Building a Better Future
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pf 2021 is a federal relief package providing $1.9 trillion in funding, program changes, and tax policies aimed at mitigating the continuing effects of the COVID-19 public health crisis.
In early 2014 and in light of Erie’s poverty statistics, ECGRA assessed the health and stability of Erie County’s 13 public school district foundations. While some of the foundations were growing steadily, most lacked the knowledge, tools, and/or human resources to raise funds. After a series of meetings and surveys, ECGRA began empowering all 13 of the school district foundations to build capacity and raise money for the sake of their nearly 40,000 students.
In January 2015, ECGRA kicked off the School District Foundation Endowment Challenge— a progressive campaign to foster the growth of Erie public school students and teachers, elevate public schools, and empower their foundations.
ECGRA has committed up to $200,000 to Erie County public school foundations and will match donations made to each participating foundation—up to $5 per student—now through December 31, 2016. In addition to matching funds, ECGRA is providing ongoing training and fundraising and marketing tools to support the foundations’ efforts.
Research indicates that education increases workforce productivity and that quality public schools sharpen a community’s competitive edge. Help these forward-focused school district foundations raise $5 per student and ECGRA will match your generous gift* in support of Erie County’s future workforce.
To make an investment, please read the descriptions below and contact the appropriate foundation representative. If you have questions about this or other ECGRA initiatives, email us at tmaggio@ecgra.org or call us at 814-897-2694.
Corry Area School District Foundation
Fundraising $10,875 to help sustain our school wide Positive Behavior Intervention Support Program in all of our buildings and incorporate the Second Step Character Education Curriculum for students in grades Pre-K through 8th.
| Serving: | 2,175 students |
| Contact: | Michael Andrus |
| Title: | Foundation President |
| Address: | 540 Pleasant Street |
| Corry, PA 16407 | |
| Phone: | (814) 664-4677 |
| Email: | mandrus@corrysd.net |
Checks made payable to: Corry Area School District Foundation
Fairview School Foundation
Fundraising $8,350 to continue to grow the FSF endowment which fundsscholarships for graduating seniors, and teacher mini-grants.
| Serving : | 1,670 students |
| Contact: | Melanie Vadzemnieks |
| Title: | Administrator & Development Officer |
| Address: | 7466 McCray Road |
| Fairview, PA 16415 | |
| Phone: | (814) 474-3535 (w) |
| (814) 460-0722 (c) | |
| Email: | foundation@fairview.iu5.org |
Checks made payable to: Fairview School Foundation
Fort LeBoeuf School District Foundation
Fundraising $10,655 to be used in conjunction with the Foundation’s Annual Teachers’ Grant Program, which is offered to the staff and faculty of the District to supplement and fund needs related to enhancing the educational opportunities for students, with a focus on assisting with innovative ideas, broad reaching projects, and special educational trips.
| Serving: | 2,131 students |
| Contact: | Dennis Fortin |
| Title: | President |
| Address: | 34 East 9th Street |
| Waterford, PA 16441 | |
| Phone: | (814) 449-0913 (c) |
| Email: | foundation@fortleboeuf.net |
Checks made payable to: Fort LeBoeuf School District Foundation
General McLane Foundation
Fundraising $10,870 to be dispersed among student scholarships, innovative educational programs, and capital improvements of athletic facilities. Through The Challenge, we are hopeful that we will spread awareness of the General McLane Foundation and that will in turn spur new ideas for Foundation projects to which these funds can also be distributed.
| Serving: | 2,174 students |
| Contact: | Jeffrey Fox |
| Title: | Treasurer |
| Address: | 11771 Edinboro Road |
| Edinboro, PA 16412 | |
| Phone: | (814) 273-1033, ext. 5904 (w) |
| Email: | jeffreyfox@generalmclane.org |
Checks made payable to: General McLane Foundation
Girard School District Foundation
Fundraising $8,675 to support our programs which provide grants to teachers and scholarships to graduating seniors.
| Serving: | 1,735 students |
| Contact: | Cheryl Newton |
| Title: | President |
| Address: | 1203 Lake Street |
| Girard, PA 16417 | |
| Phone: | (814) 440-4216 (c) |
| Email: | cnewton@asbg.com |
Checks made payable to: Girard School District Foundation
Iroquois School District Foundation
Fundraising $7,000 to be placed in the endowment for future Foundation endeavors.
