Why would a public school establish an education foundation? In order to continue to provide a superior and innovative educational experience for students, schools require more than tax dollars.
Throughout the state of Pennsylvania, there are 500 school districts, and according to the Pennsylvania Education Foundations, about 240 of the districts have an education foundation, with new ones being established each year. Locally, we have 18 school districts located within Berks County, and currently there are 11 active education foundations.
Education foundations raise non-tax dollars to help support or supplement the funding of programs, initiatives and activities at public school districts. While approaches to fundraising and operations may vary from district to district, a similar goal is at the heart of these nonprofit organizations: to provide opportunities for students to excel.
Most education foundations are run by a board of directors separate from the school board (though there may be representation from the school board, administration and/or faculty). Some are completely volunteer-run, and others have a dedicated staff person to support the efforts of the foundation.
Several local education foundations are approved to participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The EITC program offers substantial tax credits to eligible businesses that make financial contributions to approved Educational Improvement Organizations.
Read on to learn about creative ways local foundations are raising dollars and what innovative programs they are supporting at Berks’ public schools.
The Blazer Foundation’s purpose is to enhance the education and development of the youth of the Daniel Boone School District through supporting creative and innovative programs. “The 25 Days of Christmas Fundraiser” is a school-wide raffle with daily prizes beginning Black Friday and continuing for 25 days, which has raised more than $22,000 in two years to support student programs. The Blazer Foundation Spring Fling Online Auction includes opportunities to bid on school experiences such as reserved parking spots for football games, as well as tickets and gift certificates to various entertainment spots. The Foundation participates in EITC and Amazon SMILE, a program where supporters can shop through Amazon and 0.5 percent of the total spent is donated to the foundation.
The Foundation provided a grant for $23,000 to Daniel Boone Middle School, allowing the construction of a greenhouse to provide hands-on outdoor learning. Other contributions assisted with starting the Blazer TV Studio and Science Courtyard at the high school and funding technology at the three district elementary schools. “Books-A-Million Book Drive” for the Daniel Boone Middle School has provided in excess of 225 books for the library. Additional support was given to the Middle School Technology Student Association, DBHS Green Team, Odyssey of the Mind, Camp Invention, National Honor Society and DBHS Mock Accident for Prom. BlazerFoundation.org
The Foundation for Boyertown Education is one of Berks County’s newest education foundations, launching in 2014, and is dedicated to providing financial support for innovative educational programs and extracurricular initiatives for the students of Boyertown Area School District. The Foundation recently hosted the Harlem Wizards as its first major fundraiser and is working on organizing additional fundraising events. Donations to the Foundation are used to support various programs including art and music, extracurricular activities, after school programs, science technology engineering & mathematics (STEM) programs, technology integration and intervention/enrichment programs. 610.473.3499 | foundationbe.org
Exeter Community Education Foundation (ECEF) was founded in 2008 and is dedicated to encouraging community-wide participation and philanthropy, including post-secondary scholarships, in order to enhance and expand enrichment opportunities for all students.
The ECEF’s 8th Annual Golf Classic will be held Friday, Aug. 7, at Reading Country Club. And this September, ECEF will host its 2nd Annual Exeter Color In The Park Run/Walk fundraiser. ECEF is a participant in the EITC program as well. The “Gift with a Future” program allows Exeter community members to make a donation to the Foundation in honor of a special mentor in their child’s life, including teachers, coaches, librarians, bus drivers, family members or daycare providers.
ECEF helps support Teachers In the Parks (TIPS) – a quality yet affordable summer learning experience focused on math and reading. Exeter teachers designed the program to help students transition between grade levels. The Foundation also provides scholarships to students and funds mini-grants for teachers, supporting innovative teaching practices and projects. ECEF has purchased items for Exeter Township School District, including distance learning cameras and interactive white boards for elementary schools. 610.779.0770 | exetereducationfoundation.org
Governor Mifflin Education Foundation’s (GMEF) signature fundraiser is a brick sale for the Governor Mifflin Commemorative Court located outside its high school. Community members can purchase engraved bricks to support the Foundation. “Change for Education” is a voluntary internal fundraiser. Faculty and staff can contribute to the Foundation through a payroll deduction. The foundation hosts an annual Governor Mifflin Night with the Fightin Phils at FirstEnergy Stadium and receives funding through the EITC program.
