Schuster Nonprofits Receive $48,000 on Schuster Day
March 14, 2019
In 1998, William Schuster, founder of Warren Radio, established an endowment fund to annually benefit his favorite nonprofits. Since then, The Erie Community Foundation has grown his fund, and this year, these nonprofits will receive grants totaling $48,004. Schuster Day is an annual event honoring Bill’s generosity and celebrating the grants made to his specified nonprofits.
“Bill is a great example of what thoughtful estate planning can lead to,” said Mike Batchelor, president of The Erie Community Foundation. “Every year, his favorite nonprofits receive a percentage of the endowment he established with us 21 years ago.”
| Nonprofit | 2019 Schuster Grant |
|---|---|
| American Red Cross | $2,488 |
| Community Country Day School | $4,922 |
| Erie Art Museum | $4,922 |
| Erie Playhouse | $1,217 |
| Erie Zoological Society | $1,217 |
| Hospice of Erie | $4,922 |
| Humane Society of Northwestern PA | $2,488 |
| Junior Philharmonic | $9,844 |
| Stairways Behavioral Health | $4,922 |
| The Sight Center of NWPA | $1,217 |
| United Way of Erie County | $4,922 |
| Visiting Nurse Association | $4,922 |
More specifically, the grants will be used as follows:
American Red Cross will host an Appreciation Dinner to recognize volunteers for their efforts and commitment.
Community Country Day School will purchase computers and tablets to provide teachers with a greater opportunity to use technology in the classroom.
Erie Art Museum will use funds for daily operations.
Erie Playhouse will provide programming with groups at Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, allowing those underserved children to participate in meaningful artistic experiences.
Erie Zoological Society will purchase STEM-based animal items for its career classes offered to all age groups.
Hospice of Erie will purchase oral and skin care supplies for its hospice patients.
Humane Society of Northwest PA will use funds to train its Shelter to Service dog, Scout. Scout, a shelter pet that came to the Humane Society in September, is being trained to be a service dog and will be awarded to a local veteran in August.
Junior Philharmonic will use funds to continue its ongoing operations, including weekly rehearsals with professional musicians, outreach and school visits, side-by-side performance opportunities with the Erie Philharmonic, scholarship and instrument loaner programs, its annual Tour of Schools and its summer string camp.
Stairways Behavioral Health will purchase program supplies and equipment for Bloom Collaborative’s Community Healing Arts Program.
The Sight Center of NWPA, which provides an after school and summer program for blind children, will reinforce the skills and experience necessary to cope with blindness in a sighted world.
United Way of Erie County, which annually presents the Tocqueville Award, will help offset the cost of a recognition event to honor an individual for his/her extraordinary, long-time volunteer service to our community.
Visiting Nurse Association will support ongoing operations of the Association.
The Erie Community Foundation, 459 West 6th Street, works to improve the quality of life in our region by evaluating and addressing community issues, by promoting responsible philanthropy and by connecting donors to the critical needs of the community.