In Greek mythology, Atlas is depicted as the god who carries the
weight of the world on his shoulders. In Bradford, it can be said
that George G. Blaisdell, in essence, carried the weight of the
townspeople’s plight on his shoulders, lending a helping hand
whenever he could.

When Zippo Manufacturing Co. – the lighter company Blaisdell
started in the ’30s – became successful, the man who was born and
raised in Bradford created the Philo and Sarah Blaisdell Foundation
in honor of his parents and to help those in need.

That very foundation – which has done random acts of kindness
throughout the region -ðwill be honored with the 2007 Marilyn Horne
Award for Excellence in the Creative and Performing Arts Saturday
at Blaisdell Hall.

His grandson, George Duke, will accept the honor on behalf of
the foundation before a 7:30 p.m. performance of the Platters, the
Drifters and the Coasters, an concert brought to Bradford through
the Bradford Creative and Performing Arts Center.

“Grandpa grew up in Bradford and saw a lot of the needs,” said
Duke, owner and chairman of the board of Zippo. “Especially
children.”

When Blaisdell would see children go to school in inappropriate
clothes and shoes, he could not sit idle.

“Quietly … he had things taken care of,” Duke said. “He was not
looking for recognition.”

Those were the types of things Blaisdell did on his own accord.
Then, he established the Blaisdell Foundation – “his desire to help
the community of Bradford in perpetuity.”

The foundation has contributed to a multitude of entities,
including Bradford Regional Medical Center, the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford and BCPAC to name a few.

Currently, Howard Fesenmyer is the executive secretary of the
foundation, a position which has become a juggling act, according
to Duke.

“I don’t think anyone really realizes the difficult job Howard
has juggling the basic needs,” Duke said. “Howard has a difficult
job; the foundation has a difficult job.

“A lot of people come to the foundation for help. We look at the
needs of the community and make the best decision for the community
… and keep in mind the basic values the foundation was based
on.”

Duke pointed out the foundation does not have unlimited funds
such as the Mellons or the Rockefellers.

“There’s only so many resources the foundation has,” he said,
adding they have to keep in mind the needs of tomorrow.

And the needs of Bradford come first.

“Our feeling as a corporation and foundation … we look at the
needs of the community before we get involved with the needs of the
outside.”

“He genuinely wanted to help. That was the way he was. Bradford
came first,” Duke said of Blaisdell.

That generosity was the same Blaisdell instilled in his
daughters, Sarah Dorn and Harriett Wick, and his grandchildren.
Duke hopes to carry on that tradition with his own sons.

The philanthropy that started many decades ago continues
today.

One example is Blaisdell Hall, a building at Pitt-Bradford which
was possible through a $1.5 million fine arts matching challenge by
the Blaisdell Foundation and the Blaisdell family.

“It’s truly a gem of the community,” Duke said of the campus.
Blaisdell Hall allows the students to get a well-rounded education.
“It’s the icing on the cake.”

And while the primary focus of the Blaisdell Foundation is not
the fine arts, what’s good for various parts of Bradford is good
for Bradford itself, Duke said.

Duke also said it is an honor for the foundation to receive an
award on behalf of his family’s efforts.

“I think he would be incredibly proud of how long the foundation
has gone on,” he said of his grandfather. The longevity of the
foundation and how many needs it has met.

“He was wonderful around people, genuinely concerned. He liked
everybody he ever met,” Duke said, noting he was a good
businessman, too. Zippo celebrates 75 years in business this
year.

Duke himself learned from his grandfather in the year he worked
at Zippo before Blaisdell died in 1978.

“He was just an amazing guy to talk to,” he said. “Just an
amazing man to be around.

“I never met anyone like him and never will. He was one of a
kind.”

And throughout all these years, it appears the Blaisdell
Foundation has epitomized all that Blaisdell himself
represented.

“He always loved Bradford. The town and the citizens.”