The GMEF awards grants to teachers for projects deemed by the Board of Directors to advance excellence in education and to be of mutual benefit to the district and the local community. Since 2013, GMEF has awarded approximately $50,000 in grants to Governor Mifflin teachers, with more than $300,000 awarded since the foundation began in 1994. Past grants supported purchasing iPads for the Cumru Elementary Library, providing interactive white board technology in the middle school special education classrooms, and helping to fund a district-wide Pre-K literacy initiative, Leap into Literacy. The most recent grants will assist with building a virtual fitness trail at Brecknock Elementary through iPad purchases and will fund a STEM science project at Mifflin Park. 610.775.1312, ext. 6633 | governormifflinsd.org/district/school-partners/education-foundation
Kutztown Area School District Education Foundation (KASDEF) was founded in 2000 by two Kutztown alumni. The Foundation’s primary goal is to raise scholarship funds for graduating seniors. Each year, approximately $25,000 is awarded by the Foundation at Kutztown Area High School’s Senior Awards Program, thanks to the support of many donors. Through participation in the ETIC program since 2001, KASDEF has been able to contribute more than $300,000 to the Kutztown Area School District for its technology program. The Foundation also supports the district’s annual elementary science fair and other innovative student initiatives on an as-needed basis.
The Foundation’s Board of Directors meets four times each year. In addition to the meetings and the aforementioned activities, the Foundation hosts an annual Distinguished Alumni Reception in June. Dollars raised from this event also support student scholarships. 610.683.7361 | kasd.org/ed_foundation.cfm
The Hamburg Area Education Foundation (HAEF) cultivates opportunities to advance scholarly, creative and personal excellence in the Hamburg Area School District. HAEF hosts the annual Iron Chef Hamburg & Benefit Auction in November, where chefs from some of the region’s most popular restaurants gather in an exciting culinary arts competition. There is a People’s Choice Competition, free samples from local food vendors, and auctions. The Foundation also hosts a “Battle of the Birds” Basketball game where players from the Philadelphia Eagles compete against the teachers, administrators and coaches of the Hamburg Area School District.
HAEF provides student scholarships and grants for individual academic endeavors and teacher grants to support innovative educational projects and professional development. The Foundation supports educators, artists-in-residence and community-based educational programs throughout the Hamburg Area School District. 610.562.3024 | hasdhawks.org/community.cfm?subpage=757243
The goal of the Muhlenberg School District Foundation is to provide students with enhanced activities in the Muhlenberg community. Founded in 2004, the Foundation is a collective effort of an advisory board that includes judges, lawyers, clergy, educators and other professionals, many Muhlenberg alumni who remain committed to the district. The Foundation sponsors a before-school reading enrichment program for pre-middle school students at the Muhlenberg Community Library. The organization also offers a summer enrichment camp. Volunteers assist with these programs, which are primarily funded by donations and dues. 610.921.8368 | muhlsdk12.org/domain/128
Oley Valley Community Education Foundation (OVCEF) organizes a variety of fundraising activities including a 5K Run/Walk in October, which for the past several years has been dedicated to the late Dr. Jeffrey Zackon, former Superintendent of the Oley Valley School District. An auction of stone products is held each May at Rolling Rock Building Stone Inc. Company; president Gary Weller helps support this event. “Jeans Day” is held throughout the year and faculty and staff can contribute a small fee to the Foundation to wear jeans to school and receive EITC funding.