| Serving: | 1,400 students |
| Contact: | Douglas White |
| Title: | Executive Director |
| Address: | 800 Tyndall Avenue |
| Erie, PA 16511 | |
| Phone: | (814) 899-7643, ext. 4007 (w) |
| Email: | dwhite@iroquois.iu5.org |
Checks made payable to: Iroquois School District Foundation
Millcreek Education Foundation
Fundraising $35,865 to support our growing endowment to benefit the students and faculty/staff of the Millcreek Township School District with their educational advancement, professional development, capital, and other needs.
| Serving: | 7,173 students |
| Contact: | Kristina Huber |
| Title: | Executive Director |
| Address: | P. O. Box 9382 |
| Erie, PA 16505 | |
| Phone: | (814) 860-3364 (h) |
| Email: | admin@millcreekeducationfoundation.org |
Checks made payable to: Millcreek Education Foundation
Northwestern Community Educational Foundation
Fundraising $7,260 to establish an endowment account that will support our mission to ensure the highest level of educational innovation supporting students, faculty, and staff with community involvement in a partnership of lifetime learning.
| Serving: | 1,452 students |
| Contact: | Paul Sachar |
| Title: | Treasurer |
| Address: | 100 Harthan Way |
| Albion, PA 16401 | |
| Phone: | (814) 756-9400, ext. 4254 (w) |
| Email: | psachar@nwsd.org |
Checks made payable to: Northwestern Community Educational Foundation
Partnership for Erie’s Public Schools
Fundraising $60,000 to support PEPS’ Straight A’s for Erie’s Public Schools Campaign which provides resources in the areas of arts, athletics, academics, assistance and advocacy to our schools and students.
| Serving: | 12,000 students |
| Contact: | Daria Devlin |
| Title: | Director |
| Address: | P. O. Box 514 |
| Erie, PA 16512 | |
| Phone: | (814) 460-5387 (c) |
| Email: | daria.devlin@partnershipeps.org |
Checks payable to: Partnership for Erie’s Public Schools
Union City Area School District Foundation
Fundraising $6,250 to build an endowment to sustain the Foundation and benefit the students for many years in the future.
| Serving: | 1,250 students |
| Contact: | Tara Lineman |
| Title: | Business Manager |
| Address: | 107 Concord Street |
| Union City, PA 16438 | |
| Phone: | (814) 438-3804, ext. 5451 (w) |
| Email: | tlineman@ucasd.org |
Checks payable to: Union City Area School District Foundation
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is The Erie School District Foundation Endowment Challenge (The Challenge)?
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority is challenging Erie County’s 13 public school district foundations to grow their endowments and is committing up to $200,000 in matching funds for dollars raised through December 31, 2016. Parents, students, friends, faculty, and staff are encouraged to donate to take full advantage of the match.
2. How does The Challenge work?
Foundations that choose to enroll in The Challenge are eligible for 1:1 matching funds of up to $5 per student. The matching period begins January 1, 2015, and ends December 31, 2016.
3. When will a school district foundation receive ECGRA matching funds for their endowment?
Two milestones trigger the distribution of ECGRA matching Challenge funds. First, when the foundation reaches 50% of its match and submits a Grant Reporting Form. Second, when the foundation reaches 100% of its match and a second Grant Reporting Form is submitted.
4. What happens if a foundation does not reach its maximum match?
If a foundation fails to reach its maximum match by December 31, 2016, a prorated grant will be processed equal to the amount of funds raised.
5. Is there a cap on matching funds?
Yes. ECGRA will match up to a maximum of $5 per student per school district. See fundraising totals per school district, above.
6. Who is eligible to participate in The Challenge?
Any of the 13 Erie County, Pennsylvania, school district foundations. (Click here to see a comprehensive list.)
*ECGRA will match all gifts made to any one of the 10 participating Erie County public school districts through 12/31/16 not to exceed $5 multiplied by the total number of students disclosed in the foundations’ grant applications submitted by January 2015.
Click here to read The Challenge Guidelines.
An impact investing organization, ECGRA's mission is to empower the nonprofit sector, municipal governments, and economic development agencies to revitalize Erie County. ECGRA is endowed with local share gaming revenue from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via the Horse Race Gaming Act. Local share gaming revenue is an assessment of the licensed gambling industry in Pennsylvania.
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