Local volunteer efforts to host a garden party and strawberry festival produced a $200,000 bounty that allowed the Brandywine Health Foundation to invest its sweet-tasting $14 millionth in the greater Coatesville area’s health, youth, community and future — and bring in more hands to help pick up the load.

Springbank Farm’s bluegrass and barbecue garden party raised more than $100,000, and the 2015 Strawberry Festival generated $60,000 for the Coatesville Youth Initiative, $19,000 for the Coatesville Rotary Club, $16,000 for the Thorndale Volunteer Fire Company and $5,000 for the Coatesville Area Public Library.

Plus, a donation of children’s books from Peter Dolan and the families of St. Agnes School refilled the shelves of the Brandywine Center’s McNeil Children’s Library.

The drive leading up to the $14 million grantmaking milestone has also necessitated more hands within the foundation, and as a result Brandywine recently welcomed two new staff members and two summer interns.

Renee C. Fairconeture joins the team as program manager and Peggy White contributes administrative assistance. Riya Patel and Dayvon Bladen are helping jump-start the Youth Philanthropy Program over an eight-week period through the Coatesville Youth Initiative ServiceCorps.

Also, don’t miss our interview with Frances Sheehan from last month.