PRESS RELEASE

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	January 13, 2006

$200,000 Scholarship Fund Initiated by BTF
"Make a Dream Come True"

The BTF today announced Buffalo teachers would contribute $200,000 and recommended that another $200,000 from an account jointly administered by BTF and the Buffalo school district be used for the awarding of scholarships to children enrolled in the Buffalo Public school District and the children of Buffalo teachers. The Executive Committee and Council of Delegates have given the scholarship program their unanimous approval.

"Our goal is to have a $20,000,000 scholarship fund that will ensure that every Buffalo Public School student that graduates with a "B" average will be able to attend a post secondary school", stated Phil Rumore, President of the BTF.

Details:

• The scholarship will be called "Make a Dream Come True".
• Rumore has been working on the idea for six years.
• The BTF will contribute $200,000 from monies left over from its back pay settlement.
• The BTF will recommend to school district that an additional $200,000 be added from a back pay account jointly administered by the District and BTF.
• Distribution o 75% of the amount in the Scholarship account will be awarded to BPS seniors o 25% will be awarded to the dependents of BPS teachers. · Graduating seniors must have a "B" (85-89%) average to apply.
• Initial scholarships will be for $500 for the freshman year (number to be determined). As the revenue increases, the number and amount of awards as well as the number of years of eligibility (by adding sophomore, junior, and senior years at college) will also increase.
• The scholarship fund will be administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.
• The goal is to have $10-20 million in the scholarship fund (DC has $20 million, Columbus, Ohio - $24 million, Cleveland, Ohio - $10 million).
• The BTF will make this its major fundraising initiative each year.
• Providing scholarships to dependents of Buffalo teachers will be an inducement to attract and retain teachers.
• The principal will not be used, only earnings (i.e. interest).
• The ultimate goal is to have sufficient funds to provide most of what is called the "last dollar" amount students need to attend college. The "last dollar" scholarship funds provide an amount close to that which will completely pay for a student's attendance in postsecondary school.

"What is so typical of Buffalo teachers is that they have approved using the $200,000 for this program even though they have been without a contract and raise for two years with no end in sight. But that's Buffalo teachers.

I want to thank Gail Johnstone from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and Tina Milano from NCAN for their invaluable assistance and support. I don't know how we could have put this together without their help.

Too many of our students have no hope. They see no positive future for themselves. Our goal is to be able to say to children from the day they enter school, work hard and you can go to college, all expenses paid. We will challenge the community to work with us. You contribution will "make a dream come true", Rumore concluded.