Story of the Oley Valley Community Education Foundation

Past

The Oley Valley Community Education Foundation (OVCEF) is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation formed in 1996 and administered by an independent board of community volunteers. Designed as a flexible link between the community, business, and the Oley Valley School District , the Foundation is a vehicle for channeling private dollars and support into a broad range of programs for residents and students of the Oley Valley .

The mission of the Foundation is “to enhance educational opportunities for students, residents, employees, and alumni of the Oley Valley School District while encouraging community support and participation.” The non-profit organization comprises a group of volunteers known as trustees, and members who generously donate their time, talents, and monetary contributions.

Past Foundation accomplishments have been numerous and varied. Many scholarships have been awarded to Oley Valley students; several Oley Valley faculty members have received monetary grants to fund innovative educational projects for their pupils. The Foundation has also monetarily sponsored additional books and related materials for the school district libraries, student awards, the senior awards banquet, agricultural education trips, and an artist-in-residency program; and has contributed to the construction and equipment for the renovation of the high school agriculture laboratory.

Present

A permanent Foundation office has been established in the Oley Valley School District Administration Building ; Joanne Ewing is currently serving as the OVCEF Executive Director. She may be contacted at jewing@ovsdpa.org to answer questions, to address concerns, or to take note of ideas.

The Foundation’s teacher grant program offers financial support for creative and innovative programs that supplement the curriculum of the Oley Valley School District . Teachers throughout the district submit their proposals to the Foundation, and the trustees award monetary grants for selected projects that are deemed particularly worthy. This year the Foundation, along with the Oley Valley School Board and the Coca-Cola Company, contributed to a combined grant that will fund teacher project proposals of special merit.

Every year the Foundation awards two $2,500 scholarships to graduating Oley Valley seniors who complete the scholarship application process. This process requires completion of a formal application, writing of an impromptu essay on a specified topic, and participation in individual interviews with the trustees.

As part of its mission to provide continuing education opportunities, the Foundation is also offering a series of financial literacy seminars for Oley Valley School District seniors. The financial literacy series programs (which include such topics as budgeting, investing, and saving) are designed to help students navigate their post-high school financial lives.

Future

The Foundation will continue to sponsor scholarships for seniors, worthy teacher-initiated projects, and continuing education programs.