Through a number of different funds, the Elk County Community Foundation supports the efforts of the Elk County Catholic School System (ECCSS). There are four funds that contribute to ECCSS in various ways, totaling over $74,000 annually.
The annual distribution of the Harold C. and Marguerite M. Lenze Tuition Assistance Fund and a portion of the Thomas and Mary Rita Valentine Fund provide tuition assistance for students. The remainder of the Valentine Fund, as well as a portion of the Edna Geitner Bennett Memorial Fund and the ECCSS Endowment Fund, offer support for the general operations of the school system.
“It is critical for ECCSS to ensure that Catholic education remains affordable for the families we serve,” said ECCSS president Sam MacDonald. “The grants we receive from the Community Foundation help us provide first-rate programming in academics, extracurriculars and faith formation while minimizing tuition increases. Along with other endowments held at the school, many of these dollars help all students while keeping the cost of tuition low.”
Both Harold and “Midge” were longtime supporters of Catholic education in our community. Thomas and Mary Rita had a strong faith and supported the Catholic schools in St. Marys even though they had no children of their own.
The aforementioned are just a few of the 150 funds held at the Elk County Community Foundation. We are so appreciative of the Foundation’s efforts as well as the generous benefactors for their dedication to our schools!
Pictured from left to right are John Schneider, Elk County Catholic High School/St. Marys Catholic Middle School principal; Debbie Slay, St. Marys Catholic Elementary School principal; Gennaro Aiello, Elk County Community Foundation board president; Sue Jansen, Elk County Catholic School System advancement director; Paula Fritz Eddy, Elk County Community Foundation executive director; and Sam MacDonald, Elk County Catholic School System president.
