Marian Catholic receives $50,000 donation
From left, Advancement Director Michele Palko, Janet Bonenberger, William “Bill” Bonenberger, Jon M. Nonnemacher, and Principal Jean Susko. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Marian Catholic received a generous donation from William “Bill” and Janet Bonenberger last Wednesday.
The owners of W.B. Homes in North Wales took a trip to the high school to be recognized for their generous donation of $50,000 through the opportunity scholarship tax credit program.
“We both believe heavily in education,” said Bill. “As you go through, you look back at the things that had the biggest impact on your life that made you the person that you are. My 13 years of Catholic education, four of them at Marian, played a major role in my life and formed the foundation of who I am. I think that Catholic education is one of the best values in education; it teaches the things that are important in life. It teaches faith, diligence and treating your neighbor as yourself … all of the things so lacking in society.”
The OSTC program allows businesses to allocate their state tax dollars to a nonprofit of their choice, such as Marian Catholic, to defray in tuition expenses.
“The beauty of the OSTC program is that their generous contribution is going to make a Marian education possible for someone who might not otherwise have been able to attend,” Marian Catholic board member John M. Nonnemacher said. “There are some students here who are going to have a bright future as a result of their generosity.”
This tuition assistance is only available to students who reside in failing school districts. A failing school district is categorized as ranking in the bottom 15 percent in reading and math via state assessments.
If a business commits to the program for one year, it will receive a tax credit of 75 percent, while a two-year commitment yields a 90 percent.
Bill, a 1976 Marian Catholic graduate, and Janet, have been supporting the school in many ways over the years, and have made a commitment to the program for the next two years.
“For the last five years we’ve been participating in the OSTC program. We participated again this year,” Janet Bonenberger said. “That’s why Michele (Palko, advancement director) asked us to come and try to encourage other businesses to participate as well.”
