ECGRA Commits $200,000 in Matching Funds to Public School Foundations
Since early 2014, ECGRA representatives have been convening foundation leaders to build their organizational and fundraising capacity. This month, those leaders will launch fundraising campaigns with hopes of earning every matching dollar available to them.
Dr. Jay Badams, superintendent of Erie's Public Schools, said, “Local education foundations continue to grow in importance as public school systems look for creative ways to fund innovative programs and initiatives that support student achievement and foster lifelong learning. By growing our endowment through ECGRA’s Challenge, the Partnership for Erie's Public Schools will not only be able to continue to support Erie’s 12,000 students today, but also generations of students that will come after them.”
Erie County’s public schools serve more than 40,000 students in 13 districts: Corry Area, Erie City, Fairview, Fort LeBoeuf, General McLane, Girard, Harborcreek, Iroquois, Millcreek, North East, Northwestern, Union City, and Wattsburg. While superintendents and staff are highly supportive of growing their respective endowments, all 13 foundations are their own nonprofit, autonomous, community-supported entities.
Corry Area School District Superintendant William Nichols said, “School district endowments, when active and operating effectively, offer alumni, staff, teachers, and community members opportunities to directly improve students’ lives. Since our foundation was established in 1997, we’ve invested thousands in scholarships to support students as they step into careers and adulthood.”
The foundations’ sole responsibilities are to raise and distribute monies for districts to afford initiatives not covered by local, state, and federal funding. ECGRA’s Challenge comes alongside the foundations’ efforts with the goals of strengthening public schools and their adjoining neighborhoods, fostering development in Erie’s future workforce, and abating poverty.
ECGRA Executive Director Perry Wood said, “This Challenge is truly a partnership for success of our public school students and our regional economy. There is a direct correlation between an educated workforce, economic growth, and social change.”
Foundations participating in the Challenge will raise funds for a variety of district needs, including innovative curriculum, college scholarships, teacher professional development, arts education, STEM programs, and technology improvements. Anyone interested in donating to a public school district foundation can visit www.ECGRA.org, which details how foundations intend to invest funds and provides contact information for each foundation in order to make a gift.
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An impact investor, ECGRA’s mission is to elevate Erie County by galvanizing nonprofits toward economic and community development. Since February 2008, ECGRA has invested more than $30 million in Erie County thanks to the pioneering leadership of members of the ECGRA board of directors and staff. Learn more at ECGRA.org or call 814-897-2690.
ECGRA PR CONTACT: Amanda Burlingham, 814-504-3037, aburlingham1@neo.rr.com
