GLENDALE EDUCATION FOUNDATION DIRECTOR SNYDER TO STEP DOWN
(April 26, 2022)
(COALPORT) - With his opening remarks at the April 26th meeting of the Glendale Education Foundation, President Rick Holes announced that he had received the resignation of executive director Richard W. Snyder II—effective at the end of the calendar year.
When the Glendale school board funded the initial application in March 2002 with the IRS to form a 501.c.3. non-profit charitable foundation, they selected Snyder, a teacher at the time, to be executive director—in part because of his membership on a few community organizations. “One of first people I turned to when forming a GEF board was Glendale alumnus Rick Holes,” Snyder stated, “who was summarily elected president—a position he has also held for twenty years.” Snyder explained: “We were able to turn a fledgling foundation, despite a turnover of quite a few board members over the past two decades, into one of the most important organizations in the area—especially considering we directly impact the children of Glendale School District. Our group began with an initial donation of $40 in 2002, up to a current annual budget of $18,000—having expended an estimated total of nearly $350,000 in a myriad of allocations to the students of Glendale. When we adopted the adage “It’s for the Kids!” when we go after donations from the very generous community, there’s a lot of truth in that.” Mr. Holes also announced that he will be stepping down as board president at the end of the year--but will remain tentatively on the board into 2023.
Scholarships were the main theme of the meeting, as they pulled the student’s name for the Foundation’s $500 “Glendale Educational-Community Scholarship” that will join a list of 13 awards that were evaluated and selected by the GEF’s “scholarship committee”, based on the criteria and rubrics of each. With only 14 seniors this year fully-completing the requirements of the local scholarship application form—done entirely on-line for the first time—regrettably seven scholarships had no candidates this year due to their intended criteria (especially those involving trade/vocational institutes).
Snyder gave an update on the upcoming GEF Golf Tournament fundraiser set for June 10, 2022 at Eagles Ridge Golf Course. All 100 golfers have sent in their payments well before April 4th, and 71 hold sponsors have mailed in their contributions, with (coincidentally) an exact number of 71 previous donors who have not yet sent in their donations.
In other news, the board:
- wrote a letter of support for the Glendale School District to encourage their efforts to acquire an expansive “PA Smart” grant initially for future STEM project labs.
- was reminded that that the Foundation has a $250 cash award in the “Donation Policy” for any student who could go 13 years with not missing a day of school—that has been achieved only once before. There is a graduating senior this year who has only a few weeks until he also will accomplish this feat.
- learned that a whopping $127.97 was earned from the AmazonSmile program in the last quarter of 2021.
The next dinner meeting of the Glendale Education Foundation is set for Monday, September 26, 2022 at “Josie’s Restaurant” in Coalport.
Glendale Education Foundation Announces Grant Winners
(October 25, 2021)
(COALPORT) - The Glendale Education Foundation began their October 25th dinner meeting with an introduction of the two newest members of the board of directors: Patty Kimberly and Kelsey Troxell. Mrs. Kimberly, recently-retired Glendale Elementary School reading instructor, was asked ahead of time to come ready to discuss some ideas for “Literacy Initiatives,” and she didn’t disappoint. With an overall goal of “putting books in the hands of kids”, she came up with nine possible opportunities—ranging from: author visits, book swaps, book giveaways at local community events, providing copies of a particular book title that would be highlighted monthly to a grade level, Book Bingo, encouraging Glendale’s Cambria County resident families to register with the “Imagination Library” for children to receive a free book-a-month for kids 0 to 5 years, creating a new character that kids could identify every time with “getting a book”, and a few other ideas. The board approved focusing their efforts and finances for this school year in two literacy areas: (1) hold a GEF’s version of “PA One Book” (researching a children’s book for K-1 grade level students and developing a multisensory presentation around the theme), and (2) purchase books for a giveaway to elementary students during the March 2, 2022, week of “Read Across America.”
