Lehigh Carbon Community College SHINE After-School Program Receives Educational Improvement Tax Credit Donation

Press release from Lehigh Carbon Community College:

November 22, 2021

UGI Utilities, Inc. has awarded a $20,000 grant to Lehigh Carbon Community College’s SHINE afterschool program (Schools and Homes in Education). The funds were awarded to the LCCC Foundation through the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

The grant will allow the program to continue to serve 800 students in grades K through 12 in eight school districts in Carbon and Schuylkill Counties. LCCC’s SHINE model is a nationally recognized afterschool and summer program and is administered by Lehigh Carbon Community College.

SHINE engages students in interactive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) after-school activities. SHINE’s core focus is on improving children’s academic skills in literacy and math, social skills and knowledge of STEM. The program operates on the notion that schools and families must work together to ensure success for children. Long term results of SHINE include students who graduate on time, are ready for post-secondary education and equate success in school with a successful future. All SHINE students are referred to the program for academic support.

UGI’s donation of $20,000 is only its most recent donation. The utility has donated over $266,000 in EITC funds to the SHINE program and the LCCC Foundation since 2013. This program authorizes tax credits for contributions to Educational Improvement Organizations and allows companies to earmark their taxes to support these programs.

For more information on SHINE, contact director Rachel Strucko at 570-325-2771 or rkmiller@lccc.edu.

This press release was produced by Lehigh Carbon Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.