It is a transfer of assets for the greater good of the Williamsport community.

Envisioning a higher purpose, the High family has transferred ownership of High Industries to the High Foundation.

Corporate profits will sustain the communities, including Williamsport, where co-workers have lived and worked for generations building steel truss bridge fabrication and shipping those materials across the nation.

High companies employ nearly 2,000 co-workers in 11 businesses in 38 locations in six states.

Once the new ownership structure was announced to High Industries employees were offered the opportunity to direct $100 each in foundation money to a local organization of their choice, said Mike Shirk, CEO of the High companies in a corporate news release.

Shirk noted that the offer realized $150,000 that is headed directly to community organizations.

The High Foundation investments will be disbursed through major partnerships and collaborations, grants, scholarships for High co-workers and the High Foundation Fund at Lancaster County Community Foundation.

Robin Stauffer, executive director of the foundation, recently said that the new structure emboldens the foundation for greater impact.

Also, additional trustees have been added to the foundation board and committees created so the foundation can be scaled to handle the growth that will occur with the new financial structure.

It is a move that will send a company’s profits to community programs and involves S. Dale High and his family transferring their shares of High Industries to the High Foundation, the organizations announced.

When the $65 million High Foundation Fund was established at Lancaster County Community Foundation in 2021, it was the start of S. Dale High’s innovative plan to sustain his legacy using business and philanthropy to contribute to the greater good of the community.

Today, S. Dale High and the High Family transfer of family ownership of High Industries to High Foundation provides a new structure, making High Foundation a major stakeholder of High Industries.

This is expected to result in millions of dollars of profits being invested into the Lancaster community and other communities such as Williamsport where High Industries provides economic investment and employment.

“This is the creation of a new kind of company,” Dale High said. “One in which High Foundation has become a major shareholder and the community is the recipient of the profits of High Industries moving forward.

“This allows our co-workers the satisfaction of knowing that the profits they help generate will go back into the community. So, every day when they are building value, they are building it for the community.”

As he began to plan for the next chapter of High Industries, Dale High envisioned a change in the structure of the company — an inspired model that continues the company’s legacy and work in the community.

He asked the question, ‘What if we could create a company that directly benefits the community?’

This shift continues the legacy of Dale High’s transformative and innovative leadership, which has guided High Industries in using business as a force for good in the community for decades, and High Foundation as a committed community partner for the past 40 years.

“I am proud of Dale and our family for making this move,” Suzanne High said in the release. “The High Family wholly supports this change as a continuation of its legacy and philosophy.

“While ownership of High Industries is changing to the High Foundation, the High Family will remain in the companies in a number of ways. For me, Vice-Chair of the High Foundation, I have seen first-hand the life-changing impact of our investments and I am excited to see that continue to grow.”

High Industries will continue to thrive and grow under the leadership of the existing board of directors, Shirk said in the release.

High Industries will continue to maintain a healthy financial position and have the capacities to invest in its strategic plans.

The High philosophy of building trustworthy relationships and being innovative leaders will continue to define corporate culture and values.

“In the past, dividends distributed from High Industries went to the High Family. Now they will go directly to the High Foundation for investment in communities where our companies operate.

“This immediately grows the resources available to the High Foundation.

“It’s the ultimate commitment to social responsibility and doing business for good in an impactful and lasting way.

“It’s a truly bold and unique move made possible through Dale High’s vision and dedication to making it happen,” Shirk said.