Zelienople presents Volunteer of the Year Award to Phil Lope
ZELIENOPLE — Phil Lope, a longtime resident of the borough, spent more than 100 hours volunteering to help others in 2023, but if you ask him, he could always do more.
Lope was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award at the council meeting Monday, Oct. 15. Lope was given the award for his hard work with Glade Run Lutheran Services.
Lope has been serving on the board of directors of the Glade Run Foundation since 2023, but he can most often be found as the sun rises helping care for the horses and the land associated with the Adventures Program.
The Adventures Program uses horses to provide therapy to many, including those with addictions, youth that are at risk and individuals with autism.
While receiving the award, Lope thanked council members but took little credit for his hard work.
“I appreciate the recognition,” said Lope during the council meeting, “But I know there are at least 10 people in this room that do more for the community than I do.”
Lope was raised in Johnstown and attended school at St. Vincent College and then law school at Duquesne University, before moving to the area in 1978.
“Before moving to (Zelienople) in 2015, we lived on a 40-acre property where we had horses,” Lope said. “I have four children and I thought owning and caring for horses would help them learn responsibility.”
Lope used that knowledge when working with the Adventures Program, considering it “a logical extension of my interest in horses and young people,” he said.
“The equine therapy program teaches children the same lessons … responsibility, kindness, attention to detail, that I tried to teach my children in connection with the care and management of horses,” Lope said.
Lope attributes the success of the program to the staff at Glade Run.
“What little I do at Glade Run in caring for the animals pales in comparison to what the staff does with the students in their care. To see the staff at work, you see the best in people, and it’s easy to want to be a part of it and contribute any way that you can,” Lope said.
In addition to his work at his law firm and his time spent working at Glade Run, Lope has been a member of the Rotary Club of Zelienople for 48 years. He says a lot has changed since he started there, for the better.
“It used to be a bunch of old men who would get together. White, old men who would get together every Tuesday night at Frank Lamb’s, and every once in a while we’d have a pancake breakfast and we’d say that was community service,” Lobe said.
Lobe credits the change with the way the organization contributes to the community to the council.
“That goes back to this council. You have made this a really welcoming place. People want to live and work here. I appreciate you for your vision and what you have done for the community,” said Lobe during the meeting.
Lobe plans to keep volunteering.
“When I completely retire, it is my hope to become more involved with other organizations. I presently serve Meals on Wheels with my wife, Meg. I would like to volunteer at Mars Home for Youth, a remarkable organization that provides community and school based programs that address the learning needs of children,” Lope said.
