A local business owner encouraged audience members to build a vibrant community by supporting nonprofits during his acceptance of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Community Impact Award.
Ken Pitts, the co-owner of First Choice Mortgage Advisors, LLC, received the Community Impact Award at the Southern Chester County of Commerce breakfast meeting held Thursday, June 8.
Jim Horn, the owner of the Tri-M Group, LLC, a previous winner of the award, introduced Pitts and honored him for his work. Horn said that despite being in business for four and a half years, Pitt’s service to the community is equivalent to a business operating for the past 20 years. Furthermore, Horn applauded Pitts for his endearing effort and contribution of time dedicated to Southern Chester County.
“If you need to know anything about Ken, just go to his Facebook page,” Horn said. “Go to the hours of business. It says always open. Ken makes himself available whenever anyone is in need of service,” he said.
During his acceptance speech, Pitts said he believes his employees are what makes First Choice Mortgage Advisors so special. He thanked Jackie Stenta, First Choice’s first employee who was present in the audience. Before turning his remarks largely towards local nonprofit work, Pitts also thanked SCCCC for the recognition.
Pitts acknowledged SILO, a nonprofit First Choice Mortgage works closely with. Pitts said SILO, standing for the mission of “Serving Inspiring and Loving Others,” used funds donated by First Choice to deliver “hundreds of families” with food during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pitts said First Choice was also able to help SILO build a community center and garden in Oxford, along Nottingham Road. He said that the garden helps feed several families within the local community.
Pitts closed by encouraging members to do what they can to support nonprofits rebuild after the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that in order to have a healthy business, there has to be a surrounding healthy community, which is held up by nonprofit work.
“There is one thing in common among all [nonprofits], and that is they make people feel like they matter,” Pitts said. “Nonprofits do a phenomenal job of bridging the gap between people.”
Ellie Vasko is a 2022 graduate of Unionville High School and a rising sophomore at George Washington University. She has written for the GW Hatchet and Unionville Post. She is interning with Chadds Ford Live this summer.
• Anna Walker of Chadds Ford, a Class of 2023 health sciences major at York College of Pennsylvania, was named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List.
