Smethport Area School District Foundation

Introduction

Smethport Area School District Foundation was founded in 2005.

Purpose - To develop, promote and finance educational programs, activities and projects for the Smethport Area School District.

GOAL

Enrich the learning environment for students and teachers in the Smethport Area School District by offering financial assistance for:

Venture grants for teachersStudent ScholarshipsArts in EducationMusical PerformancesArtistsPoetsStorytellersClassroom creative projectsForeign Language programsLiteracy Programs

Board Members

George Romanowski – Executive DirectorTony Alfieri – PresidentLori Ness – Vice PresidentPatti Taylor – SecretaryBob Bailey – TreasurerJackie Cooney – Board MemberSam Costa – Board MemberSonja Covert – Board MemberFran DeLancey – Board MemberDawn Lord – Board MemberJamie Pierotti – Board MemberAnne Potter – Board MemberRoss Porter – Board MemberJudy Wright – Board Member

Teacher Venture Grants

Grants will be awarded on an annual basis and will be offered to teachers in both the high school and elementary school.

Teachers wishing to apply for a grant may submit an application by the deadline to the Administration Office.

Teacher Venture Grants will be awarded for creative curricular programs that are written and established by the teachers.

Here are some program ideas that would be eligible for funding:Specialized projects for Home Economics classroomMusical band requested performancesBird watching station. Students can journal types of birds and also maintain birdfeeders Artist-in-residence – Professional group who brings poetry to life for students and makes poetry entertaining and relevantEducator-in-residence will feature local veterans who will spend a day with the second grade students

Ways to give to the Foundation

Employee GivingEndowmentsMemorial/Named FundsPlanned GiftsCharitable Gift AnnuityRemembrance in your Will

EMPLOYEE GIVING

You decide how much to give out of your pay. The donation is tax-deductible and all gifts are confidential.

You can give:

$1.00/pay$2.00/pay$3.00/pay$5.00/pay$10.00/pay

You may sign up by picking up a form in the Superintendent’s Office.Any gift

amount is appreciated!

Any gift amount is

appreciated!

ENDOWMENT

This is an account established by a donor that is invested to earn a return of income and growth of which a percentage of the account value is used each year for a specified charitable purpose.

Please see the Executive Director if you would like more information about establishing an endowment.

MEMORIAL/NAMED or HONORARY FUNDS

These funds are established to memorialize or honor a loved one. A minimum gift of $5,000 will establish a named fund. The funds can be restricted for a specific area of interest (i.e. John Doe Library Fund) or unrestricted, which would benefit the ongoing purposes of the Smethport Area School District. Smethport Alumni are welcomed to establish named funds in honor of their specific graduation year or in memory of a loved classmate.

Please see the Executive Director if you would like more information about establishing an honorary or memorial named fund.

PLANNED GIFTS

Smethport Area School District Foundation encourages planned gifts that will benefit the teachers and students in the Smethport Area School District.

Bequests Stocks, bondsIn-Kind donationsLife Insurance

Please see the Executive Director if you would like more information about Planned Giving.

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY

Generous donors can use certificates of deposit and low yield stocks and bonds to their own benefit, as well as the benefit of Smethport Area School District.

Here’s how: Create a charitable gift annuity and enjoy fixed quarterly payments on the annuity for the rest of your life. At the same time you will be helping Smethport Area School District Foundation to continue its important mission to enrich the learning experience for students in the Smethport Area School District.

Please see the Executive Director if you would like more information about establishing a Charitable Gift Annuity.

BEQUESTS

Prepare a will. Only half of us have one, and without a will you may lose control of your assets. Leave a specific dollar amount or percentage of your assets. Consider using assets such as stocks and bonds and a charitable gift. They may provide estate tax savings. Name a beneficiary of your pension plan, IRA or life insurance policy. Remember loved ones with memorial gifts. Encourage friends and family members to leave gifts in their wills. Ask your financial advisor for counsel and to include charitable giving as part of counsel to other clients as well.

Please see the Executive Director if you would like more information about bequests.