2015-06-13
Nicholas Austin, president of YCF, presents a check for $3,500 to Brookhaven Elementary School Principal Davene Burks and Assistant Principal Sheri Petitte (center). Also shown are Jamie Gudiel (left), Tera Gordon (right) and their children (from left) Isabelle Gordon, Ciara Gordon, Behr Gudiel and Aden Gudiel.
Tera Gordon is a single mother who can’t afford to take her children on expensive field trips.
What’s more, the only parts of Pittsburgh she’s ever seen are the airport and the bus depot.
On June 13, she’ll accompany her daughters Isabell and Ciara for a day at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, courtesy of the Stephen D. Tanner Children’s Enrichment Fund and Your Community Foundation (YCF).
“My kids are excited,” she said. “They absolutely love science.”
A total of 60 children from Brookhaven Elementary School and 50 adults will make the trip to Pittsburgh, thanks to a $3,500 grant from the Tanner education fund, managed by YCF. Sheri Petitte, assistant principal at Brookhaven, wrote the proposal that was accepted for one of this year’s Tanner grants.
“We wanted to do something that would provide a long-term experience for the children and allow them to see life outside the boundaries of Morgantown,” she said. “The kids are so enthusiastic about the activities they have there (at the science center) and it’s such a positive environment. Plus, each child will be going with one parent so it will be a parent-child experience.”
Jamie Gudiel will take her three kids, aged 4, 7 and 9, on the Pittsburgh trip. “I was there when I was in school, but my kids have never been,” she said. “I’m glad I can go and share this experience with them.”
Another mother who didn’t want to use her name said her children have been to Pittsburgh to visit relatives, but have never seen any of the city’s attractions.“This will be a really big deal for them,” she said.
All of the mothers praised the Tanner family for its generosity in creating the endowment fund that will make these educational opportunities possible. “This is really awesome,” one said. “Some of the kids who will be going don’t even get to go visit family, and this might be their only chance to ever go to the science center.”
“I’m very grateful,” to the Tanner family, Gudiel said. “I hope they know what wonderful things can come from the money they have donated.”
Nicholas Austin, president of YCF, said the field trip to the science center “is exactly the kind of project the Tanners had in mind when they created this endowment fund. The educational enrichment these students will receive is likely to stay with them forever, and we’re thrilled to be a part of the experience.”
Exhibits at the science center are constantly changing, but Petitte said for certain they will be able to visit the Highmark SportsWorks exhibit that explores how the laws of science affect sports, and the USS Requin submarine. “They are also doing a group show for Brookhaven called ‘Wheel of Science’ which will be similar to the Wheel of Fortune TV show,” she said.
The Stephen D. Tanner Children’s Enrichment Fund was created by Rita Tanner in the name of her late husband, a beloved member of the Morgantown community who gave many years of faithful service to numerous organizations and causes.The original gift and all subsequent donations are invested to increase their value, with net earnings used annually to provide educational opportunities for children from low-income families and to help cover the cost of enrichment programs for children.
A family must meet federal low-income guidelines for a student to be eligible for a grant.
“We wanted to honor Stephen’s memory by helping children in Monongalia County gain opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have,” Mrs. Tanner said.
The Tanner fund – like all endowments managed by YCF – is always looking for tax-exempt donations from the community. Any individual, business or organization can contribute any amount to any fund in care of YCF, P.O. Box 409, Morgantown, WV 26507.