Children with a Friends School education have the tools to view learning as a life-long process of exploration and self-discovery. They have the opportunity to carry the school values of equality, community, simplicity, and harmony with them through life and to use them to make a better world.
Providing this quality education requires a basis of support from financial gifts contributed by the wider Friends School community. Tuition alone cannot sustain the school's vitality, support its dedicated teachers, enrich its programs, and carry the school into the future. In fact, tuition does not cover the daily cost of educating each child; alternative sources of support are required.
Take a moment to learn about the giving opportunities that exist for financial support of State College Friends School. For further information please contact Dan Hendey at the school.
Annual Fund
The Annual Fund at State College Friends School is intended to meet needs not covered by tuition. It helps cover the gap between tuition and the actual cost of educating each student. Annual Fund drives are part of every independent school and everyone is asked to participate to the best of his or her ability. The goal is 100% participation from school families.
The Annual Fund campaign begins in the fall with a kick-off event for school families and local friends, followed by a request letter. The campaign continues through the school year, and is completed on June 30. As an independent school, Friends School receives little state or federal funding, and we have no corporate sponsors. Contributions to the Annual Fund maintain our independence and provide immediate, often tangible results for our students.
Scholarships
The mission of Friends School is to provide a quality education for children. The hope each year is that no one's ability to pay becomes the reason a child can not attend. However, the reality is that the need for scholarship has grown faster than the school can provide. The school offers a variety of ways to support this part of the school's mission.
The General Scholarship Fund is composed of money raised through donations for scholarship. The assistance is available to any qualifying student.
The Myrtle Wright Scholarship Endowment was established to honor the memory of a dear friend of the school. Money donated to this fund is deposited as part of the endowment, and a percentage is used each year for qualifying Quaker and minority children.
Special Thanks!
We'd like to say a special thank you to all those businesses who supported us in 2009 with a scholarship donation through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program: Veronesi Building and Remodeling, Inc., First National Bank, Northwest Savings Bank, Universal Health Services, Inc., and UHS of Pennsylvania. Contact us at school if you would like to learn more about this program. |
Endowment
The future possibilities of an independent school are largely determined by the size of its endowment. State College Friends School thrived and survived its first 25 years without any endowment. In the past two years, however, an Endowment Fund has been started. Adding to this endowment is an important foundation for the security and stability of Friends School. Gifts can be direct donations or future gifts through planned giving.
Staff Development
Staff professional development at Friends School is supported by the Sheri Powell Coles Endowment. Income from this fund enables teachers to attend workshops and conferences in various subject areas such as classroom management, child development, technology, conflict resolution, and Quaker educational practice.
Library Funds
The Whitney Mebane Memorial Fund was established in memory of a former student. This fund has provided a basis for continued giving to the Friends School library.
The Andrew Freemen Memorial Fund honors the memory of Andrew by using donations to purchase books for the library.
Charitable Bequests
Friends School has partnered with The Mennonite Foundation to provide a wide variety of opportunities for planned giving. Charitable gift annuities, Charitable Lead Trusts, and Charitable Remainder Trusts are examples of planned giving that are available. Or, planned giving can be the simple act of naming the school as a beneficiary in one's will.
