August 25, 2017, Allentown, PA — This October, State Senator Patrick M. Browne (R-16th District) will be accepting the Pennsylvania Public Education Foundation (PPEF)’s William Howard Day Award.
The award is named in honor of Day, who was the first African-American school board president in the United States. Day served the Harrisburg City School Board for six terms starting in 1878, and was a member of the Pennsylvania State Directors’ Association, the predecessor of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA).
In naming Browne as the second recipient of this award, the PPEF board of directors credited Senator Browne with “steering [them] toward more fair and equitable education funding for students” and stated that his “years of tireless work introducing and developing policy that supports students across the state is worth celebrating.” As part of the award, PPEF donates $5,000 in the recipient’s name to a public school district education foundation of the person’s choice.
Senator Browne will be presented the award at a private board dinner during the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference on Friday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m.
Recognizing outstanding contributions to public education, Senator Browne was selected on account of his leadership as evinced by his Chairmanship of the Early Childhood Education Caucus, the Public School Building Construction and Reconstruction Advisory Committee as well as the Basic Education Funding and Special Education Funding Commissions.
Along with the award, the PPEF will donate $5,000 to the Allentown School District Foundation (ASDF), as stipulated by Senator Browne. He determined that the funds should be invested in uniform vouchers for Allentown students in need. The uniform program was instituted in 2013 to promote an equitable, inclusive and distraction-free learning environment for the 17,000+ children learning in the city’s 24 public schools.
To expand this initiative’s impact, Senator Browne has secured contributions of $2,500 from the Allentown Rotary Club Foundation and Capital BlueCross, matching his $5,000 grant. The Foundation will receive a 30% discount on uniforms, courtesy of New York Urban owner Santo Napoli, meaning that this $10,000 grant will buy vouchers for about 600-700 uniforms for Allentown students. This fund helps to ensure that students from low-income homes in the Allentown School District (ASD) will begin the school year with new uniforms. “Uniforms instill a sense of school pride in our students,” says Senator Browne, “It is integral for students to be confident in their attire if we want them to succeed in the classroom and beyond.”
ASD Superintendent Thomas Parker applauds Senator Browne, the Allentown Rotary Club Foundation, and Capital BlueCross for their commitment to Allentown students, stating, “The children in this city are blessed to have such a dynamic and wonderful group of champions. I continue to be impressed with the amount of dedication and support we have for our youth.”
The Allentown Rotary Club Foundation and Capital BlueCross are excited about the tremendous impact their gifts will have on the educational experiences of Allentown students. Ellen Millard-Kern, as chair of the Allentown Rotary Foundation, stated, “These combined gifts will help students who are homeless and in extreme poverty, giving them the confidence to succeed in school.” Kim Capers, Capital BlueCross Outreach Coordinator, stressed the company’s dedication to ASD students. “We believe that new uniforms will enable Allentown’s neediest children to succeed and flourish,” she said.
“No matter how much money is ultimately raised for school uniforms, Senator Browne is mindful that it all started because of PPEF’s generosity,” noted Kern. “Senator Browne thanks everyone involved.”
To Donate for School Uniforms
If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to the ASDF Student Uniform Fund, please make a $60.00 donation (for two) or $30.00 (for one uniform), made payable to the Allentown School District Foundation. Send your check to Vicki Newhard, Administrator, Allentown School District Foundation, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown, PA 18105. Or go to PayPal at www.allentownsd.org/asdf to make an online gift. In the memo line, for either, please note School Uniforms.
Allentown School District Foundation
With a vision for enriched education for Allentown School District students, the ASD Foundation mission is to encourage, promote and support innovative educational experiences for students in the Allentown School District. Founded in 2009, the Foundation has raised nearly $2 million for student engagement programs. If you would like to learn more, please contact the foundation’s Executive Director, Susan L. Williams, at 484-765-4093 or williamssu@allentownsd.org. The mailing address is P.O. Box 328, 31 South Penn Street, Allentown PA 18105. www.allentownsd.org/asdf.
Information Provided By:
Susan L. Williams
Executive Director
Allentown School District Foundation
31 South Penn Street
Allentown PA 18105
www.allentownsd.org/asdf
