Green Dragon Foundation Gives $150,085 to LASD
March 29, 2019 - Bob Kallin, President of The Green Dragon Foundation, presented a ceremonial check for $150,085 to the Lewisburg Area School District board of directors at its March 28th meeting. The “check” represented the total amount of gifts the Foundation provided to the district in calendar 2018.
“On behalf of The Green Dragon Foundation Board of Directors, I am delighted to make this annual presentation to the board of directors of the Lewisburg Area School District,” Kallin said. “In part, we were able to provide these gifts to the district as a result of the successful completion of our campaign, VISION 2020: Our Children-Our Future”.
In addition, Kallin provided a summary of its 2018 giving to the district. He noted the particular success with increasing the Foundation’s permanent and quasi-endowed funds by $348,588; ending the year with a balance of $849,464.
In keeping with its mission to support educational, cultural, and athletic programs and capital improvement projects for Lewisburg area students, the Foundation supported a variety of programs throughout the school district. According to Kallin, “Foundation support enables the district to enhance a variety of programs that provide enriching experiences for our students such as:
- Pottery wheels for classes.
- The Link Crew program in its entirety.
- The high school’s performing arts programs such as the fall play and spring musical.
- The high school’s Advanced Prototyping Lab and enhancements to the classroom.
- A game camera for the high school soccer program.
- The Kelly Elementary summer literacy program.
- Risers for the district’s choral program.
- The mosaic tile project in the high school front entrance.
Finally, the Foundation gifted funds which augmented construction and equipment needs at the new high school. Gifts were given to enhance the auditorium, outfit the high school’s five flexible learning spaces, concession stand, the DiRocco Center for Instruction (DCI) and to upgrade the gymnasium’s scoreboards.
In addition to providing annual gifts to the district, the Foundation has created several endowments which will provide ongoing support for Lewisburg students in perpetuity. To date, the foundation has created 19 endowments including the following; The Pat Collins Endowment, The DiRocco Fund for Professional Development, The Miles McKennan Foreman Memorial Endowment Fund, The Nathaniel Hafer ’96 and Christopher Hafer ’99 Endowment for LAHS Science Curriculum, The William & Lillian Heiner Endowment for Literacy Mastery, The GDF Endowment for Lewisburg Area School District Lacrosse Programs, The Riya K. and Aamar S. Johal Endowment for the Enrichment of Environmental Sciences, The Jusko Family Endowment, The Brandon S. Kramm Memorial Endowment Fund, The LAHS Class of 1980 Endowment Fund, The Josephine K. Machamer Steele Endowment Fund, The Lois J. Hunter Endowment and GDF Endowments for 21st Century Classrooms, Athletic Programs & Facilities, Business, Economics & Entrepreneurism, Educational Programs, Health & Wellbeing, Performing & Visual Arts, and STEM Programs. According to Kallin, “Once each fund’s principal reaches at least $10,000, annual distributions will be made to support programs and projects in accordance with the purpose and guidelines of each individual endowment.”
“The Foundation is grateful for all of the support it has received from both corporate and individual donors,” states Kallin. “Their donations truly make a difference in current and future educational experiences of Lewisburg students.” The Green Dragon Foundation is seeking additional gifts to continue funding exciting initiatives. Individuals or businesses wishing to volunteer or donate can email the Foundation at [email protected] or call the office at (570) 522-8433.
