 nonprofits organizations through its donor-advised and general funds.


“DCCF has made its mark as a leader in philanthropy in Delaware County, as was illustrated by having more than 400 in attendance at its 5th Anniversary Gala last year,” observes Mr. Belefonte. “These are exciting times for DCCF as we continue to attract more donors and expand our funds to further philanthropy in the Delaware County community.”


Mr. Belefonte is a highly respected lawyer both in Pennsylvania and nationally, bringing more than 40 years of successful and diverse trial experience to the assistance of victims and their families in complex wrongful death, premises and professional liability cases. Selected by his peers as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer 2005-2010, he is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University. 


Mr. Belefonte is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He is formerly the President of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Delaware County Bar Association and a previous member of the Executive Committee and Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He presently serves as a member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Nationally, he was chosen as one of the top 500 personal injury lawyers in America by the independent survey group and magazine Lawdragon. 


In addition to his legal activities, Mr. Belefonte remains active in the community serving as Solicitor of the Delaware Valley Regional Finance Authority, Delaware County Police Chiefs Association, and Garrettford-Drexel Hill Volunteer Fire Company as well as serving on the Board of Directors of the Delaware County CASA. He has served on the DCCF Board of Directors since 2006 and, most recently, as Co-Chair of the DCCF 5th Anniversary Gala held on November 20 at Springfield Country Club. Mr. Belefonte is native of Upper Darby and resides with his family in Delaware County.


For more information about DCCF, please visit www.delcocf.org or call 610-688-6546.