On May 6, 2013, Lewisburg Area School District Superintendent, Dr. Mark DiRocco announced that Newsweek Magazine recognized Lewisburg Area High School as one of the best high schools in the nation for the year 2013!   

Newsweek invited 5,000 high schools to participate in this highly selective process and only 2,000 were designated as top performing high schools. The recognition is bestowed upon those schools that have proven to be the most effective in turning out college-ready graduates. The list is based on six components: graduation rate (25 percent), college acceptance rate (25 percent), AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent), and percent of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB/AICE course (5 percent).  

You can read more about the Newsweek selection process at:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/features/2013/americas-best-high-schools.html

Congratulations to LAHS principal, Mr. David Himes, the faculty, and staff at the high school for this outstanding accomplishment!

Dr. DiRocco credits the district’s K-8 staff for their efforts in preparing our students for high school. He concludes, “This is recognition that we can all take great pride in as part of our collective effort to provide a great education to our students.  It’s a fitting tribute to all our staff during National Teacher Appreciation Week.   Congratulations to everyone that helped make this possible and thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of our students!”

The Green-Spring 2013

Don’t Send Your PA Tax Dollars to Harrisburg -

Keep your tax dollars at home and help Lewisburg Area students!

Support our students and strengthen our community by making a gift to the Green Dragon Foundation through the PA EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program.

This year all businesses can apply on July 1, 2013 (in prior years, some businesses had to wait until July 8).  If you’ve participated in this program previously, you may apply on May 15! 

When your business donates to a local EIO (Educational Improvement Organization), such as the Green Dragon Foundation, you will receive a 75% tax credit or a 90% tax credit against state taxes owed for a two-year commitment to the program.

 For the first time, this year all applications must be submitted electronically using DCED’s Single Application for Assistance (https://www.esa.dced.state.pa.us/Login.aspx).  Click here http://newpa.com/sites/default/files/uploads/OSTC-EITC_Handbook2013.pdf for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program Desktop Guide, “How to Apply Using DCED’S Electronic Single Application”. 

DCED will process tax credit applications on a first-come, first served basis by day submitted.  All applications received on a specific day will be processed on a random basis before moving on the next day’s applications.  Applications will be approved until the amount of available tax credits is exhausted.

If you have any questions, you may contact Ann Glock at (570) 522-8433 or at annglock@greendragonfoundation.org. 

We are pleased to announce that the Green Dragon Foundation raised a total of $22,914.36 in total gifts (including matching dollars and prize money)!  Donations were matched by 17%.

A special thank you to the First Community Foundation Partnership of PA, Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, our donors, and the many companies who provided prize money for the event!

From left to right: Sherrie Evans, Andy Yauch, Ken Hall, Store Manager Karen Graves, Chris Warner and Lindsay DiPiano.

Weis Markets, Inc. recently made a $10,000 donation to the Green Dragon Foundation in support of innovative programs at the Lewisburg Area School District.  Ken Hall, Vice President of the Foundation states, “We are so appreciative of Weis Markets for its commitment to our students through the Pennsylvania EITC program.  We are grateful that they chose to include us in their charitable giving.  Lewisburg students will directly benefit from their generosity.”

Front Row from L to R: Linda Keefer, Ann Glock, and Kathy Swope. Back Row L to R: Brooks Gronlund, Bob Harder, Paul Beswick, and Dr. Mark DiRocco.

Brooks Gronlund, president of the Green Dragon Foundation, presented a check in the amount of $65,000 to Dr. Mark DiRocco, superintendent of the Lewisburg Area School District, at the January 24 school board meeting.

“On behalf of the Green Dragon Foundation Board of Directors, and our more than 400 donors, I am delighted to make this gift to the Lewisburg Area School District,” Gronlund said. “This gift is the result of year-long fundraising efforts to benefit our students.  Since January 2010, the Foundation has given nearly $300,000 for our students.”

Included in the $65,000 donation is a $1,000 gift in honor of the Foundation’s ‘2012 Volunteer of the Year’ Linda Roat Keefer ’64.  She has chosen the Special Needs and Student Support Program as the initiative to receive this gift.  DiRocco states, “Programs that support the specific individual circumstances that children face will be greatly enhanced with this support.”

According to DiRocco, Foundation support will enable the district to enhance and enrich programs that would not otherwise be possible, including:

• $10,000 to complete the purchasing of middle school athletic uniforms
• $7,375 for athletic programs and projects.
• $1,995 for Performing & Visual Arts programs.
• $4,761.83 for Inquiry Based Science Programs K-12.
• $1,080 for LASD’s general budget for 21^st Century Technology items.
• $5,988.17 for Budget Crisis Initiatives
• $2,300 for Flash Masters for Kelly Elementary’s 3^rd Grade Classrooms

Finally, major gifts from the Baylor-Hamm Companies (Country Cupboard), Kelly Hospitality (Damon’s), Lawton Insurance, Northumberland National Bank, Susquehanna Bank, and Weis Markets enabled programs to receive $30,500 in funding through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.  This gift will fund such programs as the Interactive Language & Literature Program for students in grades K-8, the Middle School Television Studio Program, and the On-Line Courses for Advanced Learning at the high school.

“The Foundation is so grateful for all gifts from both corporate and individual supporters,” states Gronlund. “Their donations truly make a difference in the lives of Lewisburg students.”

Individuals or businesses wishing to volunteer or donate can do so on this site or call the Foundation office at (570) 522-8433.

Swope adds, “This is a tribute to our dedicated administrators and staff who do ‘whatever it takes’ to ensure our students receive a quality education, and to our community culture of support for education in the Lewisburg Area School District.  Thank you to the Green Dragon Foundation board and donors for making a difference in the educational experiences of our students through your support. Together we are creating a better tomorrow for our students and our community, by investing in the future through education.

See the link below:

http://media.philly.com/documents/2012SATScores_Pa.pdf

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 has instituted several changes to tax legislation and extended some current provisions. One important extension is the continuance of the IRA Charitable Rollover for 2012 and 2013.  Please be aware that since the 2012 tax year has already closed, the Act includes two special provisions:

• IRA distributions to charities (pursuant to guidelines) before the end of January can qualify as 2012 distributions;
• Individuals who took distributions from their IRA in December of 2012 are permitted to transfer up to $100,000 of that amount to charities and elect to treat the distribution as a non-taxable contribution for 2012.

Under the extended rule, individuals over the age of 70 ½ may transfer up to $100,000 per year from their IRA to one or more charities.  This transfer counts toward minimal distribution requirements and is non-taxable.  Note however, you do not receive a tax deduction for the transfer to charity; but it is a great way to benefit your favorite charities by using your IRA. Remember, the deadline to make such a contribution is January 31, 2013 to qualify as a 2012 distribution.

To explore the benefits of a gift via an IRA distribution, or any of the gift types below, please feel free to contact The Green Dragon Foundation.  We appreciate your support in making the Lewisburg Area School District all it can be!

•  Appreciated Stock/Assets
• Bequests
• Life insurance
• Charitable gift annuities
• Charitable remainder trusts
• Charitable lead trusts

Brady Fisher (left) and Sara Hollenbach (right) of The Towne Tavern present a check for $500 to Ann Glock of the Green Dragon Foundation.

Towne Tavern’s Brady Fisher wanted to help Lewisburg area students so he decided to donate proceeds from this year’s Christmas tree sales.  They generously donated $500 to the Green Dragon Foundation.  On hand to receive the gift was Ann Glock, executive director of the Green Dragon Foundation.  Glock stated “We are so grateful that Towne Tavern chose our organization.  The gift will help provide wonderful opportunities for Lewisburg students.”  She concludes, “We appreciate their generosity to our community and specifically to our students.”