SHAMOKIN - A special informational session tonight will show local business people how to take advantage of a two-fold benefit - earning tax credits for themselves and helping students earn a Catholic school education.
The session, starting at 6 p.m. at Harry's Grill, Shamokin, is being hosted by the Our Lady of Lourdes Alumni Foundation, which, through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, netted $246,213 in scholarship money for Lourdes Regional School in Coal Township, money that could offset the full cost of tuition for nearly 85 students in the coming school year.
The money, which was given to the Diocese of Harrisburg's Neumann Scholarship Foundation, is earmarked for Lourdes and will be awarded in June.
According to Glenn Boyet, of the OLOL Alumni Foundation, more than $218,000 in pledges have already been received.
Any financial restrictions on the scholarship are well above average households incomes reported in local communities, according to 2010 Census data.
Household income guidelines must be below $75,000 for each dependent to qualify for the Neumann Scholarship, with $15,000 added to the threshold for each dependent, meaning a household with two children would have to earn less than $105,000 to qualify.
EITC is a state program that offers businesses state tax credits in exchange for money pledged to an educational foundation.
Business people are invited to tonight's event to learn how they can take advantage of this program with presentations from school staff and foundation representatives.