September 18, 2007

2,100 students in Catholic schools of the Diocese of Allentown are starting the new school year with scholarships funded by Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

Through EITC companies can receive a 90 percent tax credit for making a contribution to a scholarship foundation such as the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation (EPSF), which disperses scholarships for Catholic school students. The Pre-K EITC program allows a 100 percent tax credit for all donations up to $10,000.

According to diocesan Office of Development Program Manager Christine M. Chew, EPSF raised $1.7 million through the 2006-2007 EITC program last year, and awarded more than 2,100 scholarships for the school year that just started to students in pre-K through 12th grade.

Chew said, "Since the program began six years ago, EPSF has awarded over $6.6 million in more than 9,000 partial, need-based scholarships." This year, 99 companies took advantage of the EITC program and made contributions to the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation.

The EITC program was enacted by the Pennsylvania Legislature and signed into law by Governor Tom Ridge in 2001.

Philip J. Fromuth, Secretary for Catholic Education for the Diocese of Allentown said, "The EITC program has provided educational opportunities for thousands of students in our Diocese over the last six years. I commend our state officials for the implementation of this program as well as the many companies and corporations for their participation. The generous support of these benefactors has provided much needed assistance to our families to make a Catholic education possible for their children."

State legislators increased EITC funding this year by $16 million bringing the state total to $67 million for the K-12 program and $8 million for the Pre-K program.

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