Building a Better Foundation in Pottstown Education

From left, Joe Rusiewicz, Tracey Brown, Barbara Bushey Ernico, Sue Bradley Trout, Virginia Frantz and Charlie Palladino were on hand for the presentation of a $10,000 check to the Foundation for Pottstown Education. 

Whether its paying for students to take Advance Placement Exams, launching students into college careers with a year under their belt, or supporting science education, the Foundation for Pottstown Education has been busy this spring

Most recently the foundation received $15,000 in contributions from two different sources.

Dana Incorporated, Pottstown location made a $5,000 contribution to the Foundation for Pottstown Education supporting their initiatives to the education of the students in the district.

Plant Manager, Danny Aaron and Environmental Health and Safety Manager Jason Pregel were on hand to present the check to Foundation Board President, Tracy Brown.

In presenting the check Aaron stated that it was in recognition of the work that the Foundation is doing to promote education and specifically in the area of science education.

Each year, the Dana Foundation allocates funds to each of their plants tasking them with selection

From left, Jason Pregel, Tracey Brown and Danny Aaron from Dana.

of local not-for-profits as the recipients of the funding and the Foundation for Pottstown Education was one of the organizations selected by the Dana plant in Pottstown to receive the funds this year.

On April 27, the foundation got another financial shot in the arm, thanks to the efforts of the Pottstown High School Class of 1967,

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the class along with the Montgomery Community Foundation and an anonymous donor presented the Foundation with a check for $10,000 in support of the Early College Program.

Called Pottstown Promise, the program which provides scholarships for Pottstown High School students to take college courses in their junior and senior years at Montgomery County Community College.

The fund’s remaining $10,000 is a permanent fund that will produce income for special education projects of the Pottstown schools.

Preparing for their 50th Class Reunion in 2017, classmates of Pottstown High School Class of 1967 began to raise money for a class gift. They decided to establish The PHS Alumni Fund at The Montgomery County Foundation, Inc. 

A total of $20,000 has been now been raised through the efforts of members of PHS Class of 1967 for the PHS Alumni Fund. The first $10,000 was raised from classmates.

The $10,000 check was presented to the Foundation Board President Tracey Brown and Executive Director, Joe Rusiewicz at the Board’s April meeting.

Class members Barbara Bushey Ernico and Sue Bradley Trout were on hand to present the check along with Montgomery Community Foundation’s Executive Director, Virginia Frantz.

And if you were wondering where that money goes, look no further than this month's AP exams.

When Pottstown High School counselors were asking when they received notice that the funding which was previously awarded to the students to pay the costs of taking AP exams was cut this year and would not be available, Guidance Counselor, Amanda Scholwinski applied to the Foundation for Pottstown Education for a grant to cover this shortfall.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors unanimously approved this grant for $5,400. ensuring more than 100 students the ability to take the tests and possibly earn college credit before they enter the college of their choice.

AP exams are college-level tests administered by The College Board (makers of the SAT).

Students may take tests in one or more subjects. The AP courses and exams can help put students on the fast track to a college degree, giving them the chance to earn college credit while still in high school—not to mention strengthening their college applications.

According to research by The College Board, students who take AP courses do better in college than those who don’t. In fact, students who take AP exams in high school are 62 percent more likely to graduate from college in four years, and avoid having to pay for extra semesters. 

Because they are more challenging and require more work than regular high school classes, AP courses help students prepare for the rigors of college coursework.

The tests are taken by in May with results given to the students in July. The tests have two parts, multiple choices and a free response essay. 

How well the student score on these test help individual schools determine whether the students receive college credit, advanced placements or both. 

The Foundation for Pottstown Education is a not for profit organization that raises funds to help support opportunities for the students in the Pottstown School District.

These funds are raised through grants, corporate and individual gifts as well as the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program through the State’s Department of Community and Economic Development. The EITC program enables approved businesses the opportunity to make a donation to an approved not for profits in exchange for a 75-90 percent tax credit.