Foundation News
Vol. 3, No. 3 May 2010
OVCEF supports teacher projects
The Oley Valley Community Education Foundation funded several teacher-initiated projects during the 2009-2010 school year, including seven that were approved by the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program in Harrisburg . As a sanctioned EITC organization, the OVCEF may use contributions made by corporations to fund these approved projects, which qualify because they are innovative and enhance the existing school curriculum.
This year’s Foundation-funded, EITC-approved projects and the teachers who initiated them follow: “Promethean Whiteboard” (Matthew Broskey); “Creating an Active Classroom with the Promethean World” (Carol Harris); “Get Things Clicking” (Michael Kelly); “Music Enrichment in a Musical Keyboard Lab” (Kristen Barone); “Update Music Software Finale 2010” (Mark Brumbach); and “Art Enrichment—Photography Residency” (Andrea Usner and Rhonda Emery). Also qualifying for EITC approval and funded by the Foundation was the Mobile Agriculture Laboratory at the Oley Valley Elementary Center . Total cost of these projects exceeded $25,000.
The OVCEF also contributed $2,500 to the combined School Board/Foundation/Coca-Cola grant, which sponsored several additional teacher-initiated projects and programs in Fall 2009.
Foundation sponsors financial literacy program series for Oley Valley Class of 2010
In conjunction with its mission of enhancing educational opportunities for students and adult residents of the Oley Valley , the Foundation offered a series of financial literacy presentations for members of the Class of 2010 during the 2009-2010 academic year. These programs were designed to provide students with fundamental principles of establishing and maintaining personal financial well-being after high school graduation.
The programs included a seminar on the benefits and consequences of credit presented by Brian Mullen of CertainTeed Corporation and a presentation on the benefits of saving and investing money offered by Virgil Kahl (also known as “The Money Doctor” on WEEU) of Spring Ridge Financial Group, NPC. Two additional programs in April and May were a presentation on the need for a personal budget by Laurie Peer of Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP and a panel discussion on the topic, “How Will I Know When I Am Financially OK?” featuring local business leaders.
This is the second year of existence for the Foundation’s financial literacy series, which has been organized and coordinated by Dr. Gerard Johnson of the Foundation Board of Trustees. Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year, Oley Valley seniors will be required to take a financial literacy course taught by the Oley Valley Business Department.
The Foundation celebrates the success of its financial literacy series and thanks Dr. Johnson for his efforts and his expertise in organizing the program!
From left, Bill Thomas of Bills Khakis, Frances Aitken of the Berks County Community
Foundation, Chris Pruitt of East Penn Manufacturing, and Robert Wert of Wells Fargo
Advisors participate in the recent financial literacy panel discussion for seniors.
Foundation stone products auction nets $12,154
For the second consecutive year the Foundation benefitted from an auction of stone products sponsored by Rolling Rock Building Stone, Inc., of 40 Rolling Rock Road , Boyertown , PA. Rolling Rock Company President Gary Weller donated 50 % of the net proceeds from the auction, which took place on May 15, to the OVCEF. George, Jean, and Jill Frey of Frey Auctioneers donated their auctioneering and clerical talents for the event; and volunteers from the Oley Fire Company made baked goods and manned the food concession. The Foundation also received 100% of the proceeds from the sale of several decorative slates painted by Oley Valley School District student artists. The net profit from the combined sale of stone products, the decorative slates, and refreshments totaled $12,154. The Foundation will use this money to defray the costs associated with future educational projects that benefit the students of the school district and the Oley Valley community.
The OVCEF thanks everyone who supported the auction, whether by offering or preparing products for the sale, by purchasing items at the auction, or by volunteering time and talent to make this year’s event successful!
How to contact the Foundation:
Your suggestions and comments are always welcome!
Our next issue of Foundation News will feature the recipients of the 2010 OVCEF scholarships!
Foundation News
Vol. 3, No. 2 March 2010
Stone products auction to benefit Foundation
An upcoming auction of natural stone products hosted by Rolling Rock Building Stone, Inc., will benefit the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation. Company President Gary Weller has announced that the OVCEF will receive 50% of the net proceeds from the auction, which will take place on Saturday, May 15, beginning at 9 A. M. at Rolling Rock Building Stone, Inc., 40 Rolling Rock Road, Boyertown. George Frey of Frey Auctioneers will donate his time and talents as auctioneer for the event.
The products which will be offered for sale in several separate lots at the auction consist of natural stone. In addition, there will be a selection of “Stone Art” slate paintings created by talented Oley Valley student artists. The proceeds from the sale of these slate paintings will benefit the OVCEF for full value received.
Refreshments, including hamburgers, hot dogs, homemade soups, and homemade pies and cakes, will be available on site. They will be provided and served by the Oley Fire Company, also to benefit the OVCEF.
More detailed information about the products being offered for sale (including photographs) and directions to the site of the auction will be available on the Rolling Rock website (www.rollrock.com) by clicking on the “Stone Auction” link on the home page.
Pictured are some of the decorative slates prepared by
Oley Valley students for sale at the May 15 auction.
