North East School District

Who We Are:

The North East Education Foundation was founded in October, 2008 as an organization designed exclusively for charitable educational purposes that directly benefit students of the North East School District, located in Erie County, Pennsylvania.  The Foundation is organized to provide funds through public support geared towards four primary objectives:

• Student Scholarships & Awards
• Student Assistance
• Innovative Educational Programs, Including Staff Development, Project Development, & Educational Research
• Capital Improvements of athletic facilities for the enhancement of sports, physical education, and recreational programs

Where Does This Funding Come From?

• Community Member, Family, Alumni, and Friend Donations
• Local Corporations
• Foundation Events
• Erie Gives

How Can You Participate?

• Donate!  Any amount of monetary support is directed towards our K-12 students.
• Start an endowed scholarship.  Individuals, businesses, and local organizations may establish a perpetual scholarship in memory of, in honor of, or in recognition of an individual, business, or local organization with a donation of $5,000 or more.
• Volunteer!

FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS

Dorothy Bertges-Thornton Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: Ella Canella

David Burrows Memorial Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: Douglas Meehl

Earle C. Davis Memorial Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: None

Roy Fordyce Memorial Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: None

Edna Mae Nichols Memorial Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: None

North East Education Foundation Scholarship (Previously the North East School Scholarship)
2024-2025 Recipients:  Emma Bartlett, Bryson Berkowitz, Olivia Bulger, Jenevieve Foster, Thomas Hartner, Lyndsie Hill, Lainey LaBruzzo, Chloe Nagle, Isabella Pike, Maisy Post, Emmanuel Reedy, Roman Rizzo, Mackenzie Stempka, Maisy Vuignier

Pay It Forward Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: Emmanuel Reedy

Phil Sarver Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipients: Benjamin Badarocco, Thomas Hartner, Colin Heaton, Joel Morey, Chloe Nagle, Kyleigh Oler, Zachary Pondo

Josephine Scouller Memorial Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: Iris Bostwick

Geraldine Smith Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: Avery Hunt

Equitable Advisors Scholarship
2024-2025 Recipient: Douglas Meehl

Jake & Sara Snyder Senior Gift
2024-2025 Recipients: Oliveah Cyranowski, Joshua Hirtzel

Principal's Award
2024-2025 Recipients: Jenevieve Foster, Chloe Nagle

Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program 
The Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program is administered by the Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) under Act 48. Established in 2001, the Program awards tax credits to businesses that make contributions to Scholarship Organizations or Educational Improvement Organizations.

The North East Education Foundation is a DCED approved Education Improvement Organization and eligible to receive your EITC contributions.

EITC contributions help fund the North East School District Summer Learning Lab program. This is an educational program for students in grades K-8 which is offered as an extension to the learning experience provided during the annual school year.  The purpose of this summer program is to facilitate a standards-based curriculum and delivery of instruction in an extended learning format for resident children in the North East community. 

Schedules are configured to include instruction by certified instructors in the core academic areas of ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, with additional offerings in the Encore areas of Art, STEM, Music, Technology Education, Social/Emotional Learning, and Physical Fitness.  Academic enrichment and remediation serve as the primary target objectives for all K-12 student participants. This functions as an initiative to best support students in the retention of prior learning with a focus on maximizing opportunities for increased success in the next academic year.   

The Summer Learning Lab operates as a 4-week program, four days per week in half day increments.  Breakfast and lunch are provided to all student participants and a modified shuttle service is available to students requiring transportation assistance in order to attend.

Student Assistance Fund
Funds assist students and families with items of personal necessity and student obligations. Programs supported include the Second Harvest Food Bank BackPack Program, Coats and Mittens, holiday outreach and distribution initiatives via multiple organizations, etc.

Innovative Grants
Innovative Grants have helped fund the Mercyhurst University Stem & Vine program, Early Connections Pre-K playground project, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab and North East Juvenile Diversion Committee’s Vape Educate Alternative Disciplinary Program.

Athletic Facilities Improvement Fund
In May of 2023, the North East School District Board of Directors approved the first phase of a multi-phase capital improvement project to improve the exterior athletic facilities of the campus. Phase one included the installation of FieldTurf in the stadium, replacement of the track and fencing, upgrading to LED lighting and the relocation of the field events to the field east of the elementary building. Phase two will be the renovation and expansion of the fieldhouse to accommodate more student athletes and more restroom capacity. Phase two will be contingent upon fundraising and future approval.  A feasibility study is currently in progress.

Student Activities and Programs
Recent student activities have included Science Olympiad, Elementary Science Fair and the North East Youth Triathlon.

Please complete this Donor Information Form and include the documentation with your contribution.

Definitions

Award or Grant
A gift which a donor chooses to expend all at once for a specified purpose (e.g. scholarship).

Endowment
A one-time or cumulative gift of at least $5,000 to establish a perpetual award. A gift of $5,000 might provide for an annual award of $50 to $300 depending on investment returns. The Board of Directors allows a donor three years to reach the $5,000 endowment level. The Directors will determine whether to provide allotment assistance to the fund or convert it to an Award if is not fully endowed after three years.

Fund
An award, grant or endowment which the Board of Directors has ratified and is therefore eligible to receive contributions and/or investment income or expense allocations.

Designated Contribution
A gift which a donor designates for an existing fund.

Undesignated Contribution
A gift which a donor does not designate for an existing fund.

Allotment Assistance
The Board of Directors may choose to help new funds obtain Endowment status by earmarking proceeds from undesignated contributions or from fundraising efforts.

Allocation Methodology
All undesignated contributions and net proceeds from fundraising efforts will be equally divided among all endowed funds unless otherwise earmarked for allotment assistance as determined by the Board of Directors.

Investment Income & Expense Allocation Guidelines
Investment income and earnings will be allocated on a percentage (prorated) basis among all funds whether endowed or not. Expenses associated with a particular fundraising event will be deducted from gross receipts before allocating net proceeds. General expenses such as audit or bank fees will be allocated on a percentage (prorated) basis to all endowed funds unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors.