NEP Telephone Supports EITC Scholarships

May 18, 2010: The North-Eastern Pennsylvania Telephone Company has provided a generous contribution of $26,700 to the K-12 Scholarship Program administered by The Community Foundation of Susquehanna & Wyoming Counties. This donation helps local students achieve their educational goals by assisting with tuition for private schools, as well as tuition for the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, and other programs for Grade School through High School aged students.

These donations to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program allow businesses to donate their corporate tax liability to fund local educational programs. Businesses chose this program in order to support their local communities.

NEP Telephone Company's donation will help The Community Foundation provide scholarships worth close to $70,000 to over 100 local students attending 8 schools and programs. During the five years The Community Foundation has administered these scholarships about 700 local students have received tuition assistance to attend over 20 schools and educational programs. Without the assistance of companies like NEP Telephone many of these children might not receive these opportunities. In the three years they've participated in the program NEP Telephone has donated over $86,000.

Peter Quigg, President of The Community Foundation, states, "We very much appreciate this exceptional contribution from NEP Telephone Co. The Tourje family, who controls the phone company, has shown sincere concern for local families and their children."

In addition to this donation for K-12 Scholarships, the Tourjes also hold the Jessie Osgood Tourje Memorial Fund with The Community Foundation which is intended to provide grants to the Blue Ridge, Forest City Regional, Mountain View, and Susquehanna Community School Districts for special projects in the local schools. Most recently this endowment has assisted with Project Lead The Way in the Susquehanna Community School District, and with a Weather Station for the Forest City Regional School District. The Tourje family, and the employees of NEP Telephone, have exhibited substantial support for local schools, students, and families.

For more information about Community Foundation activities please visit www.community-foundation.org.