The directors passed a motion to formally approve funding for a total of $7,663 for eleven “Challenge Grants for Teachers” for 2021-22, which involve sixteen Glendale instructors. From the high school, the 5 teachers and projects are: Anthony Moore – “Sublimation machine,” Alyse Gittings – “Cooking with Class”, Kimberly Kozak – “Citizenship Day,” William Damiano – “Gettysburg Battlefield Guide Presentation,” and Cassandra Irvine – “One September Morning—How it Changed Us All.” These 11 teachers were awarded grants at Glendale Elementary School: James Haney, Stephanie Kasaback and Jeannette Williams – “STEM Fridays”; Lauren Madonna and Zachary Krug – “Class Garden”; Brenda Hewitt – “Live Theater of Hyronomous A. Frog”; Jill Klezek – “Revamp Playground Basketball Hoops”; Jodi Chilcote and Shannon Dudurich – “Punxsutawney Weather Center”; and Becky Link, Amy Abram and Susan Coakley – “Fit and Fun—Playground Painting.”
This was also the first year of the new “Venture Grants”, earmarked for funding more extensive projects up to a $1,000 maximum limit. The four professional staff members to receive funding for these inaugural grant proposals are: Amy Snyder – “Individual Fitness Equipment”, Lawrence Putorek – “Restore the Music”, Lindsay Kallas – “School Spirit Store”, and Edward DiSabato – “Appreciation Shirts for Staff.”
In other news, the board:
The next meeting of the Glendale School District Education Foundation is scheduled for Monday, February 28, 2022, beginning at 6:00 PM at “Josie’s Family Restaurant”, Coalport.
The directors passed a motion to formally approve funding for a total of $7,663 for eleven “Challenge Grants for Teachers” for 2021-22, which involve sixteen Glendale instructors. From the high school, the 5 teachers and projects are: Anthony Moore – “Sublimation machine,” Alyse Gittings – “Cooking with Class”, Kimberly Kozak – “Citizenship Day,” William Damiano – “Gettysburg Battlefield Guide Presentation,” and Cassandra Irvine – “One September Morning—How it Changed Us All.” These 11 teachers were awarded grants at Glendale Elementary School: James Haney, Stephanie Kasaback and Jeannette Williams – “STEM Fridays”; Lauren Madonna and Zachary Krug – “Class Garden”; Brenda Hewitt – “Live Theater of Hyronomous A. Frog”; Jill Klezek – “Revamp Playground Basketball Hoops”; Jodi Chilcote and Shannon Dudurich – “Punxsutawney Weather Center”; and Becky Link, Amy Abram and Susan Coakley – “Fit and Fun—Playground Painting.”
This was also the first year of the new “Venture Grants”, earmarked for funding more extensive projects up to a $1,000 maximum limit. The four professional staff members to receive funding for these inaugural grant proposals are: Amy Snyder – “Individual Fitness Equipment”, Lawrence Putorek – “Restore the Music”, Lindsay Kallas – “School Spirit Store”, and Edward DiSabato – “Appreciation Shirts for Staff.”
In other news, the board:
- received a $250 donation from the Ashville V.F.W. Post #4315
- approved a $1950 request from the high school English department for a performance of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” for grades 9-12, contingent on the PA Shakespeare Festival developing a COVID policy in case of school closure and subsequent reimbursement of funds.
- announced that this year’s “WineFest III” fundraiser will be in 2 two-hour sessions on Saturday, February 12, 2022: 12 – 2 PM and 2:30 – 4:30 PM. Cost is $15 / ticket for anyone 21 years and older. Five popular wineries and four other vendors are secured and there will be a huge basket raffle along with 50/50 chances and food being sold that day.
- will be providing a hot breakfast from Nutrition Group for every Glendale staff member on the in-service day Friday, October 29th.
The next meeting of the Glendale School District Education Foundation is scheduled for Monday, February 28, 2022, beginning at 6:00 PM at “Josie’s Family Restaurant”, Coalport.
