About Brian C. Zwaan
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Brian Zwaan was an active member in his Catholic community and focused much of his stewardship towards assisting schools and educational programs in the local Philadelphia area helping young children receive opportunities at a quality education.
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Growing up in West Philadelphia, the Zwaan family lived next door to Good Shepherd parish, so it was hard for Brian not to be immersed in the Catholic community. Brian grew up the 5th of 11 siblings. After moving out of Philadelphia to Havertown, Pennsylvania, he attended St. Denis Elementary School, now Cardinal Foley, and later Archbishop John Carroll High School. William Zwaan, his father, sadly passed away when Brian was 15, but his father's words always resonated with him.
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“To truly have joy in your life, you need to have Jesus, you need to focus on others, and then yourself.”
– William Zwaan
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Not only did Brian learn his dedication to stewardship and his passion for education from his family, but also from the countless educators, who dedicated their time and knowledge to helping the Zwaan family succeed through school, even after the loss of their father. The support given to the Zwaan family from the community and educational programs are what made Brian so determined to grant those same opportunities to other children, who just like him needed a helping hand to succeed.
After attending Archbishop John Carroll High School, Brian went on to Lehigh University where he played football and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He graduated in 1980 with a degree in accounting. Brian then focused on propelling his career in banking, working at Commonwealth Bank, Citizens Bank, and later founding Penn Liberty Bank in 2004 with his partners, Patrick Ward and David Griest, which was acquired by WSFS Bank in 2016. Though advancing in his career, he always took time to continue to give back to his local community. His dedication to education was evident in his donations to not only the schools that his children attended, such as St. Norbert School, Villa Maria Academy, and Malvern Prep, but other educational facilities in the area such as Valley Forge Educational Services, Independence Mission Schools, AIM Academy, and Hope Partnership for Education. He also encouraged other local business owners to give back as well, promoting the Pennsylvania EITC/OSTC credit through donations to BLOCS and the Foundation for Catholic Education - Chester County.
Brian Zwaan married his childhood neighbor, Diane Logue, in 1985. Diane always encouraged Brian in his endeavors and dedication to education. Their partnership together was evident in the community as dual force giving back to those around them. As a loving father, Brian was dedicated to his four children (Elizabeth, Matthew, Sarah and Margaret), specifically encouraging them to give back to others and to excel in all they did. He was an apple enthusiast and claimed that eating one before a test could give one immense brain power. He was an avid supporter of his children's success in school.
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We as the Brian C. Zwaan Legacy Fund have taken the initiative to follow in Brian’s footsteps. We are hoping that you will join us in our journey to bring educational opportunities to those in our community of Philadelphia.
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"He who on God's light does fall sees the great things in the small."
- Johnny Appleseed