Getting to Know the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation

A recently formed nonprofit group is hoping to make improvements in the  but can't do so without innovative ideas from educators within the district, and of course, donations.

The Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation provides funding to district programs that cannot be funded through the actual district office.

"It's very important that we don't duplicate," said Anthony Graham, foundation president, also adding that the foundation needs input from educators in the school district as to what programs need funding.

Graham, a financial analyst and a resident of , said that the BWEF is looking for volunteers and donations to help in this endeavor. The raised money will go mostly to academic programs. 

"We are looking for innovative ideas that can help build a stronger district," Graham said.

Programs that receive other aid, such as athletics, are less likely to receive funds, but that is still possible. 

"They (Athletics) ha(s) the boosters and other groups," he said. "Athletics receive(s) a lot of support."

But if there is an area that needs funding that does not come from the district, Graham said that the nine-member BWEF board will look at a proposal. The board meets monthly at the school-district office on Curry Road in Whitehall.

The foundation works to supplement what the district has to offer, Graham added.

"We want to give (students) an opportunity where they might not have had one."

The foundation's first grant, which is a $400 award, was recently approved and will go to first-grade teacher Dawn McPaul at . Students in McPaul's class will go to  in the week of Earth Day, which is April 22, to plant flowers in pots with some of Ridgepointe's residents and also to put some plants in the ground to commemorate the event.

"It's a small first step for us," Graham said, "but the teacher was excited to be able to do more with her students."

He added that the BWEF hopes to raise more funds by applying for some state and business grants and soliciting from residents and alumni.

"We hope to make the school district a great place to teach and learn," Graham said.

Awards won't only be paid in cash, as Graham explained that the foundation might provide materials for the particular program being funded.

"It depends on the program," he said. "We want to do what we can to help (the teacher) the most."

Graham became involved with the foundation because he felt that his financial background could help. He also was interested in seeing an organization like the BWEF develop, as he has two children in the district and another that soon will be.

Dr. Rose L. Hoffmann, vice president of the BWEF who's an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh and lives in Whitehall, said that the organization is looking for something new.

"Our goal is to have programs that will help augment the curriculum," Hoffmann said. "We’re looking for something that's outside the box."

Hoffmann hopes that more teachers will take advantage of what the foundation has to offer and apply for grants. She also stressed that the group needs funding to make those grants possible.

"Donations are needed to make these awards," she said.

In addition to the grants, the foundation also hopes to award scholarships to senior students within the district.

"We hope to award two (scholarships) by the end of the year," Graham said.

The scholarships also will be funded through donations. Criteria will vary, including some awards based on need, and the students may be required to meet a certain GPA.

"We haven’t figured it out yet," Graham said, "but we have some ideas."

Students may need to make a presentation to the foundation's board.

"(For example,) a student studying media arts can show us a video," he said.

A BWEF website should be up and running in the near future and will include a feature to donate to the foundation. Until then, donations can be sent to Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation, 4900 Curry Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236.

For more information, those interested can contact the group at bwef.info@gmail.com or call Graham at 412-334-7401.