OVCEF has sponsored several programs and activities that benefit Oley students and faculty, including the annual sponsorship of plaques and awards for the Super Jazz Festival for high school and middle school musicians, partial funding of plaques for senior athletes, sponsorship of the annual Senior Awards Dinner, High School Academic Recognition Evening and Middle School Academic Awards. Each year, the Foundation awards several scholarships to Oley Valley seniors planning to continue their education at an institution of higher learning. Mini-grants are awarded to teachers to help support innovative classroom projects and programs including an agriculture/food science laboratory, artist-in-residence programs, a musical enrichment keyboard lab for elementary students, and equipment for use in the high school STEM courses. OVCEF sponsors an annual visit by the PA Mobile Agriculture Laboratory at the elementary center. 610.987.4100, ext. 200 | oleyvalleycef.com
Twin Valley Community Education Foundation’s (TVCEF) main fundraising event is the Annual Gala, which will be held Dec. 4 at Brandywine Manor House. The gala features the Community Leadership Awards to honor members of the community who have made a difference. Various smaller events and fundraisers are held throughout the year including a pancake breakfast and SOLUDE Coffee as a Cause. TVCEF runs community classes and bus trips in the spring and fall to provide opportunities for adults in the community, as well as to raise funds to support school programs. Classes include aerobics, art, baking, digital photography, jewelry making, yoga and Zumba.
TVCEF benefits Twin Valley schools and students by providing at least $10,000 every year to important programs from the elementary to high school level that would otherwise not be funded. Last school year, TVCEF supported programs including Capstone Interactive Books and an Outdoor Sensory Garden at the Elementary Center, and Apple TVs and iPads at Twin Valley Middle School. TVCEF provides annual scholarships and supports Twin Valley High School Heroes, a district-wide intra-school student-based collaborative character education program providing elementary school students with positive high school role models. Through EITC, TVCEF supports the Twin Valley Arts Literacy Initiative and Anthology of Community Authors. 610.972.0771 | tvcef.org
The mission of the Wilson Education Foundation (WEF) is to support Wilson excellence. The Back-to-School Bash, a casual clambake-style fundraiser on Sept. 12 at Fish Pond West, provides a fun evening for parents, alumni and friends. The Wilson Iron Chef Competition & Benefit Auction, held each spring, is a community-wide event that brings together Wilson students, parents, faculty, and administration and the business community, including 40 restaurants and food vendors. Wilson Community Night at the Fightin Phils is held annually in June to recognize students for academic achievements. This summer WEF introduced Academic Summer Camps.
The Foundation recently contributed $40,000 to support the continued implementation of Wilson School District’s 1:1 Technology Initiative. Since its inception in 2007, WEF has distributed $342,800 from EITC contributions to support programs including the high school STEM Academy. The Employee Giving Campaign, where faculty and staff can make contributions through payroll deductions, supports Venture Grants. Annually 10 to 15 grants are awarded to teachers for creative and innovative programs not normally funded through the school budget. Recent grants supported the launch of the Wilson High School Literary Magazine INK, Elementary Reading Olympics, You Be The Chemist Club for the middle schools, and the High School/Whitfield Elementary Theater Residency Program. 610.670.0180, ext. 1111 | wilsonsd.org/edfoundation
This year Wyomissing Area Education Foundation (WAEF) will celebrate 20 years of enriching education in the Wyomissing area schools. Each spring, WAEF announces the Annual Toast Parties to honor teachers/administrators for their excellence in teaching and commitment to students. These events are held in various venues and in the homes of generous hosts who honor cherished staff members of the Wyomissing Area School District and assume all costs associated with the events, allowing 100 percent of the proceeds to fund educational grants. WAEF also participates with WASD teachers and administrators in the Annual Wyomissing July 4th Parade.
Through the EITC program, WAEF provides innovative programs and recently funded a 3D printer, a Wyo 5 Live High Definition Television Studio, and robotics software to the Wyomissing JH/SH school. WAEF grants are available to all teachers to enhance the curriculum in their classrooms through an application process. Teachers provide grant evaluations as feedback to the outcome of their request. Students often come forward to share their insight on grants in use. Students also are afforded the opportunity to apply for 10 available grants/scholarships that directly benefit their educational endeavors. 610.374.0739, ext.1171 | wyoarea-foundation.org
