The Daniel Boone School District’s Blazer Foundation is now up and running — at a great pace aimed at providing money to the school district to fund educational programs.
The foundation was formed over the last two years to raise money for the Daniel Boone School District through earned income tax credits (EITC) from individuals and businesses.
Stephanie Conlon, executive director of the Blazer Foundation, recently announced the launch of its first fundraiser, the ’25 Days of Christmas,’ which will run through Dec. 23.
Conlon said this ‘ultimate fundraiser’ provides the opportunity to ‘win a prize a day for 25 days.’
Prizes include an iPad, box seats at a Flyers Hockey game, a grill, an AppleTV, Kindle Fire, Reading Royals game tickets, hundreds of dollars in local gift cards, and more.
A list of prizes can be accessed on the Blazer Foundation website,www.blazerfoundation.org, and by clicking on the ’25 Days of Christmas’ tab.
Ticket prices are one for $5 and five for $20.
Although the Foundation wasn’t established in time to receive EITC’s in 2013, it is fortunate to have recently received two contributions: one a $3,750 check from ViroPharma, Exton, and a $1,500 check from Susquehanna Bank.
Conlon said the ViroPharma check originated from one of its employees, Karen Kazmorck, Douglassville, whose two children, Nick, fourth grade, and Mikey, second grade, attend school in the Daniel Boone School District.
‘There is a corporate perk in Pennsylvania that if businesses pay a certain subset of taxes (eight different taxes) they can apply for EITC to offset that,’ said Conlon.
She said Pennsylvania businesses can apply now for EITC credits through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s electronic single application system.
The site’s ‘business application guide’ explains that process.
Conlon said tax credit applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis by day submitted.
Applications are approved until the amount of available tax credits is exhausted.
‘Tax credits may be applied against the tax liability of a business for the tax year in which the contribution was made,’ said Conlon, adding that tax credits equal to 75 percent of a company’s contribution up to a maximum of $750,000 are permitted per taxable year.
That can be increased to 90 percent of the contribution if a business agrees to provide the same amount for two consecutive tax years.
‘For contributions to Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organizations, a business may receive a tax credit equal to 100 percent of the first $10,000 contributed and up to 90 percent of the remaining amount contributed up to a maximum credit of $200,000 annually,’ said Conlon.
She advised local business owners to check with their accountant if they already pay any of the following eight taxes: Corporate Net Income Tax, Capital Stock Franchise Tax, Bank and Trust Company Shares Tax, Title Insurance Companies Shares Tax, Insurance Premiums Tax, Mutual Thrift Institution Tax, Insurance Company Law of 1921, and Personal Income Tax of S corporation shareholders or Partnership partners.
Business owners can obtain a list of EITC programs by visitingwww.newpa.com, and clicking on the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development tab.That page will show a list of EITC programs available through July 2014.
‘Businesses can only submit on July 1,’ said Conlon, adding that she is available to assist with the application and have it ready for submission on July 1.
‘$30 million is available to EIO’s — an increase of over 34 percent,’ said Conlon.
‘We have a bedroom community here,’ said Conlon. ‘It is important to get the word out, and their businesses may be taking advantage of this anyway. They can help the Blazer Foundation without asking people here to make personal donations.’
‘I feel that it’s really going to help the school district and the kids — it’s a win-win for everybody.’
The foundation also recently received a private donation, which allowed the foundation to purchase a green screen for the television studio proposed by Conlon when the foundation was established.
She said the foundation chose a television studio at the high school when they were required to submit one program that EITC would fund.
‘There aren’t any video production classes, but I hope to have the basic television technology available to start that,’ said Conlon, adding that the studio could record graduations, school board meetings, school plays, and more, which would also benefit the community.
‘The foundation was able to purchase a green screen with that goal in mind and hopefully we may get more people interested in providing future donations for this future program.’
A $100 donation was made by the High School from its Casual for a Cause program, a $1,100 donation from the MOMS West club from its recent clothing sale, proceeds from an upcoming poinsettia sale by the MOMS East club will benefit the foundation, and many teachers have designated payroll deductions to the foundation.
‘We have been thrilled with everyone’s generosity in supporting the foundation,’ said Conlon.