OVCEF funding benefits Superjazz and Oley Valley records preservation project
The Foundation recently contributed to the financial support of two local endeavors: the 28 th Annual Superjazz Festival, and an Oley Valley records preservation project coordinated by Mrs. Carolyn Reider.
The OVCEF sponsored the cost of the awards and plaques at the Superjazz event on February 27, 2010 , during which elementary, middle school and high school jazz bands from across the county performed.
In conjunction with the Oley Valley Heritage Association, the OVCEF contributed matching funds to be applied toward the cost of preserving Oley Valley historical documents and artifacts. These items are now permanently housed on the second floor of the Oley Valley Administration Building for review and research purposes.
New trustees welcomed to Foundation Board
In January 2010, two new members--Joseph Hartz and Art Vallely--joined the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation Board of Trustees. The veteran members of the board welcome Joe and Art as they begin their tenure as trustees and help to fulfill the Foundation’s objective of enhancing educational opportunities for students and adult residents of the Oley Valley community.
29 seniors vie for OVCEF continuing education grants
Twenty-nine members of the Oley Valley Class of 2010 are participating in the application process for continuing education grants funded by the Foundation. This year the Foundation has increased the number of scholarships to three, and the value of each scholarship to $3,000.
Thus far, the applicants have completed and submitted the required application form and have written individual impromptu essays on a topic provided by the Foundation. The final phase of the application process will take place on the evenings of Tuesday, April 20, and Thursday, April 22, when the students will participate in individual interviews with members of the Foundation Board of Trustees.
Recipients of the continuing education grants will be announced at the annual senior awards dinner on Tuesday, June 1, at the Reading Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Foundation fact:
During the 2008-2009 academic year, the OVCEF helped to fund such diverse projects as the mobile agricultural laboratory and the purchase of leveled books at the elementary center; the addition of a food science curriculum and construction of the agriculture lab at the high school; and the purchase of smart board technology for use in middle school math courses.
How to contact the Foundation:
Your suggestions and comments are always welcome!
Become a Foundation member—Participate in our Foundation membership drive next fall, or contact us by phone, mail, or e-mail now!
Foundation News
Vol. 3, No. 1 November 2009
Officers elected at October OVCEF meeting
The following Oley Valley Community Education Foundation officers were elected for 2009-2010 on Thursday, October 15, 2009: President, Barbara Pattison; Vice-President, Thomas Kauffman; Secretary, Henry Koch, Jr.; and Treasurer, Kevin Howard. According to the OVCEF bylaws, which were revised last spring, officers are to be elected annually during an evening meeting of the Foundation on the third Thursday of October.
The Foundation Board of Trustees comprises these officers, along with voting members Kevin Bieber, Mariann Brown, Margaret Conrad, and Gerard Johnson. Serving as non-voting representatives to the Board are Dr. Jeffrey Zackon (Oley Valley Administration), Ken Bagenstose (Oley Valley Faculty), Robert Heckman (Oley Valley School Board), and Kacy Wonder (Oley Valley Student Body). Joanne Ewing is the Foundation Executive Director.
Profiles of the OVCEF trustees and representatives will appear in future issues of this newsletter.
Financial literacy series being presented to Oley Valley seniors
As part of its mission to promote continuing education, the Foundation is again sponsoring a series of presentations on the subject of financial literacy to the Oley Valley Senior Class. The initial presentation in the series dealt with the benefits and consequences of credit and the question, “How much debt is too much debt?” and was offered by Brian Mullen of CertainTeed Corporation on September 29. Additional seminar topics include “What Are the Benefits and Consequences of Saving Money?” to be presented by Virgil Kahl of Spring Ridge Financial Group, NPC on February 2; “Why Do I Need a Budget?” offered by Laurie Peer of Reinsel Kuntz Lesher LLP on April 27; and “How Will I Know When I Am Financially OK?” to feature a panel discussion by local business leaders on a date yet to be determined.
This financial literacy series, coordinated by Dr. Gerard Johnson of the OVCEF Board of Trustees, is designed to provide Oley Valley seniors with practical information about personal finance as they enter the post-high school world of work and college.
Foundation continuing education grants awarded
During the annual Senior Awards Dinner at the Reading Crowne Hotel on May 26, Laura Bleiler and James Howe received the 2009 OVCEF higher education grants of $2,500 each. The Foundation awards these grants annually to two members of the Oley Valley Senior Class who plan to continue their education at institutions of higher learning. Applicants for the grants must complete a formal application, write an impromptu essay on a specified topic, and participate in an interview with members of the Foundation Board of Trustees.
Laura and James are using their scholarships at West Chester University and Penn State University Berks Campus, respectively.
James Howe and Laura Bleiler, recipients of the 2009 OVCEF scholarships
Foundation fact:
The Oley Valley Community Education Foundation is an Education Improvement Organization approved by the Education Improvement Tax Credit Bureau in Harrisburg. This status allows the Foundation to accept contributions from approved corporations to fund grants for innovative teacher-initiated projects.
How to contact the Foundation:
Your suggestions and comments are always welcome!