L to R: Green Dragon Foundation Vice-President, Ann Sherpick, President, Brooks Gronlund, Executive Director, Ann Glock presenting $50,000 gift to LASD Superintendent, Dr. Mark DiRocco, and President, Kathy Swope.

Brooks Gronlund, president of the Green Dragon Foundation, presented a check in the amount of $51,000 to Dr. Mark DiRocco, superintendent of the Lewisburg Area School District, at the January 12 school board meeting.

“On behalf of the Green Dragon Foundation Board of Directors, and our 281 donors, I am delighted to make this gift to the Lewisburg Area School District,” Gronlund said. “This gift is the result of year-long fundraising efforts to benefit our students.”

In keeping with its mission to provide and direct funding for the realization of educational, cultural, and athletic programs and capital improvement projects for the enrichment and enhancement of the students of the Lewisburg Area School District, the Foundation presented this check in support of a variety of programs. 

 “Last year, we gave $118,864 to the district and this year, we are kicking off 2012 by making a gift of $51,000” Gronlund said. “We are committed to enhancing and enriching the academic, cultural and athletic experiences of all of our students. Throughout the coming year, the Foundation will continue its efforts to raise much-needed funding.”

Gronlund commented on the unusual gift amount.  “Recently the Foundation’s Board of Directors created a ‘Volunteer of the Year Award’.  Part of the award included a $1,000 gift to LASD for a Green Dragon Foundation program to be chosen by the award recipient.  Karen Schatten-Lock received the award in December and has chosen the Performing and Visual Arts Program as the recipient of this gift.”

 According to DiRocco, Foundation support will enable the district to enhance and enrich programs that would not otherwise be possible.

Kelly Elementary School will be getting an initial gift of $4,325 to implement the Inquiry-Based Science Program.  Mr. Dustin Dalton, principal, states “A few year ago, the Pennsylvania Department of Education revised state standards for science and technology.  Kelly teachers worked to rewrite the curriculum to meet and exceed the learning requirements of these new standards.”  He continues, “The new curriculum incorporates a great deal of inquiry-based hands-on science activities.  This funding will enable us to purchase science kits that will allow teachers to provide learning opportunities for our students that explore, hypothesize, question, predict and interpret information in a way that deepens the students understanding of the concepts presented.”

According to DiRocco, “Because of the Green Dragon Foundation, the district will be able to launch the Link Crew Program at the high school this fall.”  He continues, “Link Crew is the most studied and researched single transition program in the country. Using juniors and seniors as leaders, Link Crew intentionally and structurally supports all freshmen. It helps to create a deep sense of belonging for freshmen students and develop strong leadership skills in upper classmen. The intended result will be improved school climate with a reduction in incidents of bullying and a decrease in drug and alcohol use.”

Special Needs and Student Support Programs will continue to receive funding from the Green Dragon Foundation.  DiRocco states, “All students learn differently, and we must provide specially designed instruction to help children succeed in the classroom through a variety of support programs that meet individual needs,” He continues, “Programs such as At-Risk Counseling Services, Student Assistance Programs and others that support the specific individual circumstances that children face will be greatly enhanced with this support.”

The Foundation is making a big difference for student athletes at the Middle School.  According to Ann Glock, Executive Director, “A donor approached us about wanting to outfit every middle school athlete with a new uniform.  With reduced school funding, the school district is facing several years of deficits that will require reductions in spending in order to balance the budget.  Our donor recognized this and generously stepped forward to purchase much needed uniforms.  We are very grateful for their generosity and commitment to our students.”  She continues, “Today, the Foundation is providing funding to purchase uniforms for boys’ basketball, boys’/girls’ soccer and field hockey.  In the fall, boys’ football and girls’ basketball will be outfitted.”

Glock adds “Major gifts from Lawton Insurance, Swineford National Bank, Northumberland National Bank and Wood-Mode enabled programs to receive funding through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program.”  She concludes, “The Foundation is so grateful for all of our corporate and individual gifts.”

Individuals or businesses wishing to volunteer or donate can make an online gift on this site or call the Foundation’s office at (570) 522-8433.

While thanking the Foundation’s donors, the organization previewed its updated video.  According to Brooks Gronlund, president of the Green Dragon Foundation, “The video highlighted the gifts that the Foundation presented to the Lewisburg Area School District in 2010 and 2011.  It showed our donors how our school district’s students were using the gifts that had been given.  Donors were able to see first-hand how their charitable contributions made a difference for Lewisburg students.”  He added, “We are grateful to McVicar Video Productions for producing and underwriting a large portion of the video.  You can view the video by visiting our homepage.”

