Local Education Foundation Representatives Learn, Network, and Inspire Others

Hershey, Pennsylvania – Strengthening the impact and success of public schools for our students and educators was the focus for attendees at the Board2Board™ Workshop held October 19, 2017 at the Hershey Lodge.  Local education foundations are independent non-profit charitable organizations governed by a volunteer board of directors.  The sole purpose of education foundations is to benefit local public school districts.  Over 20 education foundations and related organizations were represented at Board2Board™, including Marc Blau, Charlie Cole and Michael Feeney from the Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation, Inc.

According to Laurie Cromwell, CFRE of Foundation Innovation LLC and a Board2Board™ presenter, “Following in the footsteps of public universities and colleges, K12 school districts and their local communities are establishing their own foundations to leverage private dollars and expand opportunities for their teachers and students.” Leah Spangler, CEO of The Learning Lamp & Ignite Education Solutions and researcher of Pennsylvania education foundations added, “There are currently approximately 312 established education foundations in Pennsylvania and the number continues to grow.”  Local education foundations focus on enhancing community support and expanding resources to enrich teaching, inspire learning, and maximize opportunities for students and educators.
Education foundations provide a vehicle for donors to contribute a tax deductible donation to benefit their local public school districts.  Education foundations also create a vehicle for community engagement and awareness that can help support and enhance the image of a school district and highlight its accomplishments. “I learned that the more diligently the foundation members can work with the goals of the school district in mind, the more the community will benefit through student achievement” said Marc Blau, Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation, Inc.
 
This year’s workshop was sponsored by Pennsylvania Public Education Foundation and Pennsylvania School Board Association, and was facilitated by Foundation Innovation, LLC, a professional consulting firm specializing in working with education foundations throughout the nation. 
 
The Bangor Area School District Educational Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization. Founded in the Spring of 1997. The Foundation’s mission is:

• To support learning for the children and adults of the Bangor Area School District by funding activities and culturally enriching programs, community events, student scholarships, teacher grant projects and academic awards. 
• To encourage a life long thirst for knowledge, self-improvement, and wisdom. 
• To make a positive difference in the quality of life for all people in the Bangor Area School district. 
• To encourage participation in the Foundation for individuals, civic groups, industries, and businesses.

 
The goal of the Foundation is to enhance the educational quality of our students and improve the overall community. The Foundation oversees the financial aspect of the various scholarships that are presented to our students each year.  The two largest awards are the Wolf and Trigiani scholarships.
 
Contact Deanna Ruzanski, Executive Director, at 610-730-8408 or [email protected]  for more information or to get involved.