Smethport Area School District Foundation

Introduction Smethport Area School District Foundation was founded in 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 teachers Student Scholarships Arts in Education Musical Performances Artists Poets Storytellers Classroom creative projects Foreign Language programs Literacy Programs

Board Members George Romanowski – Executive Director Tony Alfieri – President Lori Ness – Vice President Patti Taylor – Secretary Bob Bailey – Treasurer Jackie Cooney – Board Member Sam Costa – Board Member Sonja Covert – Board Member Fran DeLancey – Board Member Dawn Lord – Board Member Jamie Pierotti – Board Member Anne Potter – Board Member Ross Porter – Board Member Judy 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 classroom Musical band requested performances Bird 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 relevant Educator-in-residence will feature local veterans who will spend a day with the second grade students

Ways to give to the Foundation Employee Giving Endowments Memorial/Named Funds Planned Gifts Charitable Gift Annuity Remembrance 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!

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, bonds In-Kind donations Life 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.