BROCKWAY, Pa. (EYT) – When organizations apply for grants, they must focus their attention on places where they believe they have the best chance of receiving an award.
(PICTURED: Lisa LaBue (right) and Heidi Holt (left) give checks to Lisa Rutherford of Brockway Foundation and Brockway School District’s Laurie Piccirillo and Jeff Vizza.)
Many times, the application is sent out and the waiting game begins. For Brockway Area Schools, one waiting period came to an end.
First Commonwealth Bank – Trust as Trustee for the Glenn and Ruth Mengle Foundation, awarded a $12,500 grant to the Brockway Schools and Community Education Foundation (BSCEF) and $20,000 to the Brockway Area School District.
Lisa LaBue, assistant vice president and trust officer, and Heidi Holt, assistant vice president and Financial Solutions Center manager at Brockway, awarded the checks at the district office building.
This year, the Foundation received a significant number of grant requests, which were more than in prior years. Each request is carefully considered in light of the funds available for distribution; the school district’s amount remained the same as it was previously. However, BSCEF was a new applicant and received an award.
“When we see a new organization submit an application, that means they’ve recognized the positive contributions that the Glenn and Ruth Mengle Foundation has accomplished throughout Clearfield, Jefferson and Elk county communities,” LaBue said.
“Trusts and foundations like Mengle give organizations the money they normally couldn’t receive,” Holt added. “It helps them function and provide services and outlets for our community. Supporting those organizations helps our community to thrive.”
“Everyone talks about the Mengle Foundation and what a wonderful philanthropic organization it has proven to be over the years,” BSCEF Executive Director Lisa Rutherford said. “After some investigating, I realized how very much aligned our education mission is with their philanthropic mission. I figured we had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
The grant is available for educational, scientific, literary, or religious purposes. If the organization falls within those categories, they are eligible to apply. The Trustees for the Foundation look at the scope of the project and determine how much they are able to award based on the available funds.
LaBue said that both BSCEF and the school district fit within the scope of the Mengle Foundation.
“Education was a huge part of Glen and Ruth Mengle’s vision,” LaBue said. “Glenn was the president and CEO of Brockway Glass, and along with his wife, Ruth, were very instrumental in this community. They wanted to help children by providing opportunities to meet their educational needs.”
Rutherford said that the grant came at a good time.
“We really have a full circle of financial needs at this time,” Rutherford said. “The dual enrollment and advanced placement numbers have been increasing annually, as have departmental request for funds to replace outdated software and aging equipment throughout our ag and tech shops, science, math, and music departments. Funds are very tight this year, so we’ll do our best to meet the majority of needs.”
The Brockway Schools & Community Education Foundation pays for enrichment and enhancements that go beyond the regular K-12 public school curriculum. The Foundation focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math opportunities, commonly abbreviated as STEAM. The non-profit organization is funded through corporate grants, alumni donations, bequests, fundraising, and gifts, but is an independent entity from the school district and does not receive any taxpayer money through the school.
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