Businesses support education foundation

Ginny Lays, executive director of the GAEF (L) receives a $10,000 EITC fund check from Waste Management's Community Relations Director Cheryl Shields at WM's Greencastle office.

The Greencastle-Antrim Education Foundation (GAEF), a local tax-exempt, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing for and enhancing educational opportunities for all members of the Greencastle Antrim community has received $26,000 from local businesses through the PADepartment of Community and Economic Development's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program.

The GAEF has been designated by the state as an eligible organization to receive contributions from business and industry while they receive tax credits. An eligible business that submits an application and that agrees to make a contribution to an eligible organization (like GAEF) can be awarded Educational Improvement Tax Credits to the extent that such tax credits remain available for the fiscal year in which the application is made.

This year, GAEF received EITC funds from Waste Management in the amount of $10,000, First National Bank of Greencastle in the amount of $10,000, Orrstown Bank in the amount of $5,000, and CRS, Inc. of Williamsport, PAin the amount of $1,000.

The Exchange Club of Greencastle has awarded its Student of the Month Award to Joshua Horenstein, shown with his mother, Ellen Schroyer, along with the nominating teacher, Sue Baskwill, and presenting Greencastle Exchange Club member Nathan Nardi. The student was recognized with a certificate and dictionary.

Eighty percent of EITC funds received must be passed to the school district for approved innovative educational programming. Greencastle-Antrim School District will receive $20,800 of the donated EITC funds to use as outlined in the approved application made to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. The remaining funds will be kept by the foundation and used for educational purposes within the community.

"The Foundation is very appreciative of the support it received through local business' EITC applications," remarked Ginny Lays, GAEF's executive director. "It creates a win-win for our community - providing tax credits for local businesses and keeping that tax money for use in our local schools and in support of educational programs in our community.

"We are so pleased to have three local businesses that have provided that support over multiple years, " Lays continued. "Waste Management and First National Bank of Greencastle are great friends of education in this community and have demonstrated that over the past three years each with EITC gifts of $10,000 per year. Orrstown Bank has provided their $5,000 gift each of the past two years. That's a lot of extra funding for the district and our community and keeps tax dollars, normally going to the state, at home doing work in our community."

The EITC Program opens applications to businesses every spring and Lays encourages businesses to apply.

For more information on this program or assistance in applying, please contact the Greencastle- Antrim Education Foundation at 597-1137.