A Foundation Unlike Any Other
ABOUT US
The Man Behind the Foundation
Mark Gregory Niness died suddenly after shoveling snow on January 30, 2022, at the age of 52. His infectious, good natured personality and the love he had for both family and friends will not be forgotten.
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Mark was a sports-loving, golf-playing, beer-drinking, naturally-gifted, (though often long-winded!), storyteller. One of Mark’s true talents was his ability to make and maintain friendships. Mark’s sincerity, kindness, quick wit and uncanny ability to connect with others consistently and quickly drew in new friends wherever he went. From his Berwyn hometown, to Episcopal Academy (’88), to his Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity at Susquehanna University (’92), he never failed to make life-long friends. Mark continued to make strong connections with others in the Conestoga High School community where he was an ever-present supporter of sports and theatre.
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Mark - the youngest son of Samuel F. Niness, Jr. and Joan Niness - married his college sweetheart, Julia Pearce Niness, in 1995. Together, they built a beautiful family including their three children: Madison, Jackson, and Kennedy. Mark loved nothing more than spending time with his family, of whom he was tremendously proud.
Then Came The Foundation
"The Niness Version"
In late summer 2022, the Niness family created the Mark G Niness Foundation to honor Mark and host an annual golf outing. The money raised would go to seniors at Conestoga High School. What better way to remember Mark than to play golf, drink beer, and raise money in support of a bright future?
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The Mark G Niness Foundation held its inaugural golf outing at Twin Ponds Golf Course in Gilbertsville, PA in September, 2022. The golf outing raised two scholarships. Jackson, Julia, Kennedy and Mark’s brother, Jim were all present when the awards were given to two deserving students: a Lacrosse player and a Theatre student, both who passed the "Layover Test."
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The Layover Test is a part of the interviewing process at Google which allows the interviewer to look "outside the box" of GPA, schooling and other superlatives to address the character of the job seeker. The premise is that the employer gets to know the applicant to assess personality and whether or not they would want to spend a 5-hour layover at an airport with them. In order to pass this part of the interview, the applicant must have the ability to relate to people, tell stories, and connect with people.
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Mark Niness was described as a "perfect score" for The Layover Test, showing interest, compassion, involvement, and selflessness. The students who received this award, like Mark, were described in a similar light and would pass the Layover Test with flying colors.
