The Penn Manor Education Foundation (PMEF) held its 17th annual golf scramble on June 13 at Meadia Heights Country Club, 402 Golf Road, Lancaster. The event serves as one of the organization's largest yearly fundraisers and allows it to provide grants and scholarships to students in the community.

Over 130 golfers participated in teams of four, competing in various challenges to earn prizes. A gift certificate was given to the team with the "Meadian" score, and golfers attempted to putt a hole-in-one to win a new car. First place was acquired by a team comprising Phil Gale, Larry Bellew, Grant Gale and Jason Hottenstein.

The golf scramble is a tradition that was started by PMEF board member Pat Kline 17 years ago. PMEF had already begun hosting an annual fundraising dinner in the fall, and Kline suggested the golf scramble as a way to generate funds for the foundation in the summer. "We've been blessed with great participants," Kline said. "We fill the field every year, and 85 to 90% of players return the following year."

The funds raised from the golf scramble are applied through PMEF's three main community endeavors: Venture Grants, senior scholarships and Strong and Healthy Family Grants. Venture Grants are given to teachers to create enrichment opportunities for students that would otherwise not be covered in the school's budget. In the past, Venture Grants have allowed students to study abroad in Germany and given schools the resources to acquire service dogs.

Strong and Healthy Families Grants are given to families in the Penn Manor School District who are in need. These grants assist families with paying rent and utility bills, purchasing uniforms for the Lancaster County Career & Technology Center or covering the entry fee of an Advanced Placement course. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Strong and Healthy Families Grants were used to purchase hundreds of internet hot spots for students so they could access virtual learning despite school closures.

Throughout the district, hundreds of teachers participate in a payroll deduction program to donate part of their salary to PMEF. The payroll donations total over $20,000 annually, and PMEF gives out over $250,000 in grants and scholarships. "Our success comes from the participation of everyone involved, including the school board, directors, educators and employees throughout the district," Kline said. "We're very grateful to our community and our dedicated board members for the support."

For more information, visit https://pennmanoredfoundation.org.