Pocono News Section

Pocono Philanthropist Leaves Legacy

Pocono Philanthropist Leaves Legacy - Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 4:55PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2009 @ 04:55pm EST
STROUDSBURG - The Pocono community is mourning the loss of a popular philanthropist. Frances Mary Hughes died Monday. She was 86 years. Hughes was well known for giving millions of dollars to good causes.

If you flip through the pages in Frances Hughe's book of life, you'd find chapter after chapter about giving. "There's a legacy of caring for the community," said Hughes Library Director Barbara Keiser. Keiser said Frances and her husband Dale donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help build the library when the old one got too crowded. She explained, "It was around 3,500 square feet of stairs and narrow aisles and very high shelves, completely illegal."

Hughes family donations also helped build a homeless shelter at the East Stroudsburg Salvation Army. Executive Director Tom Babbitt said, "She was a great woman and she's going to be missed." Babbitt said Frances encouraged others to be generous because she would match anyone else's donation up to $50,000.

"I think she was a great person. She cared about her community and she wanted to give back," said Babbitt.

You'll also find the Hughes name on the local cancer center. The family gave more than a million dollars to establish the place.
They also helped Womens Resources. "We were so distraught when we heard about Frances passing," said Women's Resources Executive Director Jennifer Grube. She said Frances pledged half a million dollars to help build a new shelter.

"She's been a woman of wonderful character. She's inspired hope, strength and she had a wonderful sense of humor as well," said Grube.

While Frances has turned the last page in the book of her life, her story lives on through her legacy of giving.

There is a memorial service for Hughes Saturday morning at 10:30 at the Lanterman and Allen funeral home in East Stroudsburg. Calling hours are Friday evening at the funeral home from 6:00 - 9:00 P. M.