The Robert L. Hite family has been active in the local community for decades. Robert and Evelyn ‘Evie’ Hite co-founded the Penn Central Equipment Company in 1949, which was renamed The Hite Company in 1968.

In the late 1960s, the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) and New York Central Railroad (NYC) merged and wanted to be titled the Penn Central Transportation Company. At the time of the merger, Robert Hite owned the rights to the name, Penn Central.

When the railroad officials approached Mr. Hite in hopes of buying the rights to the Penn Central name, he saw an opportunity for the railroad to give back to the community. When negotiating the terms of the sale, Mr. Hite encouraged the railroad to donate, to the community, an amount equal to that of the Penn Central name. As a result of his suggestion, five local charities received generous contributions.

Robert and Evelyn’s two children, Lee and Gail (Irwin), inherited their parents’ strong sense of philanthropy. It is impossible to mention all of the ways in which the family has contributed to the Central PA area.

Lee and wife, Jane, have been active supporters of Penn State University and numerous nonprofit organizations. Lee served as a board member and Vice-Chair of the Altoona Regional Health System for 22 years. For his longtime involvement with the National Association of Electrical Distributors, including serving as its chairman, he received the Arthur W. Hooper Award in 2007. Jane has been active with the Blair County Arts Foundation / Mishler Theatre campaign and serving on its Board of Directors. 

Gail Hite Irwin and husband, Michael, are also avid supporters of Penn State. Gail has served on numerous community boards, including the Central Pennsylvania Community Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Blair County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, Friends of Home Nursing, and Providence Presbyterian Church.

For their generosity, the Hite Family was the 2004 recipient of the CPCF Philanthropy Award.

Each year, the CPCF distributes grants and scholarships, to worthy causes, from the Evelyn Anderson Hite Memorial Foundation, The Jane & Lee Hite Family Trust, Jane Purdy Hite & Robert Lee Hite Scholarship, and Michael & Gail Irwin Family Foundation. Following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents, the 3rd and 4th generation of Hites continue to be of service to the Central PA community.