Representatives from Neffs National Bank recently presented Carbon County Community Foundation with a donation of $5,000 through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. Pictured L-R: Marianne Eisenhauer, CCCF Board Member and VP Commercial Lending & Credit Administration of Neffs National Bank; Sharon Alexander, President of CCCF; and Kevin Schmidt, President & CEO of Neffs National Bank
The Neffs National Bank recently presented donations totaling $100,000 to nine educational foundations, including the Carbon County Community Foundation. The donations were given in March of 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and were officially presented to representatives from eight of the foundations in late September.
These donations were made through The Neffs National Bank’s participation in the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program. This program authorizes tax credits for contributions to Educational Improvement Organizations and allows the bank to earmark their taxes to support these programs. Carbon County Community Foundation is the only approved Educational Improvement Organization in Carbon County. Funds contributed to the Foundation through this program are used to support programming at the five school districts in the county as well as Carbon Career & Technical Institute.
“We are incredibly grateful for this contribution from The Neffs National Bank and we look forward to using the funds to support educational programming at schools across Carbon County,” said Sharon Alexander, President of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “Our educators and students have had to pivot and adapt so much this year; EITC contributions can alleviate the negative impact of the coronavirus on student learning and success.”
Many approved Educational Improvement Organizations have adapted their educational programs to virtual platforms amidst the pandemic through the help of EITC donations. Kevin Schmidt, President/CEO The Neffs National Bank noted “these organizations are definitely facing uncertain times with increased budget constraints and the need to reengineer their education programs. I would encourage local businesses to support these organizations either directly or through participation in the EITC program.”
In addition to the Carbon County Community Foundation, The Neff’s National Bank made EITC contributions to Parkland School District Education Foundation, Northern Lehigh School District Education Foundation, Wildlands Conservancy, Inc., Commonwealth Charitable Management, Inc., Wildlife Information Center, Inc., Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation, Inc., Lehigh Carbon Community College Foundation, and Circle of Season Foundation, Inc.
The Neffs National Bank also launched its financial literacy program in March with financial education partner EVERFI, Inc. through the Commonwealth Charitable Management, Inc. donation. The online, interactive financial education resources are sponsored by The Neffs National Bank and are available to area school districts across Lehigh, Carbon and Northampton counties at no cost to the districts.
Curious about EITC?
Through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, businesses can partner with the Community Foundation to put tax dollars to work locally,. Carbon County Community Foundation is currently the only Educational Improvement Organization (EIO) and any funds we receive will be used to support the five school districts in the county (schools do not qualify on their own as EIOs).
If you are interested in learning more about how you can make an EITC contribution or if you work in a Carbon County school and want to see if your innovative educational program will qualify for a grant from the EITC Fund at the Community Foundation, contact us at info@cccfoundpa.org or call 1-855-545-1311.