Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties

6th Annual Top of the World Fishing Trip and Memorial Fundraiser

6^th Annual “Top of the World” Event

Raises over $20,000

In Support of the Williamson Free School

Lou Schisler wanted nothing more than to see his children graduate from college. However, in early 2003 at the young age of 44, Schisler, from the Doylestown area, passed away after a battle with Sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis, a disease with an unknown origin, causes painful inflammation of the body’s tissues producing small lumps called granulomas. He left behind his loving wife Joan and three children: Laura, Colleen and Patrick.

After attending Bishop Egan High School in Bucks County and then the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades in Media, Lou worked locally in the home building industry. Lou was loved and admired by his peers, co-workers and hundreds of industry contractors, suppliers and consultants. His dedication to his work and family inspired many. Education was extremely important to Lou and he dreamed of sending all of his children to college.

A casual fishing tournament turned into a way to keep Lou’s spirit alive while helping fulfill that dream. The summer after Lou passed, Rouse/Chamberlin Homes co-workers Jon Penders and Ed Hauck decided to get a few friends together to go fishing in Lou’s memory. To their surprise, word traveled fast with 24 fellow builders, subcontractors and friends signing up for the overnight trip to Tilghman Island, Maryland in 2003. The event has grown every year, and has raised over $50,000 toward the children’s schooling. “The involvement and generosity from friends in the homebuilding industry has been overwhelming,” says Ed Hauck. “We have reached our goals in record time and we are truly humbled by the outpouring of support.”

“But Lou would never have stopped there,” adds Jon Penders, “and neither will the Friends.” So last year, the Friends of Lou Schisler set out to identify a new beneficiary for the annual fundraising event and quickly found in the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades a perfect match. Last year, the event raised over $20,000 to assist Jarred Wilhelm of Pine Grove, PA in completing his final year at Williamson. “Because of the important role that the Williamson School played in Lou’s life,” noted Penders, “we will again donate the proceeds from the 6^th Annual fundraiser to a student at Williamson who is pursuing an education in the construction trades.”

The “Top of the World” fishing trip is a casual overnight fishing outing and memorial fundraiser organized by the Friends of Lou Schisler. Even when Lou was sick, he would always respond, “top of the world,” when asked how he was doing. The annual tournament takes place every June and includes dinner and overnight accommodations at Harrison’s Chesapeake House Inn on Thursday, breakfast on Friday morning, a full day of fishing with chartered boats and professional captains, all bait and tackle, lunch on the boat, and a tournament Tshirt. A raffle of donated prizes, such as golf outings, dinner gift certificates, professional sports tickets, takes place during the dinner on Thursday evening.

In a letter to the Friends, Laura Schisler writes, “Education was something that was always a top priority for my Dad. He would be proud of my sister and me for going to college because it was one of his lifelong dreams for us.”

The 2008 event was another resounding success. While final numbers are still pending, Hauck & Penders expect that this year will see another $20,000 for Williamson with the generous help of the seventy-two homebuilders, subcontractors and consultants attending the Sixth Annual event.

The 2009 event is will take place June 18and 19^th. To become a sponsor, donate items to the raffle, purchase raffle tix or get more information on attending this year’s event, contact the Friends of Lou Schisler at 610.594.3721 or jpenders@rcltd.com) or visit www.friendsoflou.com. More information on the Williamson School can be found at www.williamson.edu.