The Deer Lakes Lancer Foundation is ready to accept donations, and it already has a volunteer.
Tuesday evening, nine board members, all district residents, were appointed to oversee the foundation’s projects.
The foundation was created to fund educational technology for teachers to use in the classroom; items that the athletics and arts programs may need; teacher mini-grants; and other various student needs, such as scholarships.
The first-ever Deer Lakes Lancer Foundation board includes: Chuck Bellisario; Eric Bieniek; Brandon Farster; Angela Manno; Rachel Mariano; and Deer Lakes alums Renee Galie Bogan, Chrystal Love Carmen, Stacy McCaskey Hollibaugh and Christina Lane.
Its first donation came from the Pittsburgh Brewing Co., said the foundation’s founder and School Director Jeremy Love. The brewery collected donations for the foundation during its Super Bowl watch party Sunday.
Ronda Zegarelli, vice president of marketing for Pittsburgh Brewing and Iron City Distilling, said the companies support various community-based nonprofits and foundations.
She did not disclose the total amount collected for the Lancer Foundation on Sunday.
The foundation was approved by the Deer Lakes School Board in October.
Love began his research last March. He wanted to figure out different avenues of funding for the school and how to fill the gaps in what the district budget covers to meet student and staff needs.
It took about nine months for the school board to approve the foundation and be set in motion.
“That’s why we joke about it being my baby,” Love said. “It took nine months.”
Love isn’t able to be a foundation board member. As a school director, it would be a conflict of interest to serve on both.
“I trust them,” Love said. “They’ll be a very good board. They’ll be very passionate about it, and they’ll see my vision through.”
Love, Superintendent Janell Logue-Belden and the district’s business manager, Bradley Snyder, are members of the foundation in a non-voting capacity.
“We are greatly excited for the launch of the Deer Lakes Lancer Foundation,” Logue-Belden said. “We wish the foundation success in fostering community support to strengthen and expand academic and extracurricular experiences and opportunities for students.”
Next steps for the foundation include applying for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, which allows state-based businesses to receive tax credits for contributions made to 501(c)(3) organizations.
Love said the board hopes to have the foundation’s grant process laid out.
“It’s baby steps,” he said.