Baldwinsville phones will be ringing the next two Sundays as students from the Baldwinsville Central School District raise money for their education.
Organized by the Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Foundation (BCSF), the annual phone-a-thon known as Dollars for Scholars will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. March 1 and 8.
“If anyone’s phone rings during this time, be sure to answer — it’s the gift of an education,” said Susan Bertrand, a BCSF board member.
Approximately 80 students will meet at Baker High School, where they will begin calling to request donations, which will help fund more than 100 scholarships offered by BCSF. P&C will donate pizza and soda for the students each Sunday during the phone-a-thon.
Last year, the phone-a-thon raised $37,816 towards the total $124,490 awarded in scholarships. Donations directly support scholarships and can be small, one-time or given on a continuing basis. The BCSF is a tax-exempt organization.
In addition to donations made over the phone, the Baldwinsville community can now also make donations through the BCSF Web site at bvillescholars.org.
“We thought [the web site] would be a great resource for people to understand what the foundation does,” Bertrand said. “People will also be able to securely make donations online through click and pledge.”
According to the Web site, “with a minimum of $20,000, you can create an endowed scholarship, which will provide a permanent scholarship in your name, your business name or in the name of someone you wish to remember.”
Other Web site resources include a list of last year’s scholarships and recipients, BCSF board members and scholarship applications.
“We are also looking for testimonials, if anyone has any positive experiences they would like to share about the Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Foundation,” Bertrand said.
Background
Established in 1974, The BCSF is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to raise, receive and administer funds to provide scholarships to graduating students from the Baldwinsville Central School District that will assist them in their pursuit of higher education. Scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,100.
During Moving Up Day (MUD) 2008, 113 scholarships totaling $124,490 were awarded to graduating seniors. MUD also marks the transition of the senior, junior and sophomore classes from their current class to the next school year. MUD 2009 will be held May 22 in the Pelcher-Arcaro Stadium (weather permitting).
“Knowing the dollars go right to graduating students in our school district to help them pursue a higher education is the greatest gift you can give,” Bertrand said.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation by mail, send a check payable to the Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Foundation to P.O. Box 88, Baldwinsville, NY 13027.
