Bellmawr Scholarship Funds Needs Donations
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
NEWS Correspondent
Donations are needed for the Bellmawr Scholarship Fund, Chairman Ron Henry said recently.
Whereas in past years the fund is approximately between $4,000 to $6,000, Henry said the coffers are presently at roughly 25 percent of that number.
Local businesses are solicited for donations to the fund, which awards annual scholarships to graduating high school seniors, based on certain criteria, including Grade Point Averages (GPA’s) and SAT scores.
Henry believes the economy could be partly to blame, as he has received numerous returned mailers, with businesses either moving out of the area or shutting down completely.
He also noted that past recipients have received between $250 to $300 dollars each, but that may not be possible this year without more donations.
“We may only be able to award between $70 to $75 dollars to each student,” Henry said.
Normally, 18 to 24 students receive scholarships, after the selection process is completed. Henry said only 29 total applications have been received so far for this year.
He said the fund needs to earmark monies for next year’s mailing, which further cuts into the already emaciated account levels.
Henry further conceded he might need to reach out to Mayor and Council for assistance.
He and other members of the Fund, including Mary Di Mattesa and Councilwoman Regina Piontkowski, will work to ensure that each recipient is awarded equally and fairly.
Henry said the awarding of the scholarships will be delayed in an effort to garner additional donations, adding each recipient will be notified by mail.
For information, or to make a donation, contact Fund Chairman Ron Henry, at 856-931-5458 or 609-238-6104. Checks made payable to: Bellmawr Scholarship Fund PO Box 874 Bellmawr, NJ 08099.
SOURCE GLOUCESTER CITY NEWS