2014 Annual Report

Thank You!
2014 Annual Report

The Foundation will ensure
the highest level of education
innovation supporting GLSD
student, faculty and staff with
community involvement in a
partnership of lifetime learning
through philanthropic and
volunteer opportunities.
A letter from Maryann White
President, GLPIEF;
CPA-Partner Kelly, Sparber, White & Associates;
Parent of three children in district
Dear Greater Latrobe Community,
I am honored to serve as President of the Board of Directors for the Greater Latrobe Partners
in Education Foundation (GLPIEF) and am very proud that I have three daughters currently
attending school in the district. As parents, we always want the best for our children. Our
school district strives to provide a nurturing and exceptional learning environment driven
by innovative programming that best meets the current needs of our children. In the
coming weeks, parents and guardians will learn more about the Annual Fund and be invited
to participate.
Greater Latrobe Partners in Education Foundation was formed in 2012 and our
mission is to ensure the school district’s vision for generations to come through
philanthropic support from those who share our Wildcat pride. It has been an exciting
two years for our foundation. We launched the A+ Campaign in 2012, which
has been a tremendous success. The purpose of the campaign is to raise funds
to support the district’s projects and initiatives in three key areas – the
Academics, Athletics and Arts. Currently, we have raised $4.3 million toward our
$5 million A+ campaign goal through the leadership of several pacesetter gifts from local
individuals, businesses and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Included in the report are
highlights from the Arnold Palmer Field House Dedication in recognition of his $1 million
gift to GLPIEF. We have also received generous contributions from the district’s administration,
faculty and staff, parents, board members and alumni.
I am excited about our successes to date and this report shares what the Greater Latrobe
Partners in Education Foundation has accomplished because of our generous donors.
I encourage you to visit the Foundation’s website at www.glpief.org to learn more or
contact Jessica Golden, Director of Development, at office@glpief.org or 724-539-4220.
Go Wildcats!
Maryann White
GLPIEF Board Members: Maryann White, President • Michael J. Rossi, Vice President • James R. Okonak, Secretary • Keith M. Visconti, Treasurer
David B. Arnold • Luigi G. Dilanni • Raymond W. Mt. Joy • William A. Palmer • Bradley E. Smith • Dorothy M. Staffen • Lester R. Sutton • Judith A. Swigart • Jessica Urbanik

Dedication of the Arnold Palmer Field House • September 10, 2014

A.
GLPIEF participated in the 2014 “Day of
Giving” sponsored by The Community
Foundation of Westmoreland County and
The Pittsburgh Foundation. Gifts received
supported the newly created “Greater
Latrobe Safety and Security Fund.” One of
the first projects was to aid the new School
Resource Officer program.
B.
GLPIEF assisted the Baggaley PTO with the
creation of an Inclusive Primary Playground at
Baggaley Elementary School.
C.
GLPIEF was able to donate a Wildcat
gator to GLSD to be used at the Athletic/
Wellness Complex. This donation was
facilitated by West Central Equipment,
Youngs Autobody, Signs by Tomorrow
and PPG.

D.
The first-ever grant to the Greater Latrobe School District
(above) was presented to the GL School Board on May 14, 2013
in the amount of $226,000. The grant funding enabled the
purchase and installation of interactive whiteboards and student
response systems in all 58 classrooms of the Junior High.
This spring, GLPIEF granted $200,000 for student laptops for
the three elementary buildings, two 3-D printers for the Junior
and Senior High School, and interactive whiteboards for every
classroom in the Senior High School.
In 2013 and 2014, Maryann White,
President of the GLPIEF (below)
presented $4,175 in grants to the
Greater Latrobe School District from
the Dr. and Mrs. William D. Stavisky
Fund. Grants are awarded each year to
Greater Latrobe teachers that wish to
implement innovative programs focusing
on academics, arts, or athletics.
E.

F.
The A+Campaign
support has enabled
the renovations
to the Junior High
School creating
a single secure
entrance for the
Junior High, new
creative learning
environments and
an improved
connecting corridor
to the Senior High.

G.
Donations received by the GLPIEF
helped to fund a Sensory Classroom
at Mt. View Elementary School.
H.
GLPIEF received a grant from the
McFeely-Rogers Foundation
enabling Greater Latrobe students
to participate in the Summer
Science and Math Experience at
the University of Pitt-Greensburg
this summer.
I.
Students in Ms. Skapura’s 7th Grade
World Cultures class use the interactive
white board during class.
All classrooms K-12 have been equipped
with interactive white boards.

Quotes from Foundation members
Why they support the GLPIEF
“I understand that
supporting the Greater
Latrobe Partners in
Education Foundation
might be new for people in
the community and alumni,
but the Foundation is here for
everyone in the community to
get involved and the Foundation
will be here for years to come.”
- Michael Rossi, GLPIEF
Vice-President, ’83, parent
“Growing up in Latrobe
in the 1950s and 60s was
a happy time and I am
proud to be from Latrobe
because I feel a part of a community
that cared about me as a student.”
- Ray Mt. Joy, GLPIEF
Campaign Cabinet Co-chair
and Board Member, ‘63
“My husband, Bill, and I have
been so impressed with the
dedication and professionalism
of the school district’s
administration, teachers and staff. They
have given our sons a positive academic
and social experience. Our participation
in the A+ Campaign is not only a way for
us to express our gratitude, but is also
a direct investment towards our
children’s educational experience.
We are so proud to be in Greater Latrobe
School District!”
“My commitment to this Foundation starts
with the same belief many of us share and
that is a burning desire to make this world
a better place. For the next generation to
strive to achieve this dream or ideal we
need to provide them with an environment that is
creative, visionary and beyond what is normally
expected of a school district. Using private funds
and donations allows us to dream and envision, and
then create that environment for the children in
our community”
- Lester Sutton, GLPIEF Board and
Cabinet Member, ’74, grandparent
- Jessica Urbanik, GLPIEF
Board Member, parent
“Not every student knows what he or she wants to
pursue beyond high school and Greater Latrobe School
District needs to offer more exposure to various
interests at the elementary level as well as internships
in a variety of workforce fields. Parents entrust us with their
most precious gift, their child, and we must always be advancing
and changing to meet the needs of our students and prepare
them to be life-long learners.”
- Judith Swigart, Superintendent of Schools
Thank You To All Our A+ Campaign Donors.
Gifts to the campaign support Academics, Arts and Athletics in the Greater Latrobe
School District. Gifts of any size truly make a difference and most importantly, speak to
your confidence and pride in our district.
For more information, please contact Jessica Golden, Director of Development,
at 724-539-4220 or visit glpief.org.