News

Continuing its mission to strengthen the educational, cultural, wellness, and athletic programs of the Mechanicsburg Area School District, the Wildcat Foundation will distribute more than $86,000 in grant funding for the 2024-25 academic year.

The educational foundation uses fundraising events and charitable contributions from individuals, groups, and businesses to raise funds each year for distribution in grants. In addition, the foundation is approved to provide funding for 11 programs approved through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit program administered by Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development.

The Foundation has distributed $1,295,234.13 in grant funding since 2001 in support of MASD students, teachers, coaches, and programs.

Support for the grant funding comes from three key fundraising events each year: the Annual Golf Outing (scheduled for Aug. 16), an Annual Appeal taking place later this fall, and Wildcat Foundation Night, which is set for Feb. 21, 2025.

The foundation received 41 grant applications in January for the 2024-25 school year. A committee of volunteers reviewed the applications, and funding recommendations were presented to and approved by the Foundation Board of Directors and Board of School Directors in May.

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Approved funds for the 2024/2025 academic year | $86,350

Athletics – $2,000

• MASH Cheerleading – $600
• MMS Boys Volleyball – $400Mechanicsburg Wrestling – $1,000

Cultural – $10,125

• Overcome Together – $650
• Preservation of Senior Legacy Murals – $1,000
• Mechanicsburg MMS Musical – $3,400
• MASD Marching Band Program – $2,628
• The Pathfinder Prophet – $447
• The MUSE Literacy and Arts – $2,000 (Funded in full by a donor designated, pass through gift)

Education – $9,725

• Wordplay Wonderland at Elmwood – $2,500
• Intermediate Life Skills Kitchen & Pantry – $789
• The Read, Create, Belong, Project – $1,000
• Life Skills Wildcat Café – $500
• Growing Our Readers with Hands-On Learning – $694
• LCD Writing Tablets-Northside – $1,000
• Structured Literacy Lending library – $1,500
• MMS Library Summer Book Club – $604
• MASH Library Summer/Fall Book Club – $284
• MASH Rock Tumbler – $340
• MMS Esports Club – $514

Wellness – $11,900

• MMS Wildcats Explore – $3,000
• MMS Wildcats Connect – $3,000
• Northside Elementary Recess Equipment – $1,000
• Mountain Biking (PE Class @ Middle School) – $1,050
• Fly Fishing Club – $850
• Wildcat Haven – $3,000

Need-based Reserve Fund – $2,250

EITC Approved Funds – $50,350

• JA Biz Town – $9,000
• JA YES! – $850
• Green Team – $1,000
• Dual Enrollment – $18,000
• Design For Change (D4C) – $4,000
• Environmental Center-Native Plantings – $1,500
• TSA Club – $2,000
• MakerSpace/NGSS Summer Institute – $5,000
• MakerSpace/MASH – $5,000
• MakerSpace/Soft Start – $4,000

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