Ben Franklin Grant Awarded by Community Foundation for the Twin Tiers

January 15, 2008

At the recommendation of the Bradford County Advisory Board the Community Foundation for the Twin Tiers Board of Directors awarded a $640 scholarship grant from the Ben Franklin Trust Fund to Elese Minier, a student at Lackawanna College in Towanda. The Advisory Board wished the scholarship to go to a student with greatest need who was going back to school while holding a job or after having been in the workforce to provide themselves and/or their families with greater work opportunities for supporting themselves by continuing their education.

In recommending their student the selection team stated that Elese is a single mother who is enrolled in the business studies program and has two classes to go to obtain her degree in May 2008. She plans on continuing her education after she completes her associate’s degree to earn a degree in accounting. She started her studies in 2003 and has earned a GPA of 3.18 while working several jobs at the same time. She is determined her son will also go on to earn a college degree when he is of age.

The scholarship funds will be used to off-set her tuition for the spring semester. Bill Ransom, the Chair of the Bradford County Advisory Board stated: “She was a perfect choice since she epitomizes the principals advocated by Ben Franklin who left these funds in his will over 200 years ago. Ben Franklin was a fierce proponent of education as the way of lifting families out of poverty and building family assets and moving families into the middle class of American society. We wish her the best as she pursues her dreams.”

The Community Foundation for the Twin Tiers (CFTT) is a non-profit public foundation established in 2002 by a diverse group of local leaders and residents. The Foundation encourages community philanthropy to enhance the quality of life for those who reside in Bradford, Sullivan and Tioga Counties in Pennsylvania and Tioga County in New York State. It establishes endowment funds for charitable purposes from contributions of citizens, corporations, other foundations, charitable organizations and government agencies. As the endowment funds grow, it uses the interest earned on these funds to make grants to organizations or projects that serve identified community needs.

If you have an interest in learning more about the CFTT or in establishing a fund, you can contact the organization by any of these methods: telephone - 570-888-4759; fax - 570-888-2179; email - cftt@stny.rr.com; or visit the website - www.twintierscf.org.

CFTT is dedicated to making a difference locally “for good – for ever^TM”