STRUTHERS School foundation raises funds to promote educational excellence

The education boosters program was modeled after a Poland foundation.
By PAUL WHEATLEY
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- There are boosters for sports and band here, and now there's the Struthers School Foundation for Educational Excellence -- boosters for education.
Organizers said the foundation will function independently from the school board and be used to raise money for academic tools and programs.
Superintendent Sandi DiBacco said that before the program's inception, she didn't feel there was a vehicle for people to help the school district.
"The real joy of a foundation like this is it affects a lot of kids," she said.
Poland program: DiBacco said Struthers modeled its program after one started by Poland superintendent Dr. Robert Zorn.
Zorn started the Poland Schools Foundation for Academic Excellence in 1991 after almost two years of preparation.
He likes to associate the word booster to the foundation as much as possible.
He said that although some people might have trouble associating with a foundation, or don't understand what one does, most people are familiar with the impact of a booster club.
Each year Poland's club recognizes an outstanding educator and honors an alumnus at a banquet. The foundation also funds 10 to 12 in-school small grants.
Zorn said it has even funded a $100,000 middle school science lab and a high school weather station -- things the schools couldn't afford on their own.
Fund-raising goal: The Struthers foundation's goal is to raise about $100,000 this year and use interest gained from the endowment to fund other learning tools.
Interest from a small 1932 deposit is getting the foundation off in the right direction.
DiBacco said a deposit of $154.65 by the now disbanded Struthers Kiwanis Club matured into $18,870 and created the foundation's first significant deposit, after trustees voted to use the money, in October 2000.
DiBacco said some donations also have been made in the name of her late father, Sam DiBacco.
A fund-raising campaign is in effect until Feb. 28, 2002.