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Warwick Foundation for Excellence granted non-profit status

| 04 Sep 2014 | 01:57
    Photo by Roger Gavan Front row from left, Mayor Michael Newhard, Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce President Sherry Bukovcan, First Vice President Mechelle Casciotta, WFEL Vice Chair Katie Bisaro, WFEL Chair Vanessa Holland, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach, Board of Education members Dory Masefield, Erin Maxcy and Eilleen Gagliano, WFEL Director Keely Blaikner, Recording Secretary Kristine Burrows, Director Diane Rowe and Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton. Rear from left, Chamber of Commerce Board Member Caryn Burke, Executive Director Michael Johndrow, WFEL Director Sarah Fetherston, Director Dr. Steven Grundfast, Advisory Committee member Erica Grundfast, Board of Education member Keith Parsons, Vice President Sharon Davis, President Lynn Lillian, WFEL Director and Chamber of Commerce Board member Vikki Garby and WFEL Director Dan Davis.
    Photo by Roger Gavan Front row from left, Mayor Michael Newhard, Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce President Sherry Bukovcan, First Vice President Mechelle Casciotta, WFEL Vice Chair Katie Bisaro, WFEL Chair Vanessa Holland, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach, Board of Education members Dory Masefield, Erin Maxcy and Eilleen Gagliano, WFEL Director Keely Blaikner, Recording Secretary Kristine Burrows, Director Diane Rowe and Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton. Rear from left, Chamber of Commerce Board Member Caryn Burke, Executive Director Michael Johndrow, WFEL Director Sarah Fetherston, Director Dr. Steven Grundfast, Advisory Committee member Erica Grundfast, Board of Education member Keith Parsons, Vice President Sharon Davis, President Lynn Lillian, WFEL Director and Chamber of Commerce Board member Vikki Garby and WFEL Director Dan Davis.

By Roger Gavan
WARWICK — The Warwick Foundation for Excellence in Learning (WFEL) recently announced that it is has been granted an IRS status as a 501c (3) organization.

The mission of WFEL is to promote, enhance, provide and enrich educational, teaching and learning opportunities within the Warwick Valley Central School District.

On Aug. 27, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton, Mayor Michael Newhard, Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach and members of the Board of Education and the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce joined members of the Warwick Foundation for Excellence in Learning to celebrate the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Origins
As a response to the district facing great financial challenges, particularly from the state, forcing it to reduce staff and programs, a group of concerned parents established the Warwick Foundation for Excellence in Learning Inc. in the spring of 2013.

The organization was formed exclusively for charitable and educational purposes supplemental to the annual school budget.

These purposes include enhancement of quality and breadth of education in the Warwick Valley School District by obtaining funding from a variety of sources to provide students, faculty and staff with opportunities to develop and maintain innovative programs that will enrich the learning experiences of all Warwick students.

The organization also promotes corporate and community awareness of educational challenges and solutions as well as fostering alumni and local relations. It establishes job shadowing and internship opportunities/connections and provides a vehicle for individuals to share resources and gifts with the school district.

Funding and programs
In its first year, WFEL raised approximately $5,000 and its stated goals for the future are simply described as "lofty."

WFEL obtains funding from a variety of sources in order to provide the students, faculty and staff with opportunities to develop and maintain innovative programs that will enrich the learning experiences of all Warwick students grades K-12; beyond what the school budget can provide.

The most common type of tax-exempt nonprofit organization falls under category 501(c)(3), whereby a nonprofit organization is exempt from federal income tax if its activities are charitable, religious or educational and the like. And as a public charitable organization with tax-exempt status, all contributions to WFEL are also tax-deductible.

This significant achievement will make it easier to support WFEL's commitment to raise much needed funds for the students and teachers of the Warwick Valley School District.

WFEL's next family event will be held at the Warwick Drive-In Theater on Friday night, Sept. 19. There will be a family friendly movie, new friends to make and lots of fun at one of the last remaining drive ins in the country.

Essential information
To learn more about the Warwick Foundation for Excellence in Learning visit:

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WFELNY or www.wfelny.org.

To become involved, e-mail Vanessa@wfelny.org.