Gronlund gave a short presentation thanking donors for their support this year.  He noted that the Recognition Reception was made possible because of the generosity of Country Cupboard, Damon’s Restaurant, Associated Oral Surgeons, Koss Financial Group, RAL Architecture + Design, and West Milton State Bank.  

A highlight of the reception was announcing Karen Schatten-Lock as the recipient of the first annual “Volunteer of the Year” award.

To see photos from the event, please visit the “About Us” section and click on “Reception Photos.”

From L to R: Leslie P. Temple, Senior Vice President of Business Banking Services, Ann Glock, Executive Director of The Green Dragon Foundation, and Deborah S. Brouse, Senior Vice President Branch Adminsitrator.

Swineford National Bank recently made a $5,000 donation to the Green Dragon Foundation in support of innovative programs at the Lewisburg Area School District.  Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Foundation states, “We are so appreciative of Swineford Bank for its commitment to our students through the Pennsylvania EITC program.  We are delighted that they chose to include us in their charitable giving.  Lewisburg students will directly benefit from their generosity.”

The Green Fall 2011 Volume 2 Issue 2

Bucknell students from L to R: Erin Harvey, Natalie Garland, Brett Walter, Mackenzie Glaze, and Henry Mejia.

Recently, Bucknell students came to offer their assistance to the Green Dragon Foundation through the university’s “Day of Service” for its first-year students.  On Saturday, August 27 five students helped the Foundation prepare its upcoming “School Kick-Off” mail campaign.  Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Foundation states, “We are so appreciative of Bucknell and its students for their commitment to our community.  We were delighted to be included as one of the organizations receiving these volunteer efforts.  Lewisburg students will directly benefit from their hard work.”

L-R: Ann Glock, Executive Director of GDF, Dr. Mark DiRocco, LASD Superintendent, Brooks Gronlund, GDF President, Kathy Swope, LASD School Board President, and Ann Sherpick, GDF Vice-President.

At the LASD school board meeting on August 11, Brooks Gronlund, president of the Green Dragon Foundation, announced that the Foundation was presenting the school district with a check in the amount of $18,639.  The gift was made possible through a generous grant from the Edna M. Sheary Charitable Trust.

According to Gronlund, the gift will be used to complete the Advanced Scientific Laboratory Experiences program for Lewisburg Area High School students.  In January, the Foundation provided an initial gift of $16,420 to launch the important initiative.  “Receiving the grant from the Sheary Charitable Trust enabled the Foundation to present this gift to complete the project.  Our high school students now have the much needed resources to receive an enhanced science experience.”

David Himes, LAHS Principal states, “High school instructors have been diligently revising curriculum so all students can successfully meet state standards, and in the past two years, LAHS students’ scores in science have been among the top 10 in Pennsylvania.  The Green Dragon Foundation applied for this funding to enhance the science curriculum and purchase critical laboratory equipment.  Funding provided by the Foundation will complete the purchasing of important advanced scientific equipment for data collection and analysis.” 

The Green Dragon Foundation is seeking financial support to continue funding exciting initiatives such as this.  Individuals or businesses wishing to volunteer or donate can do so on this website or call the Foundation’s office at (570) 522-8433.

On left is Timothy Apple, Board Member of Northumberland National Bank, Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Green Dragon Foundation, and J. Donald Steele, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO of Northumberland National Bank.

Northumberland National Bank recently made a $1,000 donation to the Green Dragon Foundation through the PA EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) Program. This program is an opportunity for businesses to receive up to a 90% tax credit by making a donation to the Green Dragon Foundation, an education improvement organization.

EITC donations are used to fund exciting innovative programs at the Lewisburg Area School District. Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Foundation states, “We are so grateful to Northumberland National Bank for its commitment to students. We are delighted that they chose to include us in their charitable giving. Lewisburg students will directly benefit from their generosity.”

2010-2011 Annual Report

On left is Ann Glock, Executive Director of the Green Dragon Foundation with Karyn Hosler, LAHS Class of 2011.

Karyn Hosler, a 2011 graduate of Lewisburg Area High School recently performed her Senior Recital and donated all of the event’s proceeds to the Green Dragon Foundation.  When asked why she chose the Foundation, Karyn replied, “As a student at the high school I benefitted from attending Pennsylvania Music Educators’ Association (PMEA) festivals at the district, region, and all-state levels.  With the budget crisis facing our school district, academic competitions such as these have been cut from the budget.  In an effort to “pay it forward” I wanted to do something to help other students benefit as I did.”

Ann Glock, executive director of the Green Dragon Foundation, was on hand to accept the donation.  “We are very grateful that Karyn chose our organization for her recital donations.  Karyn’s generosity will help as many as three students participate in next year’s music competitions.”