At Berlin Brothersvalley School District, students are learning how to program computers in an after school program, they’re learning engineering in their elementary classes, and they’re combining math and science in virtual NASA missions. Berlin fourth graders are building and programming robots.
At Greater Johnstown High School, students have access to college courses in their junior and senior years. In Richland and Northern Cambria schools, students collaborate on competitive projects combining leadership, design, engineering, and technology. At Westmont, students engage in robotics competitions.
In Indiana Schools, an Artist-in-Residence helps students discover their creativity.
These programs are funded by businesses throughout our region, which get tax breaks in return for their much-needed generosity.
Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit, or EITC, was created by the Department of Community and Economic Development to keep tax dollars local. It allows hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax credits to companies that donate to local programs providing non-traditional education. Businesses can write off up to 90% of their donation, which allows them to invest in education with a near-net-zero output.
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies is approved by the state to process these transactions, which means we can help businesses spend their money in a way that’s meaningful and cost efficient. In the past year alone, the Community Foundation received $52,000 from local businesses through this program, which was earmarked by those companies and redistributed to specific education programs throughout our area.
The Community Foundation maintains a list of educational programs in our region that are approved to receive funding. If your business or school is interested in participating in this program, contact Development Associate Katrina Perkosky at (814) 535-7741, ext. 119, or kperkosky@cfalleghenies.org.
Take a look at some of the proud local business leaders who have seen the value in educational investment in the last year:
[/cmsms_text][cmsms_image align=”center” caption=”Meyersdale Superintendent Dr. Tracey Karlie, Michael Paulman, Region President Citizens Neighborhood Bank, and Tim Resh, Board Member Riverview Bank and Riverview Financial with Meyersdale students” link=”https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Riverview-Citizens-to-Meyersdale-Dist.jpg” animation_delay=”0″]7365|https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Riverview-Citizens-to-Meyersdale-Dist-300×169.jpg|medium[/cmsms_image][cmsms_image align=”center” caption=”Berlin- Tim Resh, Board Member Riverview Bank and Riverview Financial, Cathy Webreck and Mandy Lauer, Berlin-Brothersvalley SD Foundation, Michael Paulman, Region President Citizens Neighborhood Bank and Superintendent Dr. David Reeder” link=”https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Riverview-Citizens-Bank-to-Berlin-Brother-Foundation.jpg” animation_delay=”0″]7364|https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Riverview-Citizens-Bank-to-Berlin-Brother-Foundation-300×169.jpg|medium[/cmsms_image][cmsms_image align=”center” caption=”Somerset- Tim Resh Board Member Riverview Bank and Riverview Financial, Superintendent Mrs. Krista Mathias, and Michael Paulman, Region President, Citizens Neighborhood Bank” link=”https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Citizens-Neighborhood-Bank-to-Somerset-Dist2.jpg” animation_delay=”0″]7373|https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Citizens-Neighborhood-Bank-to-Somerset-Dist2-300×169.jpg|medium[/cmsms_image][cmsms_image align=”center” caption=”Richland Twp – Richland H.S. Principal Brandon Bailey, Kyle Adams of First Summit Bank, students and teachers from Richland High School, & Katrina Perkosky from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies” link=”https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Richland-Technology-Students-Association.jpg” animation_delay=”0″]7362|https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Richland-Technology-Students-Association-300×190.jpg|medium[/cmsms_image][cmsms_image align=”center” caption=”Back Row- Pam Tokar-Ickes, CFA Somerset Co. Funds Director, Kyle Adams, 1ST Summit Bank, Dr. Tracey Karlie, MASD Superintendent” link=”https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Meyersdale-cropped.jpg” animation_delay=”0″]7484|https://cfalleghenies.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Meyersdale-cropped-300×204.jpg|medium[/cmsms_image][/cmsms_column][/cmsms_row]
