Parkland Foundation Raises $100,000, Gives 43 Grants

The nonprofit created to raise money to supplement educational opportunities for students in the Parkland School District raised about $100,000 this year and gave grants of about $70,000.

The Parkland School District Education Foundation made about $65,949 in profit from the which was held May 14 at the Holiday Inn in Foglesville, according to Parkland Spokeswoman Nicole McGalla. The Gala grossed $86,252 and paid $20,074 in expenses. The foundation saved on everything from entertainment to flowers to the cocktail reception, thanks to donations from businesses and alumni, said McGalla, who was a key organizer of the Gala. 

"Nicole's leadership has just been invaluable in this," Parkland Superintendent Richard Sniscak said at Monday's school board Education Committee meeting.  

Parkland employees contributed $19,000 in payroll deductions to support the foundation's "Celebrate Innovation" grant program.  

With the money raised, the foundation board of directors awarded 43 grants, including 15 to the eight elementary schools, 12 to the two middle schools and 16 to the high school. Among those grants were $1,500 for Math Matters at Kratzer Elementary for math remediation; $1,150 for microscopes for Schnecksville Elementary and $1,016 for a Veteran's Day project at Jaindl Elementary. 

The middle schools received 12 grants totaling $12,701, including $1,480 to allow the Orefield Middle School jazz band to participate in three jazz competitions and buy a guitar amplifer and $1,228 for headsets that will let students read and record their voices speaking in Spanish.

Parkland High School was awarded 16 grants totaling $17,808, including $1000 for percussion instruments for the Indoor Percussion Ensemble, $1080 for scientific calculators for the math department and $1,476 for the engineering club to add a robot kit and other mechnical components to enable the club to take part in the VEX Robotics competiton.