Community remembers Central Pennsylvania philanthropist

The Spark

Ann Barshinger passed away at 100 years old, and leaves behind a lasting impact on the people she's served in Central Pennsylvania. Barshinger was known for her big heart and generosity. Over the years, she's donated millions to hospitals, colleges, churches, and many more organizations. Ann was also instrumental in the opening of Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, part of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health in 2013. Dr. Randall A. Oyer a founding executive medical director of the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute said cancer never touched her family, but wanted to provide support to the families that we impacted by cancer.

"People often ask Ann if she had cancer or if someone in her family had had cancer, and she said no. She had simply seen and felt the strain, the stress, the suffering that friends, or others that she knew had to deal with when they, faced the cancer diagnosis and she wanted to make sure that all cancer care was convenient with close to home, that people had better chances of being cured, and that people were treated like human beings, in their cancer treatment, "said Dr. Oyer.

Megan Tomsheck is the Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer with Vision Corps. Tomsheck has known Ann for 10 years says she lived to give, and her legacy will live on for generations to come.

" So many times we'd be out having breakfast and somebody would come up and thank her for her support of the Cancer Institute, because they recognized her, because they had a family member who received services. So, it just to watch her little spark go throughout the community. And the ripple effect was was amazing to watch something I'll always be thankful for the opportunity to to be part of, "said Tomsheck.

WITF was also a beneficiary of Ann's generosity. She had been a donor for over 20 years, and her foundation supported stipends for interns from York County, among other things.

Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/

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