FARRELL Pedas plans to retire but will keep giving

The planetarium director has given more than $360,000 to the district.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
FARRELL, Pa. -- Ted Pedas' generosity to the Farrell Area School District is legend.
The man who serves as the director of the school's planetarium, which also bears his name, has been making financial contributions to the planetarium and other school programs for more than three decades.
Now, Pedas has announced plans to retire, but he said he won't stop giving money to the school district.
Pedas told the school board last week that he will retire after the first of the year, but is arranging for his entire retirement pension, estimated at about $22,000 a year, to go to the school district to help ease Farrell's financial crisis.
He said he isn't going to abandon the school's planetarium either, offering to work for free 45-60 days per year after his retirement to keep it open.
Generosity: Pedas, a retired instructor from Youngstown State University planetarium, made his 32nd annual contribution to the school district at last week's school board meeting, offering a total of $32,230 to fund a variety of programs.
That raises his 32-year donation total to $364,192, an amount he said is & quot;a small token of appreciation & quot; to the district that provided an education for him, his brothers and his sister.
The break down of Pedas' latest contribution is:
U$1,500 for the 14th annual Student Motivational and Improvement Award.
U$1,350 for the High School Student of the Month awards.
U$1,080 for the Elementary School Student of the Months awards.
U$1,000 for the Volunteers of the Year awards.
U$9,000 for planetarium equipment, supplies and maintenance.
U$2,000 for the & quot;Great Idea! & quot; Program grants.
U$5,000 for the Farrell Area School District Foundation.
U$1,000 for the John G. Sava/Ted Pedas/Pennsylvania State University-Shenango Campus Legacy Award.
U$400 for the Farrell/Wheatland Elementary School Parent Educators Group/Parent Teacher Association and the Farrell High School Parent and Educators Network for Students.
U$3,000 for the Secondary and Elementary School & quot;Educator of the Year & quot; awards.
U$1,200 for the & quot;Employee of the Month & quot; awards for non-instructional staff.
U$2,000 for the Farrell Day Care Center.
U$1,200 for the & quot;Wheatland Student of the Year & quot; Achievement and Recognition Awards.
U$1,250 for the Elementary Literacy Project.
U$1,250 for the Farrell Area School District Hall of Fame recognizing outstanding